I'm thinking caulpera prolifera but not sure. Any help is appreciated!
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Macroalgae ID?
- Thread starter IOnceWasLegend
- Start date
Much obliged!
@Bruce Spiegelman is looking for some of this.
Bruce, let me know if you want some; I'll try to save a bit but I'll be breaking down the tank it's in soon.
Where are you located? And how soon are you breaking it down?
I'm in Roseville. I'll be breaking it down within the next week or two, but am considering throwing some in my refugium on my DT. Anything I should know/be concerned about before doing that?
That's a bit of a drive. I assume you'll be at Cos's for the swap?
As to what to be concerned about is make sure it stays in the refugium. It's better than chaeto for nutrient export, but you have to be sure it doesn't go sexual. Keep it spread out and prune back do it's not overcrowded.
Oh! And most importantly, be careful how you dispose of any extra. It's banned in CA.
BAYMAC
Supporting Member
keep pruning it, never let it just sit around too long. I had it go sexual a few times, and every time I had gotten lazy and hadn't prune it back.
I wouldn’t. There are downsides and no upsides. It was popular 20 years ago before we learned better. Like Miracle mud lol
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Crazymex408
Supporting Member
Go sexual?
Yes, it's when two adults algae love each other.
BAYMAC
Supporting Member
Yup, you caught a spelling mistake. Good eye
BAYMAC
Supporting Member
since we're poking fun at spelling mistakes.... that would be adult algae
Crazymex408
Supporting Member
No I'm a new reefer. The algae went bad. How?
Caulerpa has been known to quickly enter a dangerous stage of releasing a lot of propagation material (Spores? Gametes?) all at once while the parent colony dies off partially or fully. In the process releasing a lot of nutrients and also releasing a toxin that is normally in its tissue to keep herbivores away. This can crash the tank. When people say it’s going sexual or asexual, it’s used basically interchangeably, meaning it is spreading in a way it does only rarely but that causes trouble. I think sexual is the correct term but either gets the point across.
It’s not common at all, but once is too many times. It’s one of the several reasons not to keep it.
Crazymex408
Supporting Member
Can chaeto do the same?
No, at least I’ve never heard of it.