Caulerpa

[keisersosei]

Is this planted or does it just grow in the water? My refugium has been set up for a while but I haven't had time to start it. I still need to install the bulkhead that drains back to the sump. I should have it finished this weekend, then I'll put in sand and rock. Then comes the caulerpa but I'm not sure about what kinds are best, if they can be mixed, and how to plant them. Any light you can shed will help greatly. Thanks.

 

[keisersosei]

So do grape and razor and other types need to be planted in the sand or does it matter?

 

[keisersosei]

And what would the maximum size need to be? I know that it can die if it gets too big, so what is the optimum amount of caulerpa?
I've used this screen name since the movie came out. It's a great movie. Maybe I'll watch it this week.

 

[broomer5]

I've been told that starting out with a mix of different types of caulerpa is best. Some may not do so well, other's will thrive.
Depends on your lighting and water chemistry, flowrate, nutrients, etc.
You can wedge the stuff down in between rocks as nolofinwe said above.
Or you can just take some of the "runners" and bury them down into the sandbed. They will take "root" ( not really roots ) but you know what I mean. The stuff will shoot out smaller hairy root like things, and these will keep it from moving around too much.
I keep some of it just free floating in the refugium as well.
It's easier to harvest this way.
Harvesting it is the way we do the nutrient "export" as I'm sure you know
Try a few different species.
Stick some down in the rock/rubble.
Bury some of the runners in the sandbed.
Leave a little to just float around. It may take hold of hard surfaces in your refugium on it's own - normally does.

 

[worm]

i started out buying different types (as many as i could from my LFS) that were attached to small rocks. as it grew i cut them back attaching them to small rocks using rubberbands. after a few weeks they "rooted" themselves to the rock. i never tried burying them in the sand, i figured with the water movement they would shift out of the sand. but if it works, go for it!
HTH