Caulerpa chemnitzia going sexual?

WheatToast · Sep 19, 2021

Is one of my Caulerpa chemnitzia (Caulerpa peltata) specimens going sexual? All of its blades are starting to look a little pale and splotchy.
The specimen in question:

Its healthy looking companion (and yes, I can see that Aiptasia):

WheatToast · Sep 20, 2021

Anyone?
More images:

Isopod80 · Sep 20, 2021

Very possible. Here's a pic of C.prolifera going sexual if that helps.

WallyB · Sep 20, 2021

I had a different type of Caulerpa, and it would do the same. Go Clear at the tips (as in first photo below)
Those tips would die off but main peice went on.

This was a basement tank that was the main filter for the Upstair Kitchen Tank.

IT WAS NOT A DISPLAY TANK, but fun to visit. Had one fish. The Copperband you see at bottom. He had pods galore.

One thing to note. When the Caulerpa can have a instant mass event releasing it green substance.

One morning I woke up and the KITCHEN DISPLAY tank was like this. Cloudy (Green).
The Filtration Tank with the Caulerpa was all transparent Caulerpa remenants. Kind of a Mass Bleach Event.

Nothing happened to the Corals. I ran carbon and things cleared up. The dead Algae was removed.

It shouldn't be an issue with your small piece. Die off can happen.

Isopod80 · Sep 20, 2021

Here's one of a similar variety.

WheatToast · Sep 20, 2021

WallyB said:
I had a different type of Caulerpa, and it would do the same. Go Clear at the tips (as in first photo below)
Those tips would die off but main peice went on.

This was a basement tank that was the main filter for the Upstair Kitchen Tank.

IT WAS NOT A DISPLAY TANK, but fun to visit. Had one fish. The Copperband you see at bottom. He had pods galore.

One thing to note. When the Caulerpa can have a instant mass event releasing it green substance.

One morning I woke up and the KITCHEN DISPLAY tank was like this. Cloudy (Green).
The Filtration Tank with the Caulerpa was all transparent Caulerpa remenants. Kind of a Mass Bleach Event.

Nothing happened to the Corals. I ran carbon and things cleared up. The dead Algae was removed.

It shouldn't be an issue with your small piece. Die off can happen.

Awesome looking tank! Thanks for the effort to write this! I feel much more reassured now!
If anything goes wrong, I can always pull out some BRS carbon, Poly-Filter, and my Macro Aqua M-50 HOB Protein Skimmer.

WheatToast · Sep 20, 2021

Isopod80 said:
Very possible. Here's a pic of C.prolifera going sexual if that helps.

Isopod80 said:
Here's one of a similar variety.

Fantastic photos! My Caulerpa chemnitzia has not reached the state of the image #2 algae, but I will keep my eyes peeled.

You’re so active on this site! I love seeing your informative posts!

WheatToast · Sep 20, 2021

Update: not much has changed… and that’s mostly it.

Isopod80 · Sep 20, 2021

WheatToast said:
Update: not much has changed… and that’s mostly it.

Just keep an eye on it for now. I see you have some Aiptasia to kill in the meantime.

WheatToast · Sep 20, 2021

Isopod80 said:
Just keep an eye on it for now. I see you have some Aiptasia to kill in the meantime.

I have been considering Berghia nudibranchs for a few months, though my Nero 5 looks like it could make quick work of them

. Maybe I should try a Peppermint shrimp instead (no corals for it to potentially consume in my build). Love its looks!

Isopod80 · Sep 20, 2021

WheatToast said:
I have been considering Berghia nudibranchs for a few months, though my Nero 5 looks like it could make quick work of them . Maybe I should try a Peppermint shrimp instead (no corals for it to potentially consume in my build). Love its looks!

The Berghia are a good option. Peppermints are very hit or miss. Personally, I zap Aiptasia with a laser. I've been doing it for some time and have had great results. I know many say it just helps spread them but in my experience they don't spread any faster than any of the other common methods. I zap an average of 3-4 tiny ones a week and it's much quicker and easier than other methods for me. I don't even have to open the lid. I just zap them through the glass. I do it at night when the fish are in hiding. Obviously, there are some precautions necessary with this method but it works well for me.

Mr_Knightley · Sep 20, 2021

WheatToast said:
Update: not much has changed… and that’s mostly it.

Though I don't have much to add here, that sponge is so cool! Do you know what it is? How have to cared for it? Sorry to hijack the thread, but I would love to know.

Isopod80 · Sep 20, 2021

Mr_Knightley said:
Though I don't have much to add here, that sponge is so cool! Do you know what it is? How have to cared for it? Sorry to hijack the thread, but I would love to know.

Looks like a Clathrina sponge to me. They're pretty common hitchikers. Pretty hardy as well.

Mr_Knightley · Sep 20, 2021

Isopod80 said:
Looks like a Clathrina sponge to me. They're pretty common hitchikers. Pretty hardy as well.

Ah, I can see it now. The color was throwing me off a bit lol

WheatToast · Sep 20, 2021

Mr_Knightley said:
Though I don't have much to add here, that sponge is so cool! Do you know what it is? How have to cared for it? Sorry to hijack the thread, but I would love to know.

This guy? It’s pink in coloration with some diatom growth on it (I have got to get something more substantial than Dove snails). Not sure about the exact species (maybe Clathrina, as @Isopod80 said). I found it on some live rock at my LFS, got it bagged in water, and have seen it slowly grow for nearly a month. I do not do much to care for it, although the lack of a skimmer on my system and the two doses of Kent Marine PhytoPlex I have used so far used probably help.
Edit: The skimmer I mentioned in a previous post is currently lying around, ready for usage whenever need be.

Mr_Knightley · Sep 20, 2021

WheatToast said:
This guy? It’s pink in coloration with some diatom growth on it (I have got to get something more substantial than Dove snails). Not sure about the exact species (maybe Clathrina, as @Isopod80 said). I found it on some live rock at my LFS, got it bagged in water, and have seen it slowly grow for nearly a month. I do not do much to care for it, although the lack of a skimmer on my system and the two doses of Kent Marine PhytoPlex I have used so far used probably help.
Edit: The skimmer I mentioned in a previous post is currently lying around, ready for usage whenever need be.

That's so neat, thanks. I've got a few colonies of a yellow Clathrina throughout my tank, I'll keep an eye out for other species.