why would calerpera not grow? (1 Viewer)

[Guest]

cant get the friggin crap to grow.......just dies....

I am on the third type...leafy, fern like stuff

died so far .......grape, regular red and green

I am 24/7 ' ing a 18w light on top of the refuge.

miracle mud in the fuge

moderate flow.

 

[Guest]

Maybe there aren't enough nutrients in the tank. Do you have any fish? How much/often do you feed the tank? Any other algae in the tank that could be competing with the caulerpa for nutrients? (I had a hair algae outbreak this week that took my nitrates from 5ppm down to 1ppm in just a few days).

 

[Guest]

6 fish and a lobster......

no other algae really competing..........just had an inital outbreak when the fuge was installed.

 

[Guest]

I'm no caulerpa expert, so double-check me on this, but I'm thinking it might be better to start it off NOT on a 24/7 cycle. Maybe start a new batch on a 10-12 hour lighting cycle until it settles in and starts to grow, then switch to 24/7 to keep it from going sexual.

Definitely check around before doing this though. I don't THINK it can go sexual unless it's growing and thriving, but I could be wrong (like sometimes anemones split when they are stressed as a survival instinct - maybe caulerpa does the same thing, I dunno).

 

[fishcraze]

How long have the macro been to your sump? It may take a month or two for them to start growing fast. You may try adding some Iron (like Kent Tech iron) to facilitate the growth.

 

[Guest]

well after a week the last batch died..........this new batch was put in last night.

 

[Guest]

Has your tank cycled again yet? Last week you had amonnia that possibly could be the cause.

 

[Niko5]

I had trouble growing it then i moved my PC light away from the refuge alittle adn only ran the light 8 hours and the stuff grows now... if you give the stuff to much light i beleve it burns it to death.

 

[Guest]

but i have heard that your suppose to run 24/7?????

or is this after ya get it growing?

 

[Guest]

I don't think it matters. once it takes hold the stuff grows like crazy. I have it 24/7 and some on the same photo period as the tank. I agree with tcarlson, give the tank a week or two then try it again. your 18w light is fine, if anything, it's too weak. I have some in a 10g under 26w and 110w in my tank all no more than 6 in from the lights.

 

[Guest]

There is no real reason to light 24 hours to begin with. You should give it a chance to acclimate to your system and your lighting before setting it at 24/7. And is there a specific reason that you want it run on 24/7?
If its to stabilize ph swings, then start it opposite the main tank lighting...
The light that your using, is it 65k?
Do you know the color temp of the bulb, too blue and calurpa fail to thrive, so yeh these cheapo bulbs we use can sometimes use ( I USE TWO CHEAP ONES ) do not always provide correct spectrum for the algae to thrive.
And the amonia and other spikes could have affected the algae. I would say use a 12 hour max light cycle till the stuff takes off.
Light and flow should help the situation. I woudl say iff possible add anouther 18 watter and see if it helps. If so you may be able to throw some soft coral cuttings in there and use the fuge as a frag growout.... I have xenia anthelia in mine, and it doesnt grow fast, but it still grows...

 

[Guest]

trying the 12 hours diet...............I will post results.................

 

[spham]

This might help.

My fug is a 10g
2" sand bed
3-5lb of lr
13w 10k PC right on top of the fug (2" from waterlevel)
Light come on at 8PM and off at 6AM
fug is right in front of the window so it also get some sunlight in the daytime
Flow from tank to fug is around 200-300gph
also have a 100gph powerhead
All are Caulerpa prolifera