Caulerpa Algae

[RoTTen2TheCore]

So i've been fighting a losing battle with Caulerpa Algae in my tank for about a year now, no matter how much i chop out it keeps coming back in greater numbers! At this point i just feel like letting it grow like mad. Does it have any positive effects like bringing down nitrate levels? If so, would letting it grow to do so be a good idea because i find it easier to remove once it grows a bit.

[Juruense]

Every time you remove some you are exporting excess from your tank and that is a good thing.

IMHO caulerpa is the devil.

[Sk8r]

Satan.

A sea hare will allegedly eat the stuff, but they are an expert-only creature and must not be kept with aggressive fishes.

[Aaroneous]

To clarify, what type of caulerpa?

[RoTTen2TheCore]

Never seen any sea hares in any LFS around here. I think its called Grape Caulerpa Algae, its green vines with little bubbles
And i would gladly sacrifice a goat to appease it :P

[Toddrtrex]

I had some in my 58 for a bit -- came with some live rock. I manually pruned it. I noticed that it got worse around the time of one of my back surgeries, when I couldn't do water changes as often. Now that I am getting help with my water changes -- weekly 5 gallon -- it has died back completely.

So, what I would suggest is pruning it back as much as you can, and then increase your water changes --- using 0 TDS RO/DI water. In addition make sure that your skimmer is working properly, and that you aren't over feeding. Basically, limit the excess amount of nutrients in your tank, and it will die back.

[jherrin215]

I'm not sure that it's the stuff i'm thinking about but if it is a Vlameni tang will tear it up!!! I think it might eat until it died though. We had one the ate it like a long piece of spagetti!!

[RoTTen2TheCore]

I read somewhere its somewhat toxic. Like a jalapeno pepper, eat a few and its no problem but eat a lot and u may find uself with a few digestive problems.

[Whys]

You could be thinking of caulerpa taxifolia. Few things eat it, thus it was a popular aquarium plant for display tanks back before it became a global marine disaster. The problem? It was selectively breed in millions of petri-dishes (aquariums) then accidentally released into the wild with powerful and destructive genetic qualities and no natural predators. If that's the kind you have, then it should be leafy like a fern.

Personally, any amount of any algae pretty much makes me sick. :]

[Sk8r]

I have had it survive rock cooking.

Things that eat it: scribbled rabbitfish, which go on to eat your lps corals.
Tripneustes gratillis urchin, which grow fast, and knock down your corals---and can't get the roots.
Vlamingi tangs---which grow the size of a school bus. I have had a purple tang eat it, and had a yellow tang completely ignore it.

[rhino509]

onespot foxface LOVES the stuff.had issues with the stuff as well at the beginning.added the foxface its a problem no more.

when i say loves the stuff i mean it.was the other night i was flipping over rocks to look for aptasia.normally the foxface would be hiding,as soon as the fish notices the grapes on the bottom of the rocks,he comes out and starts feasting.

[Whys]

Looks fat and happy.

[RoTTen2TheCore]

Thats the crap right there!!!!
Grape Caulerpa
C. Racemosa
Will a foxface eat it? cause i think that's about the only fish mentioned that i would consider adding to my tank.

[loosecannon]

Rotty I had the same problem in a 30 gal. The only thing that worked for me was cooking the rock!

[bubblybumpkin]

it does take out nitrate

[Whys]

It is not entirely useless, just not very popular. The main issue I've seen others complain about is that it can eventually go sexual. Especially if you suddenly alter your lighting schedule. Once it goes sexual, it clouds your water badly with spores and can lead to a sudden spike in your levels.

Those who don't want it, loath it, because it roots in the rock and becomes nearly impossible to entirely remove.

There is a bit of the stuff attached to nearly everything I get from my LFS, but I also have an Emerald crab in the display tank and I've seen him eat it there, so I'm not too worried about it ever taking over.

[Aaroneous]

I have caulerpa nummularia and racemosa growing on one rock in my tank. I keep it at the top and watch it. From what I can tell, my longhorn cowfish eats them both; unless he’s focusing on one in that tangled mess and I can’t tell which one it is. I see my larger snails hang out and chow down every now and then too. I have kept it in my tank because it is a nutrient exporter and it will work well in a refugium if I ever get one setup. The cowfish also seems to be keeping it in check pretty well.