Caulerpa in your DT

[scopus tang]

Oh look, it appears everyone left this for me, so thought I would take care of it. While Caulerpa may initially add interest and green to your display tank, at some point and time, something is going to cause it to go s.exual (temp, light, harvest method etc.) and when it does your likely to have a disaster on your hands

. All the nutrients which the macroalgae has pullled out of the system will be released back into your display, potentially causing it to become toxic. Additionally, this macroalgae is an extremely aggressive grower and spreads like wildfire through a tank. Once established, it is almost impossible to get rid of. My advice, put it in your refugium under 24/7 lighting if you want to keep it, don't risk putting it in your DT.
Initial growth of grape variety of caulerpa (introduced Feb. 14, '08)

caulerpa spreads through system (taken April 03, '08)

My poor 65gal reef after the grape went s.exual

(April 24, '08)

Lesson learned the hard way, despite the good advice of others

!

 

[renogaw]

wow...
put this in the marine plant section

 

[vampofvegas]

Holy ----!

 

[ci11337]

I just took the little tiny piece of grape caulerpa i had out of my DT, tore it up, and threw it in a fire.

Not really but i took it out

 

[scopus tang]

Originally Posted by ci11337
http:///forum/post/2609406
I just took the little tiny piece of grape caulerpa i had out of my DT, tore it up, and threw it in a fire.

Not really but i took it out
Good to know that this thread is accomplishing what it was created for.

 

[florida joe]

Once the nuclei begin subdividing and form gametangia, the thallus, or main body of the alga will release spores and die regardless of what is done. Earlier pruning of the alga may delay or prevent gametangia formation. However, it is apparent that simply removing part of the algae, once the gametangia have begun forming cannot stop it. If you see this on your calurpa get it OUT as fast as you can

 

[socal57che]

People in Ca don't have to worry about caulerpa issues.

 

[coral keeper]

Originally Posted by socal57che
http:///forum/post/2609807
People in Ca don't have to worry about caulerpa issues.

What do you mean?

 

[nycbob]

bc its already a problem beyond repair in california.

 

[scopus tang]

Originally Posted by socal57che
http:///forum/post/2609807
People in Ca don't have to worry about caulerpa issues.

Heard it was illegal to purchase in California, but that doesn't mean that people don't have it. Certain type isn't legal in Florida, but florida joe found some at a LFS, and aquired it.

 

[florida joe]

Originally Posted by socal57che
http:///forum/post/2609807
People in Ca don't have to worry about caulerpa issues.

Rumor has it drugs are illegal in Cali it must be great to live in a drug free state

 

[socal57che]

There are a couple species that are legal to own. Nobody carries them as far as I know. Much easier to not sell any than to have to explain the whole issue.
Drugs are a different issue. Google "california marijuana vending machine."
Here's just one link. There are many more.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22910820/
You can buy dope like soda-pop, but I can't own a .50 caliber rifle. Kalifornia is messed up beyond repair.

 

[scopus tang]

Originally Posted by socal57che
http:///forum/post/2610221
There are a couple species that are legal to own. Nobody carries them as far as I know. Much easier to not sell any than to have to explain the whole issue.
Drugs are a different issue. Google "california marijuana vending machine."
Here's just one link. There are many more.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22910820/
You can buy dope like soda-pop, but I can't own a .50 caliber rifle. Kalifornia is messed up beyond repair.
Chuckle, yeah if you carry a gun onto school property here you can be expelled ~ better not tell anybody about the .22 behind the seat of my pick-up, they just might expel me from my job ~ course then they'd have to expel half the student body. Not to mention that if its behind the seat its a concealed weapon, but if its hanging in window in a gun rack thats ok! California's not the only one with issues.

