Jump to content

Caulerpa Help

agentK

By agentK,
in New to the Marine Aquaria Hobby

 Share

Recommended Posts

agentK Newbie

agentK

Posted
Posted

Hi guys! Been having brown algae problems for quite a while in my FOWLR. Just checked our deepwell tapwater and Tetra NO3 tester says its at 12.5ppm. Well that figures. Since Reverse Osmosis is out of my budget as of the moment, i tried caulerpa culture. Problem is, LFS don't have them here. I remember eating this one time so asking around identified this as "The Grape Caulerpa" (cant remember the scientific name).

So i placed a bunch in the sump. My sump contained 4 pieces of LR, nothing more. Installed a NO flourescent that was on 24/7. After a week, they all wilted. What gives?

The only thing i noticed is that the pvc pipe that pours water into it is bubbly and a bit strong. They did get smashed about a bit. I lessened it but still no luck. Any ideas? Replacements?

TIA!

Ken

post-6-1077291477.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites
  • SRC Member
bawater Newbie

bawater

Posted
  • SRC Member
Posted

If you have access to other test kit brands i suggest you get a re-confirmation on the NO3 level.

If you drink the well water i think you need to keep this in mind with regards to blue baby syndrome(which may come in handy in future):

http://www.seagrant.umn.edu/groundwater/pdfs/MDH-NinWW.pdf

http://www.bae.ncsu.edu/programs/extension...wm/ag473_4.html

You choose a sensitive algae to start on - caulerpa tends to go sexual often -24hr lighting doesn't stop it. I find the grape is the first to go then followed by feather/fern caulerpa. There is a moss kind of caulerpa which never melts....and will even grow in ambient lighting.

sorry i don't have a pic of it(but i think there is one in the seahorse forum) - this algae tends to grow fast, you can almost see new growth daily (with fast growth means uptake of nutrients) and need regular trimming. I'm very sure you should be able to find it.

You may want to use PL lighting on the algae- which helps in good lush growth. A 16hrs on 8 hrs off period is good enough.

Water flow had nothing to do with it.

If you can find Ulva around, it would also be a good candidate.

If your souce water is 13ppm NO3 - have you also tested for PO4?

What are the levels in your main tank?

The algae should be able to lower it by a pinch but don't count on it doing more than 10-20ppm(depending on the amount of algae used).

Try to get a good reverse osmosis unit.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
agentK Newbie

agentK

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Thanks for the info bawater! An RO/DI unit is still out of my budget right now but will look around for other types of caulerpa. The grape indeed does "Melt" :). It's also the cause of my current algal bloom. Sadly, it took a couple of casualties with it. The reason i asked is because i have been waging a battle with my nitrates. Turns out, my deep well water contains a bit even as tap. I'll be installing a DSB in a couple of days. Would you know how i can seed this?

Again, many thanks for your infos. :)

Ken

Link to comment
Share on other sites
  • SRC Member
bawater Newbie

bawater

Posted
  • SRC Member
Posted

You have coral chips in your tank - you will need to remove the current substrate, replace it with as fine as u can get - if beach sand is the only thing then beach sand it can be.

When u wash the sand in a pail - wrap a magnet in a plastic bag and hold it in one hand while u rinse thru. It should pick up metal.

Go for as deep as u can visually afford - an average 4inch(6 if your tank deep enough). Do not use anything bigger than grade #1 sand. A DSB should be made up of a mixture of 0.1mm to 1mm grain sizes.

As you have LR - it will seed the sand, it takes time and a DSB matures somewhere ard 7-12mths.

When the caulerpa melts, it shouldn't upset the tank much - the cloudy water is just 'sperm & eggs' from the algae. It settles clear within an hour or two. What it does is release back all the nutrients it took up.This usually happens at sunrise.

If you chk daily- tell tale signs is that the caulerpa will start to yellow (while the internal contents turns to liquid) You have somewhere from 12-24hrs before it "melts".

Before you spend more money on your tank, you should look into the RO - since you can use it for drinking too.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
 Share
Go to topic listing


  • Join us on the largest Reefing community in Asia!

    Sign up and share your reefing journey with us, make friends and get helps from the community .

