help keeping calurpa alive please

[karak40]

Hello everyone.
I am having a problem keeping calurpa in my sump alive. I have tested my water time and time again and the results are all in good ranges. I use to grow calurpa in the sump for the first 2 years and it grew like wildfire. Ever since i had a problem and my heater broke without me knowing the calurpa died. I replaced the heater and now everytime I put a new batch of calurpa in my sump within 1 week its dead?? I have a light on my sump that stays on 24/7. The temp. in the sump is roughly 80 degrees. There is a trace of a red film over the mud on the bottom. What is this red film on the mud?? Can this be causing the calurpa to die?? I also recently replaced my UV sterilizer that went bad also. I upgraded to a 36w Coralife twister UV Sterilizer..
Any info I would appreciate it.
250 gallon flat back hex room divider tank

 

[reefkprz]

the red film on the surface of the mud is probably cyano bacteria (red slime) it could be competeing with the caulerpa for nutrients but I doubt it is killing it. caulerpa is a sinlge celled macro algae and when improperly harvested the entire cell dies (one cell can be up to ten feet long, no kidding) when yo get your next clump try to get one that has not been roughly harvestyed with roots intact. just a suggestion.

 

[karak40]

Hello:
The last 2 times I purchased the Caulerpa They came with the roots attached. Caulerpa grew like wildfire in that sump when I was first started 2 years ago. Since the heater broke in the sump and the caulerpa died its hard to regrow this stuff.
PH 8.2 , ammonia 0ppm , nitrite 0ppm , nitrate 20ppm
I recently Took out about 10 pounds of miracle mudd and put in 10 pounds of new miracle mud in the sump.
Any info on what could be the issue I would greatly appreciate it
Thanks all

 

[bang guy]

How much waterflow goes through the Caulerpa?

 

[karak40]

there are 2 intakes into the sump that spill over into the return chamber. The caulerpa is in the main part of the sump on top of the mudd.

 

[spnohio]

Can someone go over with me how to plant the Caulerpa? Do I need to trim it? common husbandry practices with it? How deep do I plant it? Can I put a fish in the caulerpa? Can I put a piece of it in the display tank? Will a royal gramma or Orange spotted goby eat this stuff?

 

[bang guy]

Originally Posted by spnohio
http:///forum/post/2697674
Can someone go over with me how to plant the Caulerpa?
Yep.
Do I need to trim it?
If nothing is eating it then you'll need to trip it occationally. If it begins to grow unchecked it has the potential to sporulate. This is where the entire organism coverts itself to gametes. It will turn your water pale green, lower the O2 content, and lower your PH to dangerous levels.
common husbandry practices with it?
Just harvest some of it whenever the colony gets large.
How deep do I plant it?
It's an algae, not a vascular plant so don't "plant" it. It needs to stay in the surface ior it will just die. The holdfasts look like roots but they are not, they only are used to hold itself in place. If it's not attacked to a rock you can just let it float around in the refugium. If you want it attached then glue two pieces of rubble together and pinch in a piece of a holdfast.
Can I put a fish in the caulerpa?
Yep.
Can I put a piece of it in the display tank?
Yes, but it can grow out of control if you don't keep up with it. It will kill corals, clams, etc if it grows over them.
Will a royal gramma or Orange spotted goby eat this stuff?
No.