Caulurpa ashmeadii gone sexual

[ClownWrangler]

I received a bunch of beautiful healthy macro from gulf coast ecosystems. I put it in a holding tank for QT. I accidentally let the nitrates get low the first couple days and the Caulurpa ashmeadii went sexual. Yes, I should have divided it. My bad. When this happens is it pretty much dead? Luckily the C. paspaloides didn't go.

 

[lapin]

@Subsea
Any help for this one?

 

[Tamberav]

Are some of the 'roots' still intact? It can grow back from there.

 

[Subsea]

@Subsea
Any help for this one?

When seaweed goes sexual, it’s a survival technique that disperses spores into the water, Those spores can emerge anytime, including a year later. Most red macros don’t show holdfast like Caulerpa Padpoides & Prolifera. When red macro dies, it turns florescent orange then melts. Whatever is still red will come back.

So, in this ornamental macro lagoon, note that both Dragon’s Breath & Caulerpa Paspoides has small patches going sexual. No worries, The mollies will eat it.

 

[ClownWrangler]

When seaweed goes sexual, it’s a survival technique that disperses spores into the water, Those spores can emerge anytime, including a year later. Most red macros don’t show holdfast like Caulerpa Padpoides & Prolifera. When red macro dies, it turns florescent orange then melts. Whatever is still red will come back.

So, in this ornamental macro lagoon, note that both Dragon’s Breath & Caulerpa Paspoides has small patches going sexual. No worries, The mollies will eat it.

Thanks. Luckily I had two strands and one didn't go. I cut it in half to be safe. The one that did go went to mush. DO the mollies bother any of the softer macros? I'm thinking about adding some to a few fishless tanks for a more consistent source of nitrogen.

 

[Subsea]

Thanks. Luckily I had two strands and one didn't go. I cut it in half to be safe. The one that did go went to mush. DO the mollies bother any of the softer macros? I'm thinking about adding some to a few fishless tanks for a more consistent source of nitrogen.

Mollies are not aggressive grazers. I find that mollies graze most on biofilm on macro, rocks and glass.