Q. on caulerpa pruning in fuge

reefmusic · 03/19/2011, 05:55 PM

I have caulerpa growing in my fuge, which also has a DSB. When I come to prune back the caulerpa, I find it has grow super-long 'roots' down into the coral sand.

When I pull it out, it takes lots of the sand with it as the 'roots' adhere strongly to every grain. Two problems with this, one is the loss of the sand, but worse, the whole DSB gets disturbed.

I have thought about just pruning the leaves and leaving the thick runner behind, but not sure if this is a good thing to do. Will it grow new leaves, or will the runner just die and pollute things? Also a fuge full of thick runners would result eventually.

So, I guess I am looking for guidance. Should I grow the caulerpa in a different section of the sump maybe?

trondsbr · 03/19/2011, 07:11 PM

I would clip it at the sand bed surface, I have been doing that for a while now and it grows back right where you clip it. The Caulerpa will grow runners everywhere, remember this is considered an invasive weed in many states. IMO it is beneficial to have the roots all over in the DSB because they can pull nutrients out of the sand and in return give you great food for your herbivores.

Palting · 03/19/2011, 07:30 PM

+1. I also use grape caulerpa, prune it down maybe once a month by chopping off rather than pulling up. Don't worry about cutting it down to bare runner. The caulerpa ability to grow back from a runner is what makes them a pest, if you want to get rid of them, but that's also what makes them resilient if you want to keep them.

Make sure you have herbivores in your DT, otherwise, the caulerpa can migrate and be a nuisance there.

RicksReefs · 03/19/2011, 07:39 PM

heavy pruning of just the 'leaves' could make it go sexual.
it's under attack and if it 'thinks' it has little choice, it will release it's gametes (going sexual).
I'd just pull it out, sand and all. the root system rarely goes very deep, 1/2 inch or less, and LFS will boost the credit rating of algae that will settle to the bottom nicely. at least I give more credit when people bring caulerpa in with wieght attached (sand/rubble)

caulerpa is a single cell algae, so whether it has roots into the sand or floating up into the refugium, it still pulls out the same nutrients.

reefmusic · 03/19/2011, 08:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RicksReefs

heavy pruning of just the 'leaves' could make it go sexual.
it's under attack and if it 'thinks' it has little choice, it will release it's gametes (going sexual).
I'd just pull it out, sand and all. the root system rarely goes very deep, 1/2 inch or less, and LFS will boost the credit rating of algae that will settle to the bottom nicely. at least I give more credit when people bring caulerpa in with wieght attached (sand/rubble)

caulerpa is a single cell algae, so whether it has roots into the sand or floating up into the refugium, it still pulls out the same nutrients.

Yes, one of the worries, and the reason for pruning old growth, is to avoid it going sexual.

btw, mine put roots nearly 2 inches long down into the sand

RicksReefs · 03/19/2011, 08:49 PM

during photosynthesis, it's spewing oxygen, so it's no big help in a DSB that relies on anoxic and anaerobic activity, so I'd still go with pulling it whole and trading it in.

give all the caulerpa light, and it will grow. If it gets shaded it may go sexual.

It's really not as difficult as it may sound. Light up caulerpa, and it's a friend.
give it to much darkness or heavy pruning and it may melt and cause problems.

I've lit mine 24/7 for decades and my only problem is finding a place to give my excess to.

03/19/2011, 05:55 PM	#1
reefmusic Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 99	Q. on caulerpa pruning in fuge I have caulerpa growing in my fuge, which also has a DSB. When I come to prune back the caulerpa, I find it has grow super-long 'roots' down into the coral sand. When I pull it out, it takes lots of the sand with it as the 'roots' adhere strongly to every grain. Two problems with this, one is the loss of the sand, but worse, the whole DSB gets disturbed. I have thought about just pruning the leaves and leaving the thick runner behind, but not sure if this is a good thing to do. Will it grow new leaves, or will the runner just die and pollute things? Also a fuge full of thick runners would result eventually. So, I guess I am looking for guidance. Should I grow the caulerpa in a different section of the sump maybe?

03/19/2011, 07:30 PM	#3
Palting Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Ohio Posts: 6,912	+1. I also use grape caulerpa, prune it down maybe once a month by chopping off rather than pulling up. Don't worry about cutting it down to bare runner. The caulerpa ability to grow back from a runner is what makes them a pest, if you want to get rid of them, but that's also what makes them resilient if you want to keep them. Make sure you have herbivores in your DT, otherwise, the caulerpa can migrate and be a nuisance there. __________________ Anything I post is just an opinion. One of many in this hobby. Believe and follow at your own risk of rapid and complete annihilation of all life in your tank :) Current Tank Info: Incept 3/2010, 150 RR, 50g sump, 20g fuge, 150w 15K MH x3, T5 actinics x8, moonlight LED x6, 1400gph return, Koralia 1400 x4, 300 g skimmer, 4 tangs, 2 mandarins, 2 perc, 6 line, 3 cardinals, 2 firefish, SPS, LPS, zoas, palys, shrooms, clam

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03/19/2011, 07:11 PM	#2
trondsbr Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Mandan, ND Posts: 67	I would clip it at the sand bed surface, I have been doing that for a while now and it grows back right where you clip it. The Caulerpa will grow runners everywhere, remember this is considered an invasive weed in many states. IMO it is beneficial to have the roots all over in the DSB because they can pull nutrients out of the sand and in return give you great food for your herbivores.

03/19/2011, 07:39 PM	#4
RicksReefs Moved On Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: In America's Dangling Junk State. Posts: 6,413	heavy pruning of just the 'leaves' could make it go sexual. it's under attack and if it 'thinks' it has little choice, it will release it's gametes (going sexual). I'd just pull it out, sand and all. the root system rarely goes very deep, 1/2 inch or less, and LFS will boost the credit rating of algae that will settle to the bottom nicely. at least I give more credit when people bring caulerpa in with wieght attached (sand/rubble) caulerpa is a single cell algae, so whether it has roots into the sand or floating up into the refugium, it still pulls out the same nutrients.

03/19/2011, 08:49 PM	#6
RicksReefs Moved On Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: In America's Dangling Junk State. Posts: 6,413	during photosynthesis, it's spewing oxygen, so it's no big help in a DSB that relies on anoxic and anaerobic activity, so I'd still go with pulling it whole and trading it in. give all the caulerpa light, and it will grow. If it gets shaded it may go sexual. It's really not as difficult as it may sound. Light up caulerpa, and it's a friend. give it to much darkness or heavy pruning and it may melt and cause problems. I've lit mine 24/7 for decades and my only problem is finding a place to give my excess to.