To caulerpa or not

[glency]

I have a baggie of caulerpa prolifera that I’ve yet to let loose in my refugium. I grow Chaeto like mad, my parameters are acceptable. Is there any reason why I shouldn’t put it in? I here about “going sexual” and it being an invasive algae…… do it? Or if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it?

 

[blaxsun]

Release the kraken!

 

[homegrowncichlid]

no harm in using it, it also provides plenty of surface area for pods and other organisms to colonize. My algae scrubber provides enough pods to support multiple dragonettes.

 

[Wasabiroot]

Do it, get in the choppa

a warning though, its possible your chaeto and caulerpa will become tangled with each other, making complete removal of the caulerpa more difficult.

Gulf coast ecosystems has a good reading section on their website about various macroalgae care including what to look for re: sporulation and going sexual, etc. Worth a read

Marine Plants In The Aquarium: An online guide to the identification and care of marine plants and macroalgae in the aquarium.

An online guide to the identification and care of marine plants and macroalgae in the aquarium.

www.marineplantbook.com

 

[damsels are not mean]

The going sexual thing is an overblown risk. The entire plant does not do that at once. It's piece by piece. The pictures and horror stories of entire caulerpa forests melting overnight are about poor husbandry (like stuff that would kill a tank anyways).