Too much Caulerpa = high nitrates?

mclc26 · 04/22/2007, 12:52 PM

I've been leaving my fuge light on 24/7 for months and my caulerpa (planted in miracle mud) has been overgrown tremendously. My nitrates are pretty darn high and my ph constantly dips below 8.0. Could the caulerpa be the cause of this?

Please help...Thanks!

NightShade00013 · 04/22/2007, 01:03 PM

I don't know a ton but do knwo some of the questions others will ask. Is the tank covered or uncovered? How long has the tank been up? What organisms do you have in the tank? What are all of the stats of the tank not just trates and ph, all parts of the water quality need to be shown becuas ehtey affect each other.

But unless the plantlife is dying it shouldn't be producing nitrates as far as I know it should actually help to use them.

joekr · 04/22/2007, 01:06 PM

I don't think the lights are supposed to be on constantly, but I wouldn't think it would cause high trates..

What are all the numbers for the tank?

Agu · 04/22/2007, 01:27 PM

Are you removing any caulerpa ? If it's growing well in the light and dying on the bottom you end up with zero net change. Part of the refugium concept is to harvest it to remove nutrients from your system.

lights on 24/7 is a common practice with refugiums and I don't think that's part of the issue.

ReneL · 04/23/2007, 06:44 AM

It is standard to leace the lights on for the caulerpa 24/7. If it is over grown you should trim it back. Use scissors to cut back the tops. This will actually spur the caulerpa on to use more nitrates.

Frick-n-Frags · 04/23/2007, 07:03 AM

just basically no on both questions

if a large plant mass can spend time in the dark, it respires and can drop pH, but not with 24/7 lighting

unless the caulerpa is dying faster than it is growing it is actually reducing nitrates.

you are probably generating nitrates via fish and fishfood.

IMO you should tear out your caulerpa. they're made of large cells and when you cut them the stuff leaks out. cut a lot, a lot leaks out. the growing runner tips grow better. pull it from the bottom of the wad, or wherever it looks the grungiest. leave the healthiest stuff to keep on cooking

04/22/2007, 12:52 PM	#1
mclc26 Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 89	Too much Caulerpa = high nitrates? I've been leaving my fuge light on 24/7 for months and my caulerpa (planted in miracle mud) has been overgrown tremendously. My nitrates are pretty darn high and my ph constantly dips below 8.0. Could the caulerpa be the cause of this? Please help...Thanks! __________________ A man learns from his mistakes...A wise man learns from other people's mistakes. Current Tank Info: Oceanic 70g RR, Ecosystems Sump w/20 lbs. of Miracle Mud, Mag 9.5, Coralife Pro 250W MH + 2 X 65W Actinics + moonlights, Urchin Skimmer, 2 Maxijet 900's, Aquacontroller Jr. w/DC8, Phosphate Reactor, JBJ Auto Top-Off, 2 Tunze 6000 Streams w/7095 multi

04/22/2007, 01:06 PM	#3
joekr Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 661	I don't think the lights are supposed to be on constantly, but I wouldn't think it would cause high trates.. What are all the numbers for the tank? __________________ Joe Current Tank Info: 90 gallon reef

04/22/2007, 01:27 PM	#4
Agu Registered Member Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: Sarasota, Florida Posts: 30,279	Are you removing any caulerpa ? If it's growing well in the light and dying on the bottom you end up with zero net change. Part of the refugium concept is to harvest it to remove nutrients from your system. lights on 24/7 is a common practice with refugiums and I don't think that's part of the issue. __________________ Less technology , more biology . Current Tank Info: 30 gallon half cube and 5.5, both reef tanks

04/23/2007, 07:03 AM	#6
Frick-n-Frags Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: north central OH Posts: 10,740	just basically no on both questions if a large plant mass can spend time in the dark, it respires and can drop pH, but not with 24/7 lighting unless the caulerpa is dying faster than it is growing it is actually reducing nitrates. you are probably generating nitrates via fish and fishfood. IMO you should tear out your caulerpa. they're made of large cells and when you cut them the stuff leaks out. cut a lot, a lot leaks out. the growing runner tips grow better. pull it from the bottom of the wad, or wherever it looks the grungiest. leave the healthiest stuff to keep on cooking __________________ Only Dead fish swim with the current. Current Tank Info: 2 50 gal tanks, sump, still BB

04/22/2007, 01:03 PM	#2
NightShade00013 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Homeless Posts: 197	I don't know a ton but do knwo some of the questions others will ask. Is the tank covered or uncovered? How long has the tank been up? What organisms do you have in the tank? What are all of the stats of the tank not just trates and ph, all parts of the water quality need to be shown becuas ehtey affect each other. But unless the plantlife is dying it shouldn't be producing nitrates as far as I know it should actually help to use them.

04/23/2007, 06:44 AM	#5
ReneL Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Wrentham, MA Posts: 62	It is standard to leace the lights on for the caulerpa 24/7. If it is over grown you should trim it back. Use scissors to cut back the tops. This will actually spur the caulerpa on to use more nitrates.