Calerpa problems

[scubagirl]

I have a serious calerpa problem, there are two kinds "grape" and one that looks leafy. They are growing all over and starting to cover some of my corals. I've taken as much out by hand and want it to just stop growing all together. Is there something that actually eats this or a way to prevent it? It roots about every 1/2 inch and is impossible to completely remove. It looks bad, help! Thankyou!!!

 

[jb rekit]

Do you have any tangs?
They will pick at it and eat some of it. If you remove all you can by hand, the tang might be able to help you get rid of the rest.

 

[msd2]

Originally posted by ScubaGirl
I have a serious calerpa problem, there are two kinds "grape" and one that looks leafy. They are growing all over and starting to cover some of my corals. I've taken as much out by hand and want it to just stop growing all together. Is there something that actually eats this or a way to prevent it? It roots about every 1/2 inch and is impossible to completely remove. It looks bad, help! Thankyou!!!
If your willing to ship I would love to get some of it from you.
:jumping: :jumping: :jumping: :jumping: :jumping: :jumping:

 

[scubagirl]

I definatley did not put it there!

 

[scubagirl]

If you can tell me how to ship it so it doesn't die, I'd be happy to. You can e-mail me at cnw912@yahoo.com!!

 

[scubagirl]

I don't have any tangs. My favorites are powder blue, yellow, and blue hippo. Which do you suggest? Which are the most hardy and easiest to take care of?

 

[barry cuda]

OK, #1 caveat here is that I'm a total noob and have never owned a tang, so this free advice is worth exactly what you're paying for it
But of those three, I believe the yellow is the hardiest. Hippos are notorious for being subject to ich, and I think powder blues are supposed to be tougher to keep too.

 

[viper_930]

You can try a few emerald crabs. They like to eat a lot of algea.

 

[scubagirl]

Thanks for the advise. I do have an emerald crab and I haven't seen it since I put it in the tank. This evening I manually removed some of the calerpa. It seems the only way to go. Thanks.

 

[jb rekit]

Not having any caulerpa in my main tank, I can't say for certain, but I have seen people feed their tangs some caulerpa right out of their fuge. Of the tangs, I think the ones with the body shape of the yellow (Powder brown/blue, sailfin) will eat more macro algae (not hard fact, just what people have told me) more so than the blue hippo and naso shaped tangs.
As far as survivability, I had 3 yellow live for around 4 years and have had good luck with a sailfin also.
As for the emerald, I'm not sure if mine would ever go after more than something like a hair algae.

 

[birdy]

I believe the yellow ones eat a lot of algea, If you don't have a lot of other fish in your 110 you could get a small group of yellow tangs, they look neat in a small school and would make short work of your macro algae. Of course it depends on how heavy your bioload is already.

 

[jbone]

Don't mean to but in, but what is Calerpa??

 

[scubagirl]

Calerpa is an alage that grows like ivy grows on trees. It grows fast and roots about every inch or less so it is hard to remove. It is a good thing to have, just not in your main tank. Mine was growing over some of my corals and taking away the light so I had to go in and pull it off.

 

[jbone]

So it looks kind of like a vine?? Do you have to put it in your tank deliberatly or will it just start growing?

 

[scubagirl]

I didn't put it in my tank but some of the live rock I got was in a very established tank so it was a hitch hiker. It is a good filtration devise so some people put in thier refugium.