Feather & Grape Caluerpa Question

[ShirleyM]

I got some Grape Caluerpa today at PA to add to the 125 FOWLR to help with nitrates. Then I found some feather Caluerpa elsewhere to include. Is there any reason I shouldn't add the feather C.? It won't just cling to rocks and take over, will it? There is a Naso Tang of substantial size in there...

Thanks,
Shirley

[Casey]

Shirley feather grows real fast I would not add it to the tank the sump sure or refugium is ok. imo Casey

[ShirleyM]

It won't be in the reef...just the fowlr...to help with nitrates...so will it cling to the rocks and ruin the coralline, or will I be able to harvest it and keep it under control?
(sounds like the same Q over again... sorry)

[Casey]

I dont think I would use the feather just the grape feather clings real hard and will take over from what I hear. Casey

[ShirleyM]

Okey-Dokey! ...to da sump, to da sump, to da sump, sump, sump...

[Jeremy1973]

I have both in my tank, and love the look of the feather caluerpa. I have no problems with pruning it. I just pull of a clump or so at a time and take it into the LFS. But, IMO, it is all up to personal taste and the effort to keep it in check. Don't get me wrong, a huge patch of grape caluerpa looks really cool!

[ShirleyM]

Well, the Naso Tang and Red-Tail Trigger have eaten quite a bit of the grape already....just might have to try the feather, but I won't let it go everywhere...meanwhile, it's in the sump for now.

[uurt]

I have feather in my tank, when it looks like it is going sexual, I pull it. I also harvest on occassion if it starts to get out of control. I don't have a prob with it sticking to much, and the coralline seems to not care to much.
HTH Lee

[ShirleyM]

And what are the results of it turning white, or going sexual?

[balakoth]

Shirely,

I believe when C. goes sexual it turns into a big pile of GOO, realeasing its now toxic entities into the water column. I read some posts previously by Tom and Galleon I believe on C. going a sexual.

Ive had grape go sexual on me, and have it turn my tank into a mess full of light green pudding. Very nasta :/


joe

[MontanaRocknReefer]

Shirley I had feather caluerpa and it went white on me and slowly disappeared. Got to keep it trimmed back I believe.

Had Grape Caluerpa and my puffer made short work of that!!

[tdwyatt]

Originally posted by balakoth
...I believe when C. goes sexual it turns into a big pile of GOO, realeasing its now toxic entities into the water column...

Persponally, there are so many stressor triggers for the Caulerpa spp. to go sexual (a survival technique) that I wouldn't use large amounts of it regardless. Halimeda spp. might be a better choice for both sumps and tanks in general, as they don't cause some of the problems that Caulerpa does when it goes South.

You can use it if you have pretty stable params, but one bad power outtage is all it would take...

[ShirleyM]

OK. It looks like the Naso is going to eat most of it before it gets to grow at all.
Thanks ~

[Jimbo]

I wouldn't keep feather, if just a piece floats in from the refugium into the main tank it can get established. My yellow and purble tangs like the grape more than the feather. So I have to hand pull the feather out of the tank with tweazers, what a pain. It gets between rocks and such and you can't get it all out. Since I have alot of sponges and other little life forms, don't want to move the rocks around or take them out of the tank.

[ShirleyM]

The reason I was going to put any algae in this tank was to control nitrates...there are no corals to speak of in there, on the other hand, I wouldn't want it to take over and ruin the look of the tank.
Thanks for the warnings and experiences!