harvesting macroalgae

[lizardlady58]

I have a fifty gallon tank with a few mushrooms, fifty pounds of live rock and seven fish. I also have a lot of caulerpa growing in the tank. So far water conditions are perfect, absolutely no detectable nitrates, etc. Specific gravity is at 23 and temp is 78. I harvest my macro algae once a week and unfortunately I have to throw the harvested stuff out. I was told that harvesting will keep the caulerpa from reproducing which apparantly can pollute the tank and harm the marine life in the tank. My question is do I need to worry about the caulerpa suddenly crashing and what other fish besides tangs keep caulerpa cropped? I was told to put a yellow tang in but unfortunately someone I know who has the same types of algae, caulerpa, etc. found that their tang ate all the interesting stuff. I have a few pictures of the plants in my tank.

 

[spanko]

That is a bunch for sure! I have found that the best grazer on Caulerpa is the one spot foxface Siganus unimaculatus.

 

[lizardlady58]

thank you, they are pretty fish to boot

 

[teresaq]

That scroll algea is very nice.
T

 

[lizardlady58]

thankyou. I am assuming that the scroll algae is the big brown one?

 

[cranberry]

Your variety of caulerpa is actually razor or C serrulata and is not one of the illegal invasive species. This stuff doesn't "crash" like some of the other caulerpas.
I do see some feather to the left of the scroll in the second pic. That's the caulerpa you have to watch out for.

 

[i<3reefs]

Just freeze whatever your going to toss out before you throw it away. I've never seen scroll algae before, and yes that is really pretty. I would be scared adding a foxface would eat my scroll algae, and on top of that a lot of fish don't eat the razor variety.

 

[lizardlady58]

I have noticed that feather stuff is a bugger to keep up too. So far none of the fish will eat it but the copepods love it!

 

[cranberry]

How many species of caulerpa do you have in there? I think I see some prolifera as well. And chance you can take a strand of the different types out and shoot them?

 

[florida joe]

And chance you can take a strand of the different types out and shoot them
Why all the violence cant we all just get along

 

[cranberry]

Lol

 

[spanko]

Originally Posted by florida joe
http:///forum/post/3174288
Why all the violence cant we all just get along

"I'd like to buy the world a home and furnish it with love,
Grow apple trees and honey bees, and snow white turtle doves.
I'd like to teach the world to sing in perfect harmony,
I'd like to buy the world a Coke and keep it company."

 

[jackri]

All that caulerpa would drive me crazy in the display area. Great for nutrients but I had some hitchhiker stuff that took awhile with a tweezers to finally get rid of.
If that's what you're going for then

 

[florida joe]

I'd like to buy the world Coke and keep it company
Henry that about says it all

 

[lizardlady58]

Here are some pics of the species of caulerpa etc. that I have. Some pics are not from my tank, my camera is acting up but they are the varieties I have in my tank. I think the hair like stuff is chaeto. That stuff is a big pain to harvest. It wraps itself around everything.

 

[trainfever]

Instead of throwing it away why not sell it to your LFS? or give some to a local hobbyist in your area or someone on these boards.

 

[lizardlady58]

Actually that is a really good idea. I will keep that in mind next time I "mow the grass"