Macroalgae Not Thriving

[mudplayerx]

I used to have caulerpa racemosa growing in my reef tank about 5 months ago. It was everywhere and very healthy/full-looking. I got tired of trimming it and removed it all.
I have since tried (within the las month) to grow fern caulerpa, the caulerpa that looks like a flat cactus, and one other type of caulerpa. None have taken off. They all seem to just atrophy over a week or two until I remove them. They won't take root and most of the time just float until they get stuck on an intake. I tried to wedge the fern/feather caulerpa in a crack but it went pale where it was in the rock and eventually broke in half.
The cactus-like caulerpa I have now seems to be rooting, but the blades are turning from a light green to a dark green and are getting frayed-looking.
What on earth is going on? Water params are like always, no readable ammonia,nitrite,nitrate,phosphates. Calcium 400-420, alk is acceptable, ph is 8.2-8.4, specific gravity is 1.026, temp is 80 in the day and 78 at night (hard to keep it constant in fall/winter).

 

[njfish77]

dont use caulerpra.it turns sexual and you will have tons of problems.just use cheato.doesnt go sexual and grows fast

 

[oozy]

hey,
please explain what the "problem" is with calurpa going sexual.
Ive got some, and would like to know more about it.
thanks
-oozy-

 

[reefer123]

yes i would also like to know what problems it causes when it goes sexual.

 

[mudplayerx]

There's no problems if you just keep it trimmed. Trim off the translucent growth and throw it away. Caulerpa only goes sexual if you let it grow out of control. I had 8 pounds of caulerpa racemosa in my tank and it never sporulated.
Going sexual, or sporulating is when the plant turns clear with veins and the insides turn into millions of little flagellated spores. If you don't remove these portions they eventually ruputure, releasing the spores.
The old wives tale that caulerpa will kill your tank if it goes sexual probably resulted from the fact that trace amounts of alkaloids are released. Alkaloids are poisonous, but there is NO way your tank contains enough caulerpa to produce enough toxin to kill anything.
The other way sporulation can cause a problem is that the flagellated spores use oxygen to fuel their movement. Theoretically you could have so many spores in your tank that the oxygen is all used up and things start to suffocate. This, again, is incredibly unlikely since all properly set up reef tanks have high turnover and surface agitation.
Caulerpa racemosa (grape caulerpa) and its cousins are very beautiful macroalgae that are very good for reducing nitrates. The only problem I have found with them is that they grow so quickly that it can become tedious to trim them daily. But that is why you put them in a tank is the 1st place, right?

 

[oozy]

thanks for that!
yup, thats whats its there for, trates.
i was unaware of the maintanance practice involved.
thanks
-oozy-

 

[hot883]

Hey mud, have you tried this kind? Or is this what you have? This kind grows crazy fast in my tank. I removed 1/2 of it last week, it's back. great roots etc. Does it ship well? Do you want some?

 

[mudplayerx]

That fern/feather caulerpa is gorgeous!!!
I think I tried something similar from the lfs. I have no idea why the stuff won't grow well in the tank anymore. I appreciate the offer, but I need to find out why macro won't grow in my tank before I get more of it.
I have some cactus-like caulerpa planted right now and I'd like to see if it takes off 1st. I am thinking maybe I can't get the stuff to grow because I have an emerald crab in my tank now.

 

[hot883]

Originally Posted by mudplayerx
That fern/feather caulerpa is gorgeous!!!
I think I tried something similar from the lfs. I have no idea why the stuff won't grow well in the tank anymore. I appreciate the offer, but I need to find out why macro won't grow in my tank before I get more of it.
I have some cactus-like caulerpa planted right now and I'd like to see if it takes off 1st. I am thinking maybe I can't get the stuff to grow because I have an emerald crab in my tank now.
I have one too, he doesn't mess with mine. Just FYI, keep this in mind (my caulerpa offer)because you have helped me out tremendously in the past so I will hook ya up when/if needed. Barry

 

[mudplayerx]

Originally Posted by hot883
I have one too, he doesn't mess with mine. Just FYI, keep this in mind (my caulerpa offer)because you have helped me out tremendously in the past so I will hook ya up when/if needed. Barry
You know I will, because that is probably the nicest-looking macro I have ever seen. Thanks a bunch!

 

[escape2thewater]

Hey, one thing ive learned recently is that you cannot maintain a "high" alk level in your tank and keep your macros healthy at the same time. My LFS told me that I shouldnt go over 9dkh and at the time I was running closer to 11-12 dkh and all my macros were dying. I since have been running 8-9 dkh and my macros are growing like weeds!! Its crazy!! So thats something to look into also, HTH.
Escape

 

[1journeyman]

Mud, when you figure out the problem let me know... I'm seeing the exact same thing in my refugium... macros just won't take off at all. I even bought some seagrass and tried that.. it slowly withered away.
Chaeto is doing ok, but not really growing, just surviving.
Hot, that fern macro is sweet looking!

 

[mudplayerx]

escape2thewater, I might have to invest in a more reliable alkalinity test kit. The one I have now is sort of cheap, but it is interesting that it is reading my water as the high end of the accepted alk range.

 

[hot883]

Originally Posted by 1journeyman
Mud, when you figure out the problem let me know... I'm seeing the exact same thing in my refugium... macros just won't take off at all. I even bought some seagrass and tried that.. it slowly withered away.
Chaeto is doing ok, but not really growing, just surviving.
Hot, that fern macro is sweet looking!
Thanks journey, like I said, I trimmed or pinched about 1/2 off last week and it took off great again. Ha! It hitch hiked in as a 1/2" piece that did nothing for several weeks. Then like overnight BAM it's awesome. Ha!

 

[celacanthr]

Mudplayerx, where do your trates stay at (like how high are they b4 you do a wc)? And how hot is your tank?
Journeyman, seagrasses all need fairly strong light (like MH for turtle grass, and manatee grass, and lots of PC for stargrass), so I doubt it would have survived in your fuge.

 

[mudplayerx]

I've never had any readable level of nitrates since I started the tank a year ago. I attribute this due to the fact that I only have two very small fish in a 55 gallon tank with 60 pounds of live rock/dsb.
My temperature is pretty high, but it is also pretty stable. In the summer/spring it stays at 82 constant.... in the fall/winter is fluctuates a little from 78-80.

 

[celacanthr]

Maybe your lack of trates is the prob? This seagrass lady on another site (she is working on her PHD, I think) doses nitrate in her tanks with seagrasses, and caulerpa, and she doesn't even have LR.

 

[1journeyman]

Originally Posted by CELACANTHr
Mudplayerx, where do your trates stay at (like how high are they b4 you do a wc)? And how hot is your tank?
Journeyman, seagrasses all need fairly strong light (like MH for turtle grass, and manatee grass, and lots of PC for stargrass), so I doubt it would have survived in your fuge.
Hey Celacanth, haven't seen your wisdom around in a while.
Thanks for the info. I've decided lighting must be an issue for my refugium. I'm putting a 150wt HQI 10,000k onto my refugium in a couple of weeks.

 

[celacanthr]

Nice lighting!
Yeah, I have been busy with projects, exams tests, failing grammar, and tanks LOL
Yep, after 16th I will be able to get on here a BUNCH more. YAY!

 

[my way]

Originally Posted by Oozy
hey,
please explain what the "problem" is with calurpa going sexual.
Ive got some, and would like to know more about it.
thanks
-oozy-
I just asked the same thing.
https://forums.saltwaterfish.com/t/189064/caulerpa
Oops, sorry I missed where it was answered