Stunted growth caeto

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

That’s a very fast grower and is very palpable to fish. Also, very prone to going sexual.

Caulerpa racemosa​

An attractive Caulerpa species that is quite hardy as an aquarium specimen. This particular species is unique in that it has perfectly round appendages resembling grapes on a vine. The individual "grapes" are actually small bladders filled with fluid which keeps the algae upright. It grows horizontally on long runners (rhizomes) reaching lengths of up to 2' or more and can form very large entangled clumps especially in high flow areas. Because of its fast growth, it can quickly outgrow the available nutrients in a tank, so care must be taken to limit the size of each specimen. As with most Caulerpa species, regular pruning can help keep the algae from undergoing sexual reproduction in the aquarium. This particular species is generally only encountered in near shore habitats such as rock outcroppings, piers, docks and seawalls. Caulerpa species are highly palatable to both fish and invertebrates.​

I never had it sporulate, but I did have a variant of it (peltata) that occasionally did. It wasn't a problem when it did.

 

[Subsea]

I never had it sporulate, but I did have a variant of it (peltata) that occasionally did. It wasn't a problem when it did.

In a 150G tank with 1000W of MH, two fast growing Caulerpa forest went 100% sexual and disintegrated.

When I got up in the morning, I couldn’t see the back glass. Added air pump and an extra HOB loaded with activated carbon. Water cleared up in 6 hours, then I syponed out the mush on bottom. Even though I like how it displays, Caulerpa Parvispora, I find other green seaweeds for display.

 

[Subsea]

What are some effective nutrient export macro algae for a refugium ?

The liveplants guide is where I go for information.

Russ Kronwetter is very knowledgeable. During the winter, seaweed harvesting is on hold. Even liverock harvesting is spotty. Initially, GulfCoast EcoSystems sold seaweed & snails, then he got a permit & an offshore lease to harvest sponges, which has consumed me with a passion. Because I run high nutrient systems with heavy emphases on a sustainable microbial food web. The sponges work very well, however, they often get coated with film algae.

Red tree sponge, orange elephant ear sponge & yellow ball sponge are being manicured by blue leg hermit crabs.

PS: I have disassembled two tanks and established this 30G tankas cleaning station for Sponge Bob. And spare bedroom is now a micro grow out farm.

 

[FrugalReeferJon]

Thank you for the response. Caeto may be my kryptonite as well. This is my second softball size of caeto. First softball caeto shrunk to golf ball size. However, this softball is maintaining just not showing signs of growth. Will try dosing with Britewell Caeto growth and report back. If this dosing approach fails then Xenia may be my next venture and vacate the kryptonite

Not mine

 

[Subsea]

Exactly spot on. Corals manufacture their biomass using organic & inorganic nutrients. Much more efficiently than seaweed and it sells much better.

I have just started a Xenia sustainable grow out system.

 

[Subsea]

Not mine

Kudos to your post.

@Science1
Go for the Xenia. Depending on what fish are in your dislay, try Gracilaria Hayi as an ornamental seaweed.

Marine Plants in the Aquarium

macroalgae, marine plants, caulerpa, refugium substrate, marine macroalgae for sale

www.marineplantbook.com

This is by far one of the most popular species of red macro algae for the aquarium in the United States. This beautiful species of Gracilariafeatures rigid, lobe shaped branches that form a tight symmetrical clump. It's lightly calcified so the addition of calcium is needed. It grows in fairly shallow water in bays and estuaries attached to sea squirts and sponge or is found as free floating specimens. The coloration varies between red, orange or yellow depending on the amount of light provided. It actually prefers cooler water temperatures but is adaptable to survive in warmer water as well. Like most species of red algae it should not be buried in the substrate as the tissue will die off. I was the the first known licensed collector of this particular species in Florida. I marketed it as "red bush" when I first starting selling algae over 20 yrs ago. It has since become a commercially cultured algae for the aquarium trade due to it's hardiness and fast growth. It's still one of my favorite ornamental macro algae species to date.​

 

[JumboShrimp]

I have to give @FrugalReeferJon Top Prize for that video. ;) (Does any from that massive amount of Xenia ever cut loose in some way from the sump and get sucked by the return flow into your display tank?)

