Caulerpa

[icehood24]

I was wondering if (for the types in the images) you have to or are able to trim caulerpa if it gets too long, or if it doesn’t get long but just keeps spreading (and if so are you able to just pick off too much?). Also which would look best for a 10 gallon aquarium? Are they easy to care for? And would sea lettuce be any better, if so can i have links to buy?

 

[Timfish]

Caulurpa generally will tolerate a lot of trimming without a problem and can be a nuisance since it can regrow from just a tiny fragment. Occasionally it will go asexual nad release a bunch of spores into the water dying in the process. If there's a large enough amount it can cause probelms with the nutrient spike caused by the process (and this is one reason I won't keep it).

 

[vetteguy53081]

taxifolia on the left grows moderately while the profera on the right grows semi-rapidly with presence of nitrate

 

[icehood24]

Caulurpa generally will tolerate a lot of trimming without a problem and can be a nuisance since it can regrow from just a tiny fragment. Occasionally it will go asexual nad release a bunch of spores into the water dying in the process. If there's a large enough amount it can cause probelms with the nutrient spike caused by the process (and this is one reason I won't keep it).

any other type of macroalgae you would recommend? I am hoping for a green one.

 

[Timfish]

Well, after the research I've read and my experiences using them I won't have any macro algae in my systems. Here's some links to some of the research:


"Coral Reefs in the Microbial Seas" This video compliments Rohwer's book of the same title (Paper back is ~$20, Kindle is ~$10), both deal with the conflicting roles of the different types of DOC in reef ecosystems. While there is overlap bewteen his book and the video both have information not covered by the other and together give a broader view of the complex relationships found in reef ecosystems

Changing Seas - Mysterious Microbes

Nitrogen cycling in hte coral holobiont

BActeria and Sponges

Maintenance of Coral Reef Health (refferences at the end)