Grape Caulerpa: Who uses it in their sump? (1 Viewer)

[fishybusiness]

Reaserch confirms I have caulerpa, not chaeto. Now I'm concerned Will it go asexual? Do I need to run my lights 24/7? It's in a 30g aquarium turned sump. It's floating above my live rock and 6" sand bed. I have a 10g aquarium inside the 30g which houses my return pump.

I'm thinking of moving the caulerpa to the 10g side. I would use eggcrate to seperate it from the pump.

Should I get rid of the caulerpa, and get chaeto?

Thanks

 

[KrAs]

I've been using it for over a year now without it going sexual (knocks on wood). The only "bad" thing that happened is I decided to add some to my (at the time) 25 gallon seahorse tank. Then after it took over the tank. I played hell getting it all out. Other than that it has proven to be an excellent macro, I do also have chaeto, C. prolifera and the C. feather varieties.

 

[Andy]

Don't use the grape stuff. I got a piece of it in my tank, it must have gone thru a pump, & it's a PITA to try to get back out. Use cheato, if it gets in the tank its much easier to pull out.

.02

 

[fishybusiness]

Thanks for responding.

Does caulerpa pull more nitrates than chaeto? I mainly need macro algae to help keep my nitrates in check. The feedback leads me to believe my tank may be at risk down the road.

If I get rid of the caulerpa, does any one know which lfs sell chaeto. City Pets and Fishland didn't have any a couple weeks ago? Is it seasonal?

 

[cstewart79]

I think chaeto is awesome for nutrient export. It is safe and a good exporter of unwanted nitrates and phosphates. You can find chaeto locally with many marshian members. A lot of time they will give it to you free if you are a member or at least dirt cheap.

 

[Style23]

fishy, mine has gone crazy lately, if you would like to stop by some time i can give you some...it probably wouldnt be a whole lot but you could slowly start replacing your calerpa with chaeto...i could probably give up like a tennis-baseball sized piece...

 

[fishybusiness]

Alright Style23, I'll take you up on that. Check your PM.