Overrun Caulerpa

[scjohnsons]

I'm begin to have a headache in my tank.:no: Feather Caulerpa is growing outta control! A good thing for people with lotsa hungry tangs but I only have one - soon to be called "Chubby" cause he can't even begin to eat it all. It's choking my corals and I'm grooming it weekly.....

What do you recommend?

A. More water changes?
B. Less lighting?
C. Phosphates?
D. Heavier skimming?
E. All of the above?
F. ______________

Anybody else experience this? I'd love your advice.

Thanks.

[pegger]

All you need to do is manually take it out. It's doing exactly what it's suppose to, exporting nutrients. As you crop it you are helping export the nutrients. You can either sell what you take out to fellow reefers, or give it away.

[pegger]

Oh by the way, never flush it down the toilet. Always discard it in the garbage.

[THEKID]

I started to use phosguard, which helped alot in keeping it under control.


Jeret

[scjohnsons]

I guess that's why that article was in the paper about a strange new algae growing in the North Sask River system...:dckix: I wondered at the time if that was a good idea.... (Just Joking!)

[sphelps]

Oh by the way, never flush it down the toilet. Always discard it in the garbage.

Actually your toilet water goes through a water treatment center, the algae would never make it through. The same with all your drains indoors. It's the storm drains you must look out for cause they drain straight into the nearest body of water. Trust me, I did a huge report and presentation on Caulerpa taxifolia.

[sphelps]

Sometimes removing all the algae by hand is unrealistic, especially if your reef tank is well established. Plus you only have to leave one strain behind to start a whole new colony. The best way to remove it would be to remove as much of it by hand as possible, and then cutting off the algae's nutrients. This can be done by doing water changes everyday till your nitrate level is almost 0 or 0 if possible. Also a constant addition of live phytoplankton would greatly reduce the amount of nutrients in the water and probably out compete the Caulerpa.

Finally find some hermit crabs that will eat the stuff and get a bunch of them, I bet the Mexican dwarfs or the red scarlets would eat it.

[scary gary]

Have you tried an urchin. These animals are natures lawnmowers. Try harvesting as much by hand as possible and then let one of these guys clean up the rest. I have one in both my tanks and never have a problem with algae. Down side is once they finish off the algae they go after corraline. You could always get rid of it after it helps your algae problem .I have a common pink in 1 tank and a tuxedo in the other. I've read that the hat pin or long black spiney can sometimes go after corals so you might want to shy away from that type.