     

  • Topics

  • Latest Update

    1. 0

      DECOM SALE ( FREE TANK SET )

      - Red Sea Reefer 350 G1 ( Free ) Pump for chiller Pump for return pipe ATO ATO Reservoir Bio Media C5 Bubble Magus Skimmer - Frag tank $400 Cabinet Egg crate Noopsyche K7 Pro 2 4000L/h DC Pump Spare PVC Pipings 60 x 40 x 30cm -Hailea Chiller HS90A $250 - Semigrow 5012 Reef Lights $300 - Jebao Dosing Pump 4 Outlet $80 - Dosing Container 3 x 1.5L $20 - Hanna Phosphate Checker $60 - Hanna Alk Checker $60 -Jebao 36w UV with 880l/h Pump $30 - Rockscape for 4 feet $300 Free Sand Priority to those that can take all. Price open to nego but dont lowball. Location Tampines. Whatsapp 81853632 Telegram @itchyshark Hanna checkers need new reagents. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
      itchyshark in Sell off/Pasar Malam Shop
    2. 0

      Call: (201 473_4645 !! Love Spells In Jefferson City, MO Witchcraft spells

      Call: (201 473_4645 !! Love Spells In Jefferson City, MO Witchcraft spells * Voodoo spell caster * lost love spell * witchcraft spells * love spell * black magic spells sangoma * lost love spells * powerful spells * bring back lost spell love * return a lost love spell * love potions spells * good luck spells * how to cast spells * magical spells * candle magic spells * wizard spells * cast a love spell * healing spells • traditional healer * spell casters * obey spells * break-up spells * love potions recipes * return lost love spells * how to break up a couple * simple spells * white magic spells * banishing spells * wish spells * love magic * bring back lost love spells * magic and spells * witchcraft and spells * job spells * charmed book of shadows spells
      justspellls in Disease treatment/parasite/pest control
    3. 0

      Call: (201 473_4645 !! Love Spells In Chesterfield, MO Witchcraft spells

      Call: (201 473_4645 !! Love Spells In Chesterfield, MO Witchcraft spells * Voodoo spell caster * lost love spell * witchcraft spells * love spell * black magic spells sangoma * lost love spells * powerful spells * bring back lost spell love * return a lost love spell * love potions spells * good luck spells * how to cast spells * magical spells * candle magic spells * wizard spells * cast a love spell * healing spells • traditional healer * spell casters * obey spells * break-up spells * love potions recipes * return lost love spells * how to break up a couple * simple spells * white magic spells * banishing spells * wish spells * love magic * bring back lost love spells * magic and spells * witchcraft and spells * job spells * charmed book of shadows spells
      justspellls in Disease treatment/parasite/pest control
    4. 0

      Call: (201 473_4645 !! Love Spells In Joplin, MO Witchcraft spells

      Call: (201 473_4645 !! Love Spells In Joplin, MO Witchcraft spells * Voodoo spell caster * lost love spell * witchcraft spells * love spell * black magic spells sangoma * lost love spells * powerful spells * bring back lost spell love * return a lost love spell * love potions spells * good luck spells * how to cast spells * magical spells * candle magic spells * wizard spells * cast a love spell * healing spells • traditional healer * spell casters * obey spells * break-up spells * love potions recipes * return lost love spells * how to break up a couple * simple spells * white magic spells * banishing spells * wish spells * love magic * bring back lost love spells * magic and spells * witchcraft and spells * job spells * charmed book of shadows spells
      justspellls in Disease treatment/parasite/pest control
    5. 0

      Call: (201 473_4645 !! Love Spells In Florissant, MO Witchcraft spells

      Call: (201 473_4645 !! Love Spells In Florissant, MO Witchcraft spells * Voodoo spell caster * lost love spell * witchcraft spells * love spell * black magic spells sangoma * lost love spells * powerful spells * bring back lost spell love * return a lost love spell * love potions spells * good luck spells * how to cast spells * magical spells * candle magic spells * wizard spells * cast a love spell * healing spells • traditional healer * spell casters * obey spells * break-up spells * love potions recipes * return lost love spells * how to break up a couple * simple spells * white magic spells * banishing spells * wish spells * love magic * bring back lost love spells * magic and spells * witchcraft and spells * job spells * charmed book of shadows spells
      justspellls in Disease treatment/parasite/pest control
×
×
  • Create New...