Caulerpa went sexual, need help!

[StealthJett]

So my tank is 80 gallons and I’m fairly new to the hobby. I mistakenly got caulerpa cause I wanted live plants and long story short the caulerpa went sexual turning my tank greenish yellow.
Tank temp 78
Nitrates low - (I have api test strips so no exact numbers)
Nitrites low
salinity 1.022
Ammonia spiked today at 1 which is due to the caulerpa I think.

I have a rabbitfish - who is doing extremely poor due to the oxygen levels being affected by the caulerpa, two clowns, a dragon goby, fire shrimp, 2 bumblebee snails, an emerald crab, and a bi color angel fish. Tank has been up for 3 weeks. Just looking for the course of action for dealing with the caulerpa. And please I’m new so hold your punches.

also my idea right now is to go buy a UV sterilizer and do a large water change tomorrow

 

[Crabs McJones]

Pull the remaining caulerpa if you haven't already, and yes do some big water changes to get that water out of there

 

[Deezill]

Pull the remaining caulerpa if you haven't already, and yes do some big water changes to get that water out of there

Agreed.

 

[Deezill]

So my tank is 80 gallons and I’m fairly new to the hobby. I mistakenly got caulerpa cause I wanted live plants and long story short the caulerpa went sexual turning my tank greenish yellow.
Tank temp 78
Nitrates low - (I have api test strips so no exact numbers)
Nitrites low
salinity 1.022
Ammonia spiked today at 1 which is due to the caulerpa I think.

I have a rabbitfish - who is doing extremely poor due to the oxygen levels being affected by the caulerpa, two clowns, a dragon goby, fire shrimp, 2 bumblebee snails, an emerald crab, and a bi color angel fish. Tank has been up for 3 weeks. Just looking for the course of action for dealing with the caulerpa. And please I’m new so hold your punches.

also my idea right now is to go buy a UV sterilizer and do a large water change tomorrow

How did it go sexual did you turn the lights out on it?

 

[Deezill]

Welcome to R2R by the way.

 

[fragit]

If the tank has only been running for 3 weeks then there could be a multitude of issues. First is ammonia not being processed into nitrite and nitrate as evidenced by your numbers. I would say that green color is more likely Algea blooming than Caulerpa in a 3week old tank.

 

[Fishbird]

How long have the fish been in the tank? And how long have you had the caulerpa?

Do you have an extra powerhead or airstone that you can add to increase oxygen in the short term?

 

[ca1ore]

Three weeks really isn’t long enough for a new tank to cycle properly. Best advice for a new reefer is to slow down. Caulerpa was popular in reef tanks 20 years ago but fell out of favor because it’s either invasive and impossible to remove or it goes sexual and releases all it’s contents into the tank. Water changes and run carbon. UV isn't likely to help.

 

[Rlreefing]

Mate, that seems like a heavy stock load for a brand new tank. I would do a 30% water change followed by 10% bi daily for two cycles while daily testing your water.