Caulerpa taxifolia, grape caulerpa and chaeto

blacktangs · 10/05/2005, 11:13 AM

hi there,
i am new to refugiums and i currently have 3 types of macro algae in my refugium running on 20 hours. caulerpa taxifolia, grape caulerpa and chaeto. i would like to know if i should separate the different species of macro in their own areas because right now they are growing all together in one clump. Also, is it better or worse to have this variety of plants? should i cut back to chaeto only? i kind of have a feeling my taxifolia will go sexual during the 4 hour off period.
thanks for your time and any help would be appreciated.

greenighs · 10/05/2005, 03:18 PM

I don't think a four-hour break from light will cause them to spore. And you don't have to separate them ... but if one variety does grow faster than the other, it could choke out the other kind. My prolifera overtook my seagrasses, for example, because they grew way faster.

I really like chaetomorpha. It's like living filter floss. It grows in this huge matted clump. I shake it out in a bucket from time to time to harvest pods.

blacktangs · 10/10/2005, 11:17 AM

thanks greenighs!

10/05/2005, 11:13 AM	#1
blacktangs Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Dublin/Pleasanton, CA Posts: 205	Caulerpa taxifolia, grape caulerpa and chaeto hi there, i am new to refugiums and i currently have 3 types of macro algae in my refugium running on 20 hours. caulerpa taxifolia, grape caulerpa and chaeto. i would like to know if i should separate the different species of macro in their own areas because right now they are growing all together in one clump. Also, is it better or worse to have this variety of plants? should i cut back to chaeto only? i kind of have a feeling my taxifolia will go sexual during the 4 hour off period. thanks for your time and any help would be appreciated.

10/10/2005, 11:17 AM	#3
blacktangs Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Dublin/Pleasanton, CA Posts: 205	thanks greenighs! __________________ reefing 4 life Current Tank Info: 250G CD Starphire SPS Dominate Reef / 2019 New build

10/05/2005, 03:18 PM	#2
greenighs Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Connecticut Posts: 362	I don't think a four-hour break from light will cause them to spore. And you don't have to separate them ... but if one variety does grow faster than the other, it could choke out the other kind. My prolifera overtook my seagrasses, for example, because they grew way faster. I really like chaetomorpha. It's like living filter floss. It grows in this huge matted clump. I shake it out in a bucket from time to time to harvest pods.