Dosing Caulerpa epson salts?!

bundybear1981 · 10/25/2011, 06:15 AM

Hey all,
I recently got my macro algae from my LFS (I think its Caulerpa prolifera type, they werent exactly sure :/ but not much choice in LFS, only salt water place within 100 miles)
They advised me to dose it with epson salts if it starts to lose its color but I'm worried that might throw my water chemistry.
Thoughts? Is it safe / advisable to dose it? Its growning at a nice rate at this time.
thanks,
Jas

Dustin1300 · 10/25/2011, 07:28 AM

Epsom salt is Magnesium Sulfate but typically not as pure as the ones we use for dosing. When dosing mag you typically use Magnesium Sulfate/Chloride.

I'm not sure on the macro algae relation to Magnesium though

Palting · 10/25/2011, 12:05 PM

Unless he knows something most people don't, caulerpa doesn't need magnesium supplements. I will do just fine with the magnesium levels in the well maintained saltwater tank. Caulerpa are also one of the hardiest and fastest growing macroalgae you can have.

Careful with caulerpa. Unless you have hardworking herbivores like tangs, it can overgrow your tank. Even if you put it in your refugium, it can migrate to your DT. I use grape caulerpa for my refugium, but then I have 4 tangs and an angel to mow it down if it ever gets to the DT.

10/25/2011, 06:15 AM	#1
bundybear1981 Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Bundaberg, Queensland, Australia Posts: 685 Blog Entries: 1	Dosing Caulerpa epson salts?! Hey all, I recently got my macro algae from my LFS (I think its Caulerpa prolifera type, they werent exactly sure :/ but not much choice in LFS, only salt water place within 100 miles) They advised me to dose it with epson salts if it starts to lose its color but I'm worried that might throw my water chemistry. Thoughts? Is it safe / advisable to dose it? Its growning at a nice rate at this time. thanks, Jas __________________ Tank inhabitants : 2x Clownfish, 1x Blue Koran, 1x Foxface Lo, 1xCoral Beauty, 1x Blue Tang, 1x Sailfin Tang Current Tank Info: New Build : 250g (6x3x2) with 2x RW15 pumps, 2x 2200lph return pumps, Tunze ATO, Jebao Dosing Pump, AquaOne G220 Skimmer

10/25/2011, 07:28 AM	#2
Dustin1300 Reefaholic Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Carmel, IN Posts: 5,135	Epsom salt is Magnesium Sulfate but typically not as pure as the ones we use for dosing. When dosing mag you typically use Magnesium Sulfate/Chloride. I'm not sure on the macro algae relation to Magnesium though __________________ INDMAS President Check out my tank in the Large Tank Forums, "A Reefaholic's 1000+ Gallon Mixed Reef System Build"! Current Tank Info: 600 Gallon DT, 140 Gallon Grow Out Tank, 125 Gallon Sump, 90 Gallon Fuge, 200 Gallon Fish QT, 15 Gallon Frag QT

10/25/2011, 12:05 PM	#3
Palting Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Ohio Posts: 6,912	Unless he knows something most people don't, caulerpa doesn't need magnesium supplements. I will do just fine with the magnesium levels in the well maintained saltwater tank. Caulerpa are also one of the hardiest and fastest growing macroalgae you can have. Careful with caulerpa. Unless you have hardworking herbivores like tangs, it can overgrow your tank. Even if you put it in your refugium, it can migrate to your DT. I use grape caulerpa for my refugium, but then I have 4 tangs and an angel to mow it down if it ever gets to the DT. __________________ 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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