Caulerpa prolifera is taking over!!!

[Andrew]

I have an area in my tank that is being over run by Caulerpa prolifera. It must have came in on this 9lb piece of rock I bought from the LFS. I surely didn't see it when I inspected the rock. This rock has also produced (out of nowhere) various types of red algaes, from leafs to tube shapes.
The Cauerpa has invaded and is very entangled with my zoanthids.
I have a feeling the only way to erradicate this Caulerpa is to put the rock in a dark bucket of saltwater with an airstone and let it die off. Removing the corals first of course. Is that correct?

[jesspaul]

Don't know if that will kill it or not. DON'T pull it off the rock while in the tank; the fragments will get everywhere and sprout.

[Geoff]

ahh, the fun of Caleurpa. i am battling a couple of different species right now also. since you have so many different species doing so well in your tank, it sounds like you have a phosphate/nutrient problem. if you can find anything that eats that stuff, let the rest of us know. the good news is you do not have razor Caleurpa.

G~

[SPC]

The best way I have found to remove this type of alage is by manually removing it from the rock. I use an eyebrow plucker and actually go down into the rock some to make sure I get all of the attachments. As jesspaul said, make sure to remove the rock from the tank before using this method, and be sure to rinse the rock in a bucket with saltwater. Also keep in mind that this may need to be repeated a couple of times to get all of the alage.
Steve