Colerpa in Refugium

bmallia82 · 01/25/2009, 07:42 PM

I have a refugium built into my sump. How much colerpa to you want to keep in the sump? My is def covering the entire surface and goes about 1/2 way down.

Do we need to control this?

RickD63 · 01/25/2009, 07:47 PM

Use chaeto instead of caulerpa. You trim it as needed.

Whys · 01/25/2009, 07:51 PM

Caulerpa will work, but not everyone likes it. Can be difficult to remove once established tho. If you are happy with caulerpa, then the amount you describe sounds okay. As above, trim as needed.

jeffnsa · 01/25/2009, 08:05 PM

some people say to cut it with a pair of scissors but i would just pull it out by the handfull and feed it to my tangs.

Whys · 01/25/2009, 08:28 PM

If you put everything you take out right back into your system, then it won't be exporting nitrates, as far as I know.

fireman676 · 01/25/2009, 09:58 PM

thinning it out does 2 things.
1. exports nitrates
2. stimulates new growth
i would trim it back as much as a 1/4 or a 1/3
good luck with the caulerpa as it has a tendency to go sexual and make a big mess in your DT. when i was using it i had it happen twice.

robot2222 · 01/26/2009, 03:13 AM

it wont go sexual if u trimm back and let it complete its lifecycle.

Whys · 01/26/2009, 03:15 AM

robot, you're the first I've heard say this. How does one let it complete its lifecycle?

jeffnsa · 01/26/2009, 06:21 AM

i think he ment to say" not complete its life cycle". some plant will spread their spores at the end of their life cycles, i don't know about calurpa's life. just keep you refugium lights on 24/7.

why throw dried seaweed (nori) into your tank when you have live supply of food for it. nori has just as much nitrates and phosphates as calurpa from your tank, plus you get the benifits of live food which is much healthier than dried.

01/25/2009, 07:42 PM	#1
bmallia82 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: NY Posts: 242	Colerpa in Refugium I have a refugium built into my sump. How much colerpa to you want to keep in the sump? My is def covering the entire surface and goes about 1/2 way down. Do we need to control this?

01/25/2009, 09:58 PM	#6
fireman676 Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Lexington KY Posts: 127	thinning it out does 2 things. 1. exports nitrates 2. stimulates new growth i would trim it back as much as a 1/4 or a 1/3 good luck with the caulerpa as it has a tendency to go sexual and make a big mess in your DT. when i was using it i had it happen twice. __________________ "Beer is living proof God loves us and wants us to be happy." Ben Franklin Current Tank Info: Oceanic 75 gal RR, 20 gal fuge

01/26/2009, 03:13 AM	#7
robot2222 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: phoenix, arizonia Posts: 1,283	it wont go sexual if u trimm back and let it complete its lifecycle. __________________ 14 gallon biocube Current Tank Info: 72 gallon bowfront

01/25/2009, 07:47 PM	#2
RickD63 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Texas Posts: 61	Use chaeto instead of caulerpa. You trim it as needed.

01/25/2009, 07:51 PM	#3
Whys Moved On Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Spokane, WA Posts: 3,263	Caulerpa will work, but not everyone likes it. Can be difficult to remove once established tho. If you are happy with caulerpa, then the amount you describe sounds okay. As above, trim as needed.

01/25/2009, 08:05 PM	#4
jeffnsa Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: san antonio,tx Posts: 150	some people say to cut it with a pair of scissors but i would just pull it out by the handfull and feed it to my tangs.

01/25/2009, 08:28 PM	#5
Whys Moved On Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Spokane, WA Posts: 3,263	If you put everything you take out right back into your system, then it won't be exporting nitrates, as far as I know.

01/26/2009, 03:15 AM	#8
Whys Moved On Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Spokane, WA Posts: 3,263	robot, you're the first I've heard say this. How does one let it complete its lifecycle?

01/26/2009, 06:21 AM	#9
jeffnsa Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: san antonio,tx Posts: 150	i think he ment to say" not complete its life cycle". some plant will spread their spores at the end of their life cycles, i don't know about calurpa's life. just keep you refugium lights on 24/7. why throw dried seaweed (nori) into your tank when you have live supply of food for it. nori has just as much nitrates and phosphates as calurpa from your tank, plus you get the benifits of live food which is much healthier than dried.