Tank filling with bubbles at the top?

[Timfish]

Thank you for the explanation. I really am ignorant to how Caulerpa works. Would the gametes create a visible change of the Caulerpa? I did notice it was sending out some different looking chutes. . . .

In addition to @Hans-Werner, Calurpa is a multinucleated single cell algae. That means you may be looking at one single huge cell when you look at a bunch of calurpa, or you may be looking at several depending on how it's propogated ans seperated with harvesting. Calurpa can go asexual when it's doing well besides if it's stressed for some reason including all those mentioned above. And because you might have several colonies/cells it possible to see just part of wjhat's in a tank to go "asecual" or release gametes. When calurp goes asexual it will bleach out, disentegrate and release all the internal fluids into the water.

 

[SauceyReef]

In addition to @Hans-Werner, Calurpa is a multinucleated single cell algae. That means you may be looking at one single huge cell when you look at a bunch of calurpa, or you may be looking at several depending on how it's propogated ans seperated with harvesting. Calurpa can go asexual when it's doing well besides if it's stressed for some reason including all those mentioned above. And because you might have several colonies/cells it possible to see just part of wjhat's in a tank to go "asecual" or release gametes. When calurp goes asexual it will bleach out, disentegrate and release all the internal fluids into the water.

It sounds like this is what just happened

 

[Karen00]

All the flow and hermits are fine so assuming no ammonia problem.

I didn't mean flow causing ammonia just whether something could be restricting flow a bit and the foam is a result of organic compounds backing up at the surface. That's what happened to me meant. Flow got restricted just slightly and I got the same type of foam. Once I cleared the blockage it was fine (although I scooped most of the foam out first.

 

[\m/reefsnmetal\m/]

Assuming it is the caulerpa, it was probably triggered by insufficient nutrients causing it to do the stuff everyone has mentioned. I personally wouldn't try macro until there are more animals in the tank that are getting fed regularly.

 

[SauceyReef]

I didn't mean flow causing ammonia just whether something could be restricting flow a bit and the foam is a result of organic compounds backing up at the surface. That's what happened to me meant. Flow got restricted just slightly and I got the same type of foam. Once I cleared the blockage it was fine (although I scooped most of the foam out first.

Sorry I did not clarify I meant that there was no blockage in any of the pumps/wave makers. If anything my flow is to strong for this tank. I check daily!

Assuming it is the caulerpa, it was probably triggered by insufficient nutrients causing it to do the stuff everyone has mentioned. I personally wouldn't try macro until there are more animals in the tank that are getting fed regularly.

Hmmm that is a good point. I just wanted to get a macro system going because I have been having such a bad hair algae problem in the tank. I should not have just assumed it was because high nutrients. Maybe this is some low nutrient breeding bryposis. I think it is time to do a nutrient check with the Hanna.

 

[\m/reefsnmetal\m/]

Sorry I did not clarify I meant that there was no blockage in any of the pumps/wave makers. If anything my flow is to strong for this tank. I check daily!


Hmmm that is a good point. I just wanted to get a macro system going because I have been having such a bad hair algae problem in the tank. I should not have just assumed it was because high nutrients. Maybe this is some low nutrient breeding bryposis. I think it is time to do a nutrient check with the Hanna.

It might be worth it to test. I mentioned my point because I lost a bunch of chaeto with a new tank/similar scenario to yours.

 

[SauceyReef]

I double checked testing with my hanna and the tank is running at 0ppm nitrates. I think my best bet is to add a fish and start more regular feeding? Or should I wait until the foam clears out. It is still going strong and if I try to take it out it comes back an hour later

 

[\m/reefsnmetal\m/]

I double checked testing with my hanna and the tank is running at 0ppm nitrates. I think my best bet is to add a fish and start more regular feeding? Or should I wait until the foam clears out. It is still going strong and if I try to take it out it comes back an hour later

I double checked testing with my hanna and the tank is running at 0ppm nitrates. I think my best bet is to add a fish and start more regular feeding? Or should I wait until the foam clears out. It is still going strong and if I try to take it out it comes back an hour later

I would identify and resolve the root issue causing the foam prior to adding additional livestock.

 

[SauceyReef]

I would identify and resolve the root issue causing the foam prior to adding additional livestock.

If you read others replies it seems like the macro went asexual(?) and released it’s gametes thus dying after especially seeing I have no nutrients in the tank. If the nitrites, nitrates, and ammonia are all reading 0 is there really any worry of adding a fish? It’s been near 5 months now this tank has been going with virtually nothing in it but some hermit crabs. I think I need to add something to get more nutrients through the tank. It’s been near 3 weeks or more of this foam.

 

[\m/reefsnmetal\m/]

Yep saw that which is why I would wait. Everything released by the caulerpa can be toxic. If the the foam is caused by the caulerpa, then it's possible for toxins to remain in the water.

 

[SauceyReef]

Yep saw that which is why I would wait. Everything released by the caulerpa can be toxic. If the the foam is caused by the caulerpa, then it's possible for toxins to remain in the water.

