Anoying Weed Or Algae

[cooper1973]

can anyone help i use to have a nano tank and had the same problem with this anoying plant or what ever it is. i went to a bigger tank and this has just continued to grow i have to keep pulling bits of my rock as it grows like mad. does anyone have any idea what it is or know how i can get rid of it

http/i645.photobucket.com/albums/uu176/cooper1973/fishtank/P7184267.jpg

http/i645.photobucket.com/albums/uu176/cooper1973/fishtank/P7184270.jpg

 

[@ombomb]

looks like a caulerpa to me

a real pain to get rid of once established, but possible

best bet is make sure there are no nutrients for it in the water (nitrates / phosphates etc) and manually remove it as much as you can. you need to remember that even though you pull it off the rock, the roots of the plant are often deep into crevices and will grow back, so where possible remove the rock from the tank and give it a scrub with a stiff brush in some tank water.

some fish (tangs / rabbit fish) will eat it and snails / crabs will have a nibble, but really it's up to you

 

[HappyGeorge]

I have been lead to believe from other reading that tangs won't touch Calerpa and the only snails likely to have a go are Mexican turbo. Donya would be able to tell you if they would. Personally I quite like it in small quantities makes the rock look more natural and of course uses up some of the excess nutrients in your tank.

 

[cooper1973]

yes it does look ok but its got to the stage now were its not just on one rock its on pretty much most of them and it covers mushrooms + polyps

 

[ALW]

Some tang will eat it others wont. 90% of Yellow Tangs will love it.

 

[lljdma06]

A pest to you, but lovely to me.

Though I don't plan on using Caulerpa in my scape.

Great to have if you can control its growth as it really consumes nutrients. Requires vigorous pruning and iron dosing to prevent it from going sexual. At least I think, didn't really read up on Caulerpa much. Just in passing.

Liz

 

[demasonisrule]

I have a different species of caulerpa in my refugium (C. racesoma), and when it outgrows my fuge I put a big chunk in my display and in a couple days my tang and angel will have eaten it all. (Never dosed iron BTW and it has never gone sexual)

 

[lljdma06]

What is the photoperiod on the fuge?

 

[@ombomb]

Some tang will eat it others wont. 90% of Yellow Tangs will love it.

yep, my kole tang loves it (apart from caulerpa racemosa which it can't seem to bite through)