Grape caulerpa turned white/ went sexual I believe. In Trouble?

oct2274 · 04/19/2007, 01:38 AM

I looked in my fuge tonight and a about fist size chunk of grape caulerpa had turned white. I'm pretty sure it went sexual and I tossed it out. I put new carbon in the sump after this, but I'm afraid that this could poison my tank? I have alot of chaeto in the fuge, about 5 times more of that than the amount of caulerpa that I tossed out. A skimmer was running the whole time. I only have about 10 gallons of water made up right now. Total water volume of tank and sump is around 130-140 gallons. What are the possible effects this can have on my tank? Do I need to worry about it destroying my tank?

Tang Salad · 04/19/2007, 03:21 AM

It doesn't really poison the tank by turning white. Rather it just releases all of the nutrients that it absorbed while growing. The best thing to do is a large water change to dilute high nutrients in the system.

If you regularly prune the caulerpa, it will have a smaller chance of whitening. Otherwise, maybe get rid of it all and just go with Chaeto. GL

boxfishpooalot · 04/19/2007, 04:06 AM

I agree with TS. Just wondering, did you run the fuge light 24/7 or did you have it 12 on 12 off or somthing? Also do you dose iron? Lastly do you have any kalk or high alkalinity supplement dripping nearby?

Frick-n-Frags · 04/19/2007, 05:04 AM

a) 24/7 lights = no crash = major myth. this is a nutrient/chemistry issue, not a lights issue

b) when caulerpa turns clear, you have about 24hrs while it reforms its mass into spores before it disintegrates to get it out intact, or if it is just dying, get it before the unchanged plant mass disintegrates - same thing either way

c) the amount of "toxin" from caulerpa is minimal. as mentioned, it is the nutrient spike that causes trouble, so just pull it as it goes clear

also, the fact that only part of your caulerpa wad died may mean that that section was old and ready to die, so don't discount the possibility of life being normal. It is there as a nutrient control. If you are on top of the game, some macros should starve out, or starve down. That just means you are winning.

I was actually happy to see my chaeto wad lose 90% of its mass this winter and watch my xenia (which I have had for 10 years in mass quantities) stalks just hanging on, borderline malnutrition(only have 6-7 colonies). To me, I am also winning the nutrient war.

BTW, chaeto dies too, in chunks. but it can't trigger the entire population to crash like caulerpa or halimeda can

04/19/2007, 01:38 AM	#1
oct2274 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Plano, TX Posts: 2,347	Grape caulerpa turned white/ went sexual I believe. In Trouble? I looked in my fuge tonight and a about fist size chunk of grape caulerpa had turned white. I'm pretty sure it went sexual and I tossed it out. I put new carbon in the sump after this, but I'm afraid that this could poison my tank? I have alot of chaeto in the fuge, about 5 times more of that than the amount of caulerpa that I tossed out. A skimmer was running the whole time. I only have about 10 gallons of water made up right now. Total water volume of tank and sump is around 130-140 gallons. What are the possible effects this can have on my tank? Do I need to worry about it destroying my tank?

04/19/2007, 03:21 AM	#2
Tang Salad Algae skeptic Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: 78702 Posts: 3,098	It doesn't really poison the tank by turning white. Rather it just releases all of the nutrients that it absorbed while growing. The best thing to do is a large water change to dilute high nutrients in the system. If you regularly prune the caulerpa, it will have a smaller chance of whitening. Otherwise, maybe get rid of it all and just go with Chaeto. GL __________________ Your algae is not special. Current Tank Info: TBD ADA 120-P SPS NLPS

04/19/2007, 04:06 AM	#3
boxfishpooalot Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: canada, Grande Praire, Ab Posts: 5,824	I agree with TS. Just wondering, did you run the fuge light 24/7 or did you have it 12 on 12 off or somthing? Also do you dose iron? Lastly do you have any kalk or high alkalinity supplement dripping nearby? __________________ Its a good idea to have a refrence sample for alk test kits. 1.1350 grams of baking soda in 1gallon of distilled water=10dkh. Check your alkalinity test kit! Algae is Mother Natures phosphate remover Current Tank Info: 220 galon mixed reef.

04/19/2007, 05:04 AM	#4
Frick-n-Frags Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: north central OH Posts: 10,740	a) 24/7 lights = no crash = major myth. this is a nutrient/chemistry issue, not a lights issue b) when caulerpa turns clear, you have about 24hrs while it reforms its mass into spores before it disintegrates to get it out intact, or if it is just dying, get it before the unchanged plant mass disintegrates - same thing either way c) the amount of "toxin" from caulerpa is minimal. as mentioned, it is the nutrient spike that causes trouble, so just pull it as it goes clear also, the fact that only part of your caulerpa wad died may mean that that section was old and ready to die, so don't discount the possibility of life being normal. It is there as a nutrient control. If you are on top of the game, some macros should starve out, or starve down. That just means you are winning. I was actually happy to see my chaeto wad lose 90% of its mass this winter and watch my xenia (which I have had for 10 years in mass quantities) stalks just hanging on, borderline malnutrition(only have 6-7 colonies). To me, I am also winning the nutrient war. BTW, chaeto dies too, in chunks. but it can't trigger the entire population to crash like caulerpa or halimeda can __________________ Only Dead fish swim with the current. Current Tank Info: 2 50 gal tanks, sump, still BB