chaeto and grape caulerpa

jon210 · 02/01/2009, 09:17 AM

I have had a piece of chaeto that I have had for over a year that does not grow. I have had it in my main tank(ap 12) with 64w pc lighting and for the last 3 months put it in a refugium in one of the chambers in the ap12, which is li by a 10w 6500k pc. My grape caulerpa , which was accidently introduced, grows fine to my dismay. What am I doing wrong with the chaeto? The caulerpa was introduced approx 7 months after the chaeto.

Sk8r · 02/01/2009, 09:56 AM

caulerpa has unusual properties. See the documentary "Killer Algae" on the Discovery Channel. I think there ought to be an international appeal to get it banned from the aquarium hobby, before it escapes into another body of water. The Med has problems; California has problems. The stuff can propagate somehow through the water, and if you have it in your fuge, you are going to have it in your display, sooner or later.

snorvich · 02/01/2009, 12:12 PM

I hate Caulerpa and am trying to get it out of my refugium. (there are a few strands left, it is HARD to get rid of)

Sk8r · 02/01/2009, 12:18 PM

People are so worried about bubble algae propagating through spores....never, never pop the bubbles, eh? But THIS stuff, that so many people defend, really does propagate if crushed or broken, and it has roots that survive rock cooking.

The story apparently is that in the tropics, it is ok and doesn't propagate like crazy. But somebody in Germany got hold of a strain that survives almost anything, it was Darwinized by our hobby (It survives bad tank conditions and almost nothing eats it)---and it was spread through the hobby trade, and then got out in drain water from a major institute on the Med, and from some hobbyist who dumped into a storm drain in California. I firmly believe we ought to take a stand against this stuff.

chris.hampton · 02/01/2009, 03:21 PM

Snorvich, have you got any tips on getting rid of this stuff? I haven't introduced this to my tank but it came in on the live rock, its now overrun my tank and nothing I try is working to get rid of it! I was going to try cooking the rock but by Sk8r's post I am going to be wasting my time trying!

Sorry to the original poster but I'm desperate to get rid of it!!

Sk8r · 02/01/2009, 05:24 PM

It's a problem. I'm trying a sea hare: I'll tell you how it goes. You could manage a purple tang---and SOME purple tangs will eat it. You have to be sure they will before you buy the fish. A rabbit will.

roadcrew · 02/01/2009, 05:51 PM

i have had 2 fox face that love the stuff. i was over run with calurpa now its only in my fuge. i pull some out occasionly to feed him.

chris.hampton · 02/02/2009, 02:45 AM

I was down at my LFS yesterday and they have a One Spot Foxface in, I think I will pull some of the algae out of my tank and take it down to see if he will eat it before I buy him. If they will let me!! I don't really like the look of Foxface's but I don't think I have the room needed for a Purple Tang plus I would have to special order one in and if not all of them eat it it's not worth the risk! They are beautiful though!

snorvich · 02/02/2009, 06:09 AM

I have no tips to get rid of it. It is virulent. I manually remove it as much as I can.

02/01/2009, 09:17 AM	#1
jon210 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Jackson, MS Posts: 17	chaeto and grape caulerpa I have had a piece of chaeto that I have had for over a year that does not grow. I have had it in my main tank(ap 12) with 64w pc lighting and for the last 3 months put it in a refugium in one of the chambers in the ap12, which is li by a 10w 6500k pc. My grape caulerpa , which was accidently introduced, grows fine to my dismay. What am I doing wrong with the chaeto? The caulerpa was introduced approx 7 months after the chaeto.

02/01/2009, 09:56 AM	#2
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	caulerpa has unusual properties. See the documentary "Killer Algae" on the Discovery Channel. I think there ought to be an international appeal to get it banned from the aquarium hobby, before it escapes into another body of water. The Med has problems; California has problems. The stuff can propagate somehow through the water, and if you have it in your fuge, you are going to have it in your display, sooner or later. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

02/01/2009, 12:12 PM	#3
snorvich Team RC member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Outlander Posts: 40,953 Blog Entries: 46	I hate Caulerpa and am trying to get it out of my refugium. (there are a few strands left, it is HARD to get rid of) __________________ Warmest regards, ~Steve~

02/01/2009, 12:18 PM	#4
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	People are so worried about bubble algae propagating through spores....never, never pop the bubbles, eh? But THIS stuff, that so many people defend, really does propagate if crushed or broken, and it has roots that survive rock cooking. The story apparently is that in the tropics, it is ok and doesn't propagate like crazy. But somebody in Germany got hold of a strain that survives almost anything, it was Darwinized by our hobby (It survives bad tank conditions and almost nothing eats it)---and it was spread through the hobby trade, and then got out in drain water from a major institute on the Med, and from some hobbyist who dumped into a storm drain in California. I firmly believe we ought to take a stand against this stuff. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

02/01/2009, 03:21 PM	#5
chris.hampton Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Isle of Man Posts: 490	Snorvich, have you got any tips on getting rid of this stuff? I haven't introduced this to my tank but it came in on the live rock, its now overrun my tank and nothing I try is working to get rid of it! I was going to try cooking the rock but by Sk8r's post I am going to be wasting my time trying! Sorry to the original poster but I'm desperate to get rid of it!! __________________ Imagine how deep the ocean would be if there wasn’t any sponges!! Current Tank Info: 95 (UK) gal 2 years old and 10 gal with bangi babies!!!

02/01/2009, 05:24 PM	#6
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	It's a problem. I'm trying a sea hare: I'll tell you how it goes. You could manage a purple tang---and SOME purple tangs will eat it. You have to be sure they will before you buy the fish. A rabbit will. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

02/01/2009, 05:51 PM	#7
roadcrew Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: portage park, chicago Posts: 294	i have had 2 fox face that love the stuff. i was over run with calurpa now its only in my fuge. i pull some out occasionly to feed him.

02/02/2009, 02:45 AM	#8
chris.hampton Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Isle of Man Posts: 490	I was down at my LFS yesterday and they have a One Spot Foxface in, I think I will pull some of the algae out of my tank and take it down to see if he will eat it before I buy him. If they will let me!! I don't really like the look of Foxface's but I don't think I have the room needed for a Purple Tang plus I would have to special order one in and if not all of them eat it it's not worth the risk! They are beautiful though! __________________ Imagine how deep the ocean would be if there wasn’t any sponges!! Current Tank Info: 95 (UK) gal 2 years old and 10 gal with bangi babies!!!

02/02/2009, 06:09 AM	#9
snorvich Team RC member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Outlander Posts: 40,953 Blog Entries: 46	I have no tips to get rid of it. It is virulent. I manually remove it as much as I can. __________________ Warmest regards, ~Steve~