Ahh I had no idea. I knew it was super invasive and a big problem on certain coastlines, but not because it released a toxin. This thread has been a great learning experience for me. I guess I will just keep doing water changes and waiting until the foam disappears. Is there anything else I can do in the meantime?

-edit- I am going to start running carbon as well.

 

[\m/reefsnmetal\m/]

Ahh I had no idea. I knew it was super invasive and a big problem on certain coastlines, but not because it released a toxin. This thread has been a great learning experience for me. I guess I will just keep doing water changes and waiting until the foam disappears. Is there anything else I can do in the meantime?

-edit- I am going to start running carbon as well.

The early studies by Doty and Aguilar-Santos stimulated an extensive amount of further investigation into the chemical structure and toxicity of Caulerpa’s secondary compounds. The initial structures of caulerpin and caulerpicin were shown to need alteration (Higa and Kuniyoshi, 2000). An additional compound, caulerpenyne, was isolated from Caulerpa (Amico et al., 1978) that was later shown to have ichthyotoxic and antigrazer activity (Paul et al., 1987). Interestingly the high concentration and antiherbivory activity of caulerpenyne in the invasive form of Caulerpa taxifolia, which has spread throughout parts of the Mediterranean Sea, has been suggested as a factor for its success (Guerriero et al., 1992, 1993). Caulerpa toxins, namely, caulerpin and caulerpinic acid, have also been shown to have insecticidal activity against the common house mosquito Culex pipiens (Alarif et al., 2010). https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/agricultural-and-biological-sciences/caulerpa-racemosa

Here's a little snippet about the toxins. Some animals aren't as affected as others, but I like to play it safe with these things. Other than water changes and carbon I'm not sure what other measures you can take.

 

[SauceyReef]

The early studies by Doty and Aguilar-Santos stimulated an extensive amount of further investigation into the chemical structure and toxicity of Caulerpa’s secondary compounds. The initial structures of caulerpin and caulerpicin were shown to need alteration (Higa and Kuniyoshi, 2000). An additional compound, caulerpenyne, was isolated from Caulerpa (Amico et al., 1978) that was later shown to have ichthyotoxic and antigrazer activity (Paul et al., 1987). Interestingly the high concentration and antiherbivory activity of caulerpenyne in the invasive form of Caulerpa taxifolia, which has spread throughout parts of the Mediterranean Sea, has been suggested as a factor for its success (Guerriero et al., 1992, 1993). Caulerpa toxins, namely, caulerpin and caulerpinic acid, have also been shown to have insecticidal activity against the common house mosquito Culex pipiens (Alarif et al., 2010). https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/agricultural-and-biological-sciences/caulerpa-racemosa

Here's a little snippet about the toxins. Some animals aren't as affected as others, but I like to play it safe with these things. Other than water changes and carbon I'm not sure what other measures you can take.

Thank you for the info. I’m reading a lot about it now. Probably just going to pull it all from my systems and run chaeto from now on.

 

[\m/reefsnmetal\m/]

Thank you for the info. I’m reading a lot about it now. Probably just going to pull it all from my systems and run chaeto from now on.

Absolutely! I had caulerpa hitch hike in with chaeto and it actually started to out compete the chaeto making me excited. Once I did some research about it and learned about the "going sexual" thing and toxins I ripped all the caulerpa out. Good luck going forward.

 

[SauceyReef]

Absolutely! I had caulerpa hitch hike in with chaeto and it actually started to out compete the chaeto making me excited. Once I did some research about it and learned about the "going sexual" thing and toxins I ripped all the caulerpa out. Good luck going forward.

Lucky for me it’s the opposite and chaeto has been outcompeting all the caulerpa. The crazy thing is I never even added chaeto must’ve hitch hiked in the caulerpa

 

[SauceyReef]

Well it has been about a month since I pulled all the Caulerpa. I also pulled it all from my other tank. I have been running carbon this entire time, and have done enough water changes to cycle out all the water from the tank. Think I should be good to attempt adding some livestock? Maybe a few snails and see how that goes?

 

[\m/reefsnmetal\m/]

Well it has been about a month since I pulled all the Caulerpa. I also pulled it all from my other tank. I have been running carbon this entire time, and have done enough water changes to cycle out all the water from the tank. Think I should be good to attempt adding some livestock? Maybe a few snails and see how that goes?

Should be good by now. Did the foam go away?

 

[SauceyReef]

Should be good by now. Did the foam go away?

Thank you for the response! Yes it has been gone now for like 2 weeks. I think I will get a couple snails and see how they do, or maybe a little Xenia frag from the main tank.

 

[\m/reefsnmetal\m/]

Thank you for the response! Yes it has been gone now for like 2 weeks. I think I will get a couple snails and see how they do, or maybe a little Xenia frag from the main tank.

That's awesome I'm glad to hear it. Good job being patient, it can be hard sometimes in this hobby.

 

[SauceyReef]

That's awesome I'm glad to hear it. Good job being patient, it can be hard sometimes in this hobby.

It certainly can! Thank you. Luckily I have another tank I can put my interest to while waiting with this one. Makes it a lot easier.