Fern thing in chaeto

sotsreef · Jan 28, 2018

what is this? It is in the chaeto that I just bought.

cloak · Jan 28, 2018

It looks like some type of Caulerpa.

http://www.saltcorner.com/AquariumLibrary/browsegroupspecies.php?GroupID=86&filter=0

Kremis · Jan 28, 2018

looks like a type of caulerpa. if you dont want it to grow in your sump remove it
https://www.google.com/search?q=cau...zvvYAhUL4IMKHViMA9kQ_AUICigB&biw=1279&bih=649

KJ · Jan 28, 2018

Caulerpa taxifolia.

sotsreef · Jan 28, 2018

Kremis said:
looks like a type of caulerpa. if you dont want it to grow in your sump remove it
https://www.google.com/search?q=cau...zvvYAhUL4IMKHViMA9kQ_AUICigB&biw=1279&bih=649

Is it safe?

reef lover · Jan 28, 2018

I have some in my sump doesn't seem to get outta control.

1MCp · Jan 28, 2018

It's a macroalgae type. I do believe they go sexual, but if that's all you've found, I personally see no problem keeping it in your sump.

Kremis · Jan 28, 2018

YogiReef said:
Is it safe?

it is safe until it decides to spawn or "go sexual" which will result in a tank crash. I personally removed all of it from my sump due to this risk.

Orm Embar · Jan 29, 2018

Kremis said:
it is safe until it decides to spawn or "go sexual" which will result in a tank crash. I personally removed all of it from my sump due to this risk.

I agree - I've had Caulerpa go sexual and wipe my reef. Having said that, I didn't keep it pruned (and other reefers who do prune it don't have problems). It does grow quite rapidly, but I don't see a good reason to use it over chaeto. I would be curious what their relative growth rates are . . . and also for gracilaria, ulva, and dragon's breath as well!

reef lover · Jan 29, 2018

Sorry ....my fuge runs 24/7 because I have species of caulpera..should have mentioned that..

Benga · Jan 29, 2018

Really? Everyone is saying it's Caulerpa I thought it was Bryopsis. I had a bunch of the same looking stuff on my chaeto and i cut down my chaeto and kept the clean parts, but i thought it was bryopsis. If it really is Caulerpa then that may be a different story.

Edit: yea the more i look at it the more it looks like Caulerpa