Bacterial bloom after cutting caulerpa

[nessyyy]

Hi guys, I find that every time I trim my caulerpa I get a bacterial bloom happening in my tank. Is this a coincidence or is it linked? For reference a picture of my tank. It is mostly growing on the rock work and at the back.

 

[nessyyy]

Added info, the species is caulerpa brachypus.

 

[Roachbeef19]

What coral is the front right bottom. Beautiful!!!

 

[nessyyy]

What coral is the front right bottom. Beautiful!!!

It is a devils hand coral Sarcophyton sp.

 

[Cory]

It isnt unusual to me because caulerpa has glucose in it. And bacteria eat glucose.

 

[Scrubber_steve]

Hi guys, I find that every time I trim my caulerpa I get a bacterial bloom happening in my tank. Is this a coincidence or is it linked?

When algae is stressed it releases a lot of exudates which contain organics - glucose as Cory pointed out, for maybe thirty minutes. Next time you stress the caulerpa by trimming it take it out of the tank if you can. Leave it in a container of tank water for half an hour.

 

[nessyyy]

When algae is stressed it releases a lot of exudates which contain organics - glucose as Cory pointed out, for maybe thirty minutes. Next time you stress the caulerpa by trimming it take it out of the tank if you can. Leave it in a container of tank water for half an hour.

Thanks for your reply. Problem is they've rooted themselves onto the rock :S Is there a better way? Or do you think trimming one or two stems every couple of days is better?

 

[nessyyy]

It isnt unusual to me because caulerpa has glucose in it. And bacteria eat glucose.

Thanks for your reply, makes sense

 

[Scrubber_steve]

Thanks for your reply. Problem is they've rooted themselves onto the rock :S Is there a better way? Or do you think trimming one or two stems every couple of days is better?

I not sure if your caulpera is a specimen or a nuisance algae?

If its a specimen you could run activated carbon to help remove the organics. Do you skim? this will also help.
Otherwise, yeh, don't trim all at once. Or trim all at once & do a water change.

cheers

 

[Cory]

Probably the small amount of glucose will help remove nutrients anyway. May even be ok for corals. Does it cause any problems?

 

[nessyyy]

I not sure if your caulpera is a specimen or a nuisance algae?

If its a specimen you could run activated carbon to help remove the organics. Do you skim? this will also help.
Otherwise, yeh, don't trim all at once. Or trim all at once & do a water change.

cheers

I do both. It was an algae I wanted to have in my tank for the seahorses so it was a specimen. It grew so fast though! Also is it better to cut or pull and tear?

They also root so strongly to the rock, what is the best way to remove the parts that come too close to corals?

 

[nessyyy]

Probably the small amount of glucose will help remove nutrients anyway. May even be ok for corals. Does it cause any problems?

My GSP doesnt look too happy during the bacteria blooms. My leathers arent as big as they usually are either and are closed a lot more than usual.

 

[Scrubber_steve]

I do both. It was an algae I wanted to have in my tank for the seahorses so it was a specimen. It grew so fast though! Also is it better to cut or pull and tear?

They also root so strongly to the rock, what is the best way to remove the parts that come too close to corals?

Cut.
Scrape it off the rock at the roots.

 

[Cory]

Id love to see a picture if possible

 

[Dan_P]

Hi guys, I find that every time I trim my caulerpa I get a bacterial bloom happening in my tank. Is this a coincidence or is it linked? For reference a picture of my tank. It is mostly growing on the rock work and at the back.

Possibly trim less of the algae more often to avoid surges in algae “juices” and bacteria blooms.