Caulerpa problem.

[Manofathousandpolyps]

When I went to bed last night my tank looked normal. I wake up and its cloudy as all hell. Ive been growing a pretty goo garden of C. taxafolia. I was kicking around the idea of letting this stuff overgrow my tank. I think it would be pretty neat looking to have a little saltwater garden. Anyway, a good size piece was completly white. Everything was tested and all params were good.

Is it going sexual?

What caused this?

I also have another type of macro growing like crazy. Does anyone have the caulerpa site?

Thanks,
Nate

 

[Manofathousandpolyps]

Anyone?

 

[MediaOne]

I've got a small colony of taxifolia in my refugium also. The other day when I turned my tank on in the morning it was cloudy as hell, and as the day progressed it slowly went away. I have a bad feeling it has gone sexual in my tank also. I have turned my lights off and completely covered it up in the mean time.

I am considering getting a phosphate remover to temporarily remove any phosphate in the system. Apparently water changes will not help.

Keep me & others posted!

 

[newreefman1]

taxifolia is the plague caulerpa thats being banned around the world. Its not the wisest to keep and several other species do better, ie..razor, and calcerous algaes like halimeda.

24 hr lighting will prevent caulerpa from going sexual as well.

J

 

[smokie]

Doesnt cualerpa turn white when it starts to die off,releasing all the nutrients it has asbsorbed back into the water?

 

[Anonymous]

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by smokie:
<strong>Doesnt cualerpa turn white when it starts to die off,releasing all the nutrients it has asbsorbed back into the water?</strong><hr></blockquote>

I've had parts of caulerpa turn white but have never had a cloudy tank, so I just assumed that part was dying.

 

[danmhippo]

I don't know off hand any caulerpa site, but it sounds like a patch of yours has gone sexual. I think (believe) there are species that are more prone to go sexual than others. I have C. prolifera and haven't experienced events like it. I used to have taxifolia, and other feather varieties, and have experienced them having big orgy.

People have been recommending regular pruning to keep it from happening. I know environmental changes could trigger such as photoperiod change, ph change, sudden temp change, and hardness change. I am wondering could depleted nutrient level trigger the sexual event as well? (is that the reason recommended to keep them pruned?)

----------------------------------------------------------------

I looked into "my favorite" and found this link Algae Base. I had this link back in the days I am searching for info on seagrasses, but apparently it has included caulerpa and other algae now.

Good Luck

 

[MediaOne]

Okay, I have to step back in here. First off, Taxifolia is not the plague of the worlds oceans, that is a load of ****. The caulerpa is extremely effecient at removing nitrates etc. from the water and has been used by aquarists for years. There is an article at the Ecosystem website about taxifolia and it being banned. I have also found many on this board that agree that taxifolia is usually the last one of their caulerpa's to go sexual, and from my experience this is also true. The algae that Jaubert released from his building into the ocean is the one proven to do damage. In any case, this damage is no where near as offensive as previously predicted (the article will explain).

I am tired of people on this board making statements about which they know little or nothing about.

As far as my question about Caulerpa going sexual. Most people on the board agree that their caulerpa goes very faint to clear and eventually disappears, clouding their water. I have seen this before in other tanks (thats my experience), and so I believe that my own taxifolia is not going sexual either.

Thanks guys,

 

[Manofathousandpolyps]

Thanks for all the input everyone. Since this all happened the cyano that I finally got got under control has gone nuts.

I have the skimmer on now so Ill see how it goes. Thanks again.

 

[HARRISON]

And we are counting to ten before we touch the key board for a little "time-out"

 

[Anonymous]

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by HARRISON:
<strong>And we are counting to ten before we touch the key board for a little "time-out"

</strong><hr></blockquote>

lol - Breathe slowly...in with the good, out with the bad...

I guess I won't post about things that I have observed in my tank anymore...

 

[Anonymous]

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by MediaOne:
<strong>First off, Taxifolia is not the plague of the worlds oceans, that is a load of ****.</strong><hr></blockquote>


Oh it isn't is it? I hope I don't qualify as one of those that doesn't know what he's talking about.

DESTRUCTIVE SEAWEED THREATENS CALIFORNIA

This finding is the first time the invasive strain of Caulerpa taxifolia, also dubbed "killer algae" in the Mediterranean Sea, has been reported in the western hemisphere.



The invasive strain of Caulerpa taxifolia was first discovered in the Mediterranean Sea in 1984. This strain of seaweed most likely originated from aquarium. Immediate eradication was not attempted, and as a consequence, within a few years goverment officials determined the infestation to be uncontrollable. Today, marine scientist in the Mediterranean are largely resigned to monitoring seaweed's continuous expansion.



When introduced in a non-native marine habitat, Caulerpa taxifolia grows as a dense smothering blanket, covering and killing all native vegetation in its path. Caulerpa taxifolia is not a health threat to humans. However, fish, invertebrates, marine mammals, and sea birds that are dependent on native marine vegetation are displaced or die off from the areas where they once thrived.



http://www.invasivespecies.gov/profiles/killeralgae.shtml

http://www.uni-ulm.de/biologie1/Wiedenmann/caulerpa.html

http://www.issg.org/database/species/references.asp?si=115&fr=1&sts=sss

http://www.waterways.nsw.gov.au/seaweed.html

http://www.ridnis.ucdavis.edu/caulerpaconference2002info.html

http://www.swrcb.ca.gov/rwqcb9/News/Caulerpa_taxifolia/caulerpa_taxifolia.html


<strong>
Thanks guys</strong>
You're welcome!

 

[Anonymous]

Bump to educate MediaOne.

 

[SPC]

Posted by MediaOne:
I am tired of people on this board making statements about which they know little or nothing about.

BUMP

Steve

 

[Anonymous]

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by SPC:
<strong>Posted by MediaOne:
I am tired of people on this board making statements about which they know little or nothing about.

BUMP

Steve</strong><hr></blockquote>

My hero.

 

[Anonymous]

Hey, I did all the leg work Tan!

 

[danmhippo]

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Dr. Reef:
<strong>Hey, I did all the leg work Tan!</strong><hr></blockquote>

My ears are offended........(I need a cold shower!)

 

[Manofathousandpolyps]

WOW!!! I never thought Id get to start one of these threads!

 

[THEFishHead]

Hey Dr. Reef,

Although there are plenty of reports like the ones you found in your leg work, the truth is they have distorted reality by a rather large margin.

The coverage of C. taxifolia in the Mediterranean has been exaggerated by a factor of about 100 (that is not hyperbole- it is the real number).

Also, the claims of destruction caused by this plant are countered by equally valid and proven claims that the plant provides habitat replacement in areas where pollution has caused seagrass die-off. The claims that the plant makes fish go away are baseless. In fact there are reports that show the habitat this plant creates in the Med is attractive to fish.

It should make you wonder why aquarists find that the plant improves the conditions in their aquariums when some scientists are saying the plant kills habitats and makes fish go away. The contradiction should make it obvious to you what is really true.

This story has credible scientific data on opposing sides. Unfortunately the alarmist side gets more attention, and there are consulting firms that earn money from the attention caused by these distorted reports.

Like you I am a concerned citizen and aquarium hobbyist. I am also a scientist and I have taken an interest in this story about Caulerpa taxifolia. I just wanted to share a more moderate view than yours and than the one that prompted it.

Sincerely,

Julian Sprung

 

[Manofathousandpolyps]

HOLY CRAP!!! I wasn't aware that you were a member Mr. Sprung.