 

[FrugalReeferJon]

I have to give @FrugalReeferJon Top Prize for that video. ;) (Does any from that massive amount of Xenia ever cut loose in some way from the sump and get sucked by the return flow into your display tank?)

It isn’t my sump, it’s a video I found on YouTube. I have nowhere near as much Xenia as this guy has.

 

[Science1]

I have to give @FrugalReeferJon Top Prize for that video. ;) (Does any from that massive amount of Xenia ever cut loose in some way from the sump and get sucked by the return flow into your display tank?)

Beautiful display of Xenia.
Music: Born Free by Andy Williams? Beautifully done!

 

[Science1]

I love the red macro algae’s. Gracilaria would add some beautiful color to refugium!
Thank you for the great ideas!

 

[Subsea]

I have to give @FrugalReeferJon Top Prize for that video. ;) (Does any from that massive amount of Xenia ever cut loose in some way from the sump and get sucked by the return flow into your display tank?)

The answer to Xenia getting sucked into return pump is possibly, if partitions aren’t in place.

Xenia propagates by fragmentation and with complete polyps sloughing off. The sloughing polyps could travel into a pump suction.

https://reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-04/fotm/index.php

 

[Pistondog]

Started a refugium 4 months ago. Added caetomorpha and continue to see stagnated growth. Shrinking in size. I see all these threads that caeto can grow 60% of its size in 24 hours.
Reading several articles on proper nutrient levels and lighting and make adjustments to correct parameters but continue to see slow to no growth.
Nutrients:
PO4: running average .2 ppm. (Hanna)
N03: running average: 6 ppm (Hanna)
Pump in refugium for good flow
Light: Redsea 50 LED set at 85% white/10% blue~6500 kelvin daylight
Dosing Britewell Caetogrow per directions
Color of caetomorpha is dark Forrest green not a light green.
Any additional help would be appreciated.

Ime, you cannot overlight chaeto, and bring it to the surface with egg crate or rock to maximize par.
Lots of gro lights on amazon work well.

Amazon.com

 

[Science1]

Ime, you cannot overlight chaeto, and bring it to the surface with egg crate or rock to maximize par.
Lots of gro lights on amazon work well.

Amazon.com

Thank you for the insight.
I thought I might be killing the caetomorpha through too much PAR.
I increased my photoperiod from 12 to 16 hours per day . Additionally, daily dosing of CaetogGro by Brightwell. Phosphate and Nitrates are stabilized and within nominal range. Will report back.
Again thank you!

 

[Pistondog]

Thank you for the insight.
I thought I might be killing the caetomorpha through too much PAR.
I increased my photoperiod from 12 to 16 hours per day . Additionally, daily dosing of CaetogGro by Brightwell. Phosphate and Nitrates are stabilized and within nominal range. Will report back.
Again thank you!

I think 12 hours is fine.

 

[Science1]

I think 12 hours is fine.

Thank you for your input, very helpful.
I agree 12 hours is sufficient for caeto growth.
I am increasing time period for photosynthesis to increase nutrient export. Phosphates are running a little high.

 

[Faurek]

Chaeto is my kryptonite. They always die out on me and I don’t know why. Xenia on the other hand I can grow like weeds which is why I use it instead of chaeto for nutrient export. I heard iron helps with chaeto health. You might want to try dosing it and see if it helps. Just a thought. Oh, and I see it’s already been mentioned.

Wish I had that problem. Always wanted to build a xenia filter

 

[Louis Z]

Subsea . When you grew macro outdoors , at what temps did you see any demise . Did you have it cloth shaded or part sun . I am considering growing mine outdoors in spring and fall . The ulva is my first . They seem to handle cool temps at night , sort of ok , in the 40s . I will bring them in when night time temps hit 80 . I remember messaging you on RC . When you were setting up 0outdoor trials . Here I am trying outdoor 10years later .