 

[socal57che]

Originally Posted by Coral Keeper
http:///forum/post/2609834
What do you mean?
copy and paste...
"Most scientists believe that Caulerpa was spread to Southern California by people who dumped the contents of home salt-water aquariums into local waterways – hence the emphasis on restricting the sale of Caulpera species for aquariums.
To prevent a repeat, the City of San Diego in 2001 banned the possession and sale of all Caulerpa species. The state passed a less stringent law, which bans nine Caulerpa species, including Caulerpa taxifolia, look-alikes from the Caribbean Sea and other species known to be invasive. It does not ban look-alikes from the Pacific and Indian oceans, explained Williams, who wrote the scientific justification for California Assembly Bill 1334 and testified before the California House Finance Committee on its necessity. California Sea Grant funded Williams’ Caulerpa taxifolia research.
CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME CODE 2300. (a) No person shall sell, possess, import, transport, transfer, release alive in the state, or give away without consideration the salt water algae of the Caulerpa species: taxifolia, cupressoides, mexicana, sertulariodes, floridana, ashmeadii, racemosa, verticillata, and scapelliformis. (b) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), a person may possess, for bona fide scientific research, as determined by the department, upon authorization by the department, the salt water algae of the Caulerpa species: taxifolia, cupressoides, mexicana, sertulariodes, floridana, ashmeadii, racemosa, verticillata, and scapelliformis. (c) In addition to any other penalty provided by law, any person who violates this section is subject to a civil penalty of not less than five hundred dollars ($500) and not more than ten thousand dollars ($10,000) for each violation."

 

[coral keeper]

Oh ok, thanks for the info!

 

[gliderjohn]

So does this mean I need to keep an eye on it in my fuge?
The Cheato I had in the fuge for the last two months slowly disintegrated. LFS (usually very trustworthy) recommended using grape caulerpa. He said to keep it in the fuge with the lights on 24/7 - which is what I'm doing.
Should I expect this stuff to go crazy in a couple of months and pollute my tank?

 

[socal57che]

Originally Posted by Gliderjohn
http:///forum/post/2612330
So does this mean I need to keep an eye on it in my fuge?
The Cheato I had in the fuge for the last two months slowly disintegrated. LFS (usually very trustworthy) recommended using grape caulerpa. He said to keep it in the fuge with the lights on 24/7 - which is what I'm doing.
Should I expect this stuff to go crazy in a couple of months and pollute my tank?
This seems to be the key. Take away it's day/night cycle. You still need to watch it though.
Nice pics, Florida Joe. Did you take those yourself?
Hey mods, is there a sticky in the archives with info and pics of caulerpa going sexual. Would make a nice addition. Joe has really nice pics.

 

[tomato clown]

I'm using some caulerpa profilera in my DT currently just to reduce the extremely high nitrates I had (180+ppm) within the past week it's slowly been dying off, turning white and getting sucked onto the filter intake. I then pick it out and wait until the next day to pick out the next batch of die off.
I'm also using Chaeto in my DT for the same reason, however I've contained this in a plastic holes tube as for easy removal.
So far so good, not going s.exual in on/off lighting and it's pulling the trates from the water as I needed. This will be completely removed soon, but is there not a plant life that is suitable for a DT?

 

[scopus tang]

Originally Posted by Tomato Clown
http:///forum/post/2612816
I'm using some caulerpa profilera in my DT currently just to reduce the extremely high nitrates I had (180+ppm) within the past week it's slowly been dying off, turning white and getting sucked onto the filter intake. I then pick it out and wait until the next day to pick out the next batch of die off.
I'm also using Chaeto in my DT for the same reason, however I've contained this in a plastic holes tube as for easy removal.
So far so good, not going s.exual in on/off lighting and it's pulling the trates from the water as I needed. This will be completely removed soon, but is there not a plant life that is suitable for a DT?
Personally if it were me, I would have the caulerpa in the plastic tubes ~ its way more aggressive than chaeto. As for macroalgaes usable in the DT, I suggest you check out the marine plant section. There are several macroalgaes listed there that are suitable for use in a DT.

 

[sepulatian]

So, Randy, out of my own curiosity, what did you do with the caulerpa? Is it in your fuge now? How did that all work out? Did the rest of the stock make it?