ID's Please?

mluntz · 02/23/2014, 12:36 PM

I've had this stuff in the tank ever since the beginning, about eight months. It was purchased as "acquicultured live rock from the LFS. I've been reading about caulerpa and it looks similar, plus it looks like there is some other stuff on there that I am not sure of. It doesn't grow very fast and for the most part has not spread throughout the tank. My wife really likes it and I think she will be disappointed if it has to come out. It does not affect my water parameters, which are all fine. Thanks

csilverio · 02/23/2014, 12:43 PM

It seems like Caulerpa and Halimeda.
Both are usefull macroalgae.

mluntz · 02/23/2014, 12:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by csilverio

It seems like Caulerpa and Halimeda.
Both are usefull macroalgae.

Useful in what way? And if so, is it ok to leave it in the tank? Any other opinions?

MARINECRITTERS · 02/23/2014, 01:14 PM

The Caulerpa is very invasive, unless you want your tank covered in it, i would remove it.
The Halimeda is a slow growing calcifying algae that is more decorative and less invasive.
I also see some dragons breath, which is also usually decorative.

Overall I would remove as much of the Caulerpa as possible and leave the other macros I have mentioned.

ingtar_shinowa · 02/23/2014, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by csilverio

It seems like Caulerpa and Halimeda.
Both are usefull macroalgae.

caulerpa can take over a tank hard and fast, I would manually remove it.

ReneeF · 02/23/2014, 02:48 PM

It also is more likely to go sexual and release all it's nutrients. It looks pretty, but if it were me I'd rip it out or put it in a fuge with 24/7 lights.

mluntz · 02/24/2014, 11:06 AM

Is this pink fuzzy stuff also a form of dragons breath or is it something else?

smtank · 02/24/2014, 12:19 PM

Cotton Candy Algae, which can become invasive under the right conditions. It's beautiful though.

ReefDabs710 · 02/24/2014, 12:29 PM

Is there any other way to combat caulerpa other than manually removing?
Any dip that will remedy an infested rock?

mluntz · 02/24/2014, 01:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smtank

Cotton Candy Algae, which can become invasive under the right conditions. It's beautiful though.

Should it be removed from the tank?

smtank · 02/24/2014, 05:20 PM

If it were my tank I would remove it.

PunkHazard · 02/24/2014, 07:11 PM

I battled cotton candy for awhile in my tank. I would take the Caulerpa out manually. If the cotton candy is limited to one rock take the entire rock out and blast the spot with boiling water. If you pull it out in the tank it will fragment and spread. Keep up your water parameters in good shape particularly your Ph, alk, and calcium. Having the other macros in there will make it compete for nutrients.

ReeferBill · 02/24/2014, 07:18 PM

Do you have a sump or you can set up a refugium and grow the macroalgea in to compete with the display so it stays clean of the algae

mluntz · 02/25/2014, 09:37 AM

Well, I pulled the cotton candy out of the tank manually in mainly big pieces. Guess I'll keep an eye out to see if it pops up anywhere else. I'm going to leave the caulerpa in the tank for now as it seems to be only located in one spot and it isn't growing very fast.

saltyair · 02/25/2014, 09:50 AM

IMO a mistake to leave the caulerpa it will become invasive and work it's way into the rock like a vine.( it happened to me)
all the others would be great to have in a refug and most tangs and other cuc will eat it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mluntz

Well, I pulled the cotton candy out of the tank manually in mainly big pieces. Guess I'll keep an eye out to see if it pops up anywhere else. I'm going to leave the caulerpa in the tank for now as it seems to be only located in one spot and it isn't growing very fast.

mluntz · 02/25/2014, 10:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by saltyair

IMO a mistake to leave the caulerpa it will become invasive and work it's way into the rock like a vine.( it happened to me)
all the others would be great to have in a refug and most tangs and other cuc will eat it.

You might be right. I'll give it some thought and maybe pull it out this afternoon. I'm assuming it's ok to leave the Dragon's Breath where it is? I don't have a fuge or a sump, so hence the issue.

Magickiwi · 02/25/2014, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mluntz

You might be right. I'll give it some thought and maybe pull it out this afternoon. I'm assuming it's ok to leave the Dragon's Breath where it is? I don't have a fuge or a sump, so hence the issue.

If you get a tang they will make a quick snack of the dragon's breath. They eat it like popcorn...

mluntz · 02/25/2014, 03:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Magickiwi

If you get a tang they will make a quick snack of the dragon's breath. They eat it like popcorn...

The tank is too small for a tang. Is the Dragon's Breath a bad thing to have in the tank?

saltyair · 02/26/2014, 06:06 AM

No not at all - any herbivore will eat it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mluntz

The tank is too small for a tang. Is the Dragon's Breath a bad thing to have in the tank?

mluntz · 02/26/2014, 01:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by saltyair

No not at all - any herbivore will eat it.

I actually like the look of it. Provides nice color. So far, so good, nothing is nipping at it.

02/23/2014, 01:14 PM	#4
MARINECRITTERS Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 1,525	The Caulerpa is very invasive, unless you want your tank covered in it, i would remove it. The Halimeda is a slow growing calcifying algae that is more decorative and less invasive. I also see some dragons breath, which is also usually decorative. Overall I would remove as much of the Caulerpa as possible and leave the other macros I have mentioned. __________________ MarineCritters, life in the sea is superb Current Tank Info: 91 Gallon Reef

02/24/2014, 07:18 PM	#13
ReeferBill Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 1,906	Do you have a sump or you can set up a refugium and grow the macroalgea in to compete with the display so it stays clean of the algae __________________ I never realized I had to be a Chemist and a Marine Biologist to maintain a Reef Aquarium!

02/25/2014, 09:37 AM	#14
mluntz Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Millersville, Md. Posts: 727	Well, I pulled the cotton candy out of the tank manually in mainly big pieces. Guess I'll keep an eye out to see if it pops up anywhere else. I'm going to leave the caulerpa in the tank for now as it seems to be only located in one spot and it isn't growing very fast. __________________ 46 Gallon Bowfront, (1)Ocellaris Clownfish, (1)Carpenter wrasse, (1)Coral Beauty, (1)Kole Tang

02/23/2014, 12:43 PM	#2
csilverio Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Lisbon - Portugal Posts: 49	It seems like Caulerpa and Halimeda. Both are usefull macroalgae.

02/23/2014, 02:48 PM	#6
ReneeF Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Boise Posts: 155	It also is more likely to go sexual and release all it's nutrients. It looks pretty, but if it were me I'd rip it out or put it in a fuge with 24/7 lights.

02/24/2014, 12:19 PM	#8
smtank Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 1,204	Cotton Candy Algae, which can become invasive under the right conditions. It's beautiful though.

02/24/2014, 12:29 PM	#9
ReefDabs710 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Asheville nc Posts: 80	Is there any other way to combat caulerpa other than manually removing? Any dip that will remedy an infested rock?

02/24/2014, 05:20 PM	#11
smtank Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 1,204	If it were my tank I would remove it.

02/24/2014, 07:11 PM	#12
PunkHazard Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Sarasota, FL Posts: 4	I battled cotton candy for awhile in my tank. I would take the Caulerpa out manually. If the cotton candy is limited to one rock take the entire rock out and blast the spot with boiling water. If you pull it out in the tank it will fragment and spread. Keep up your water parameters in good shape particularly your Ph, alk, and calcium. Having the other macros in there will make it compete for nutrients.