What element am I missing?

malx · 06/11/2018, 01:34 PM

Hi, All.

So my phosphates are 0.2ppm and I have some Calurpa in a reactor. It won't grow! What am I missing here? I think I'm going to swap it out for Chaeto. Am I missing some kind of element like Iron, Iodine, Bromine or something that prevents it from growing?

I'm trying to get my phosphates to slowly creep down. Some of my easier SPS/LPS isn't extending polyps anymore.

Thanks,
Joey

Tripod1404 · 06/11/2018, 01:43 PM

What is your nitrate?

malx · 06/11/2018, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tripod1404

What is your nitrate?

3ppm

mcgyvr · 06/11/2018, 01:58 PM

In general macros need nitrates/phosphates/iron/light..

What type of Caulerpa? Are you getting any growth? Define "not growing"? Turning white? dying? takes months to fill reactor?

malx · 06/11/2018, 02:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcgyvr

In general macros need nitrates/phosphates/iron/light..

What type of Caulerpa? Are you getting any growth? Define "not growing"? Turning white? dying? takes months to fill reactor?

Taking months, some turning white but not much, mostly not growing. And it’s grape.

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thegrun · 06/11/2018, 06:49 PM

Iron would be a likely suspect, most tanks are low on iron unless you dose. Do be careful however as overdosing will fuel an algae outbreak.

ReefJak · 06/11/2018, 07:42 PM

Thoughts on using Caulerpa vs Chaeto?

malx · 06/11/2018, 08:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thegrun

Iron would be a likely suspect, most tanks are low on iron unless you dose. Do be careful however as overdosing will fuel an algae outbreak.

Thanks. I do dose small amounts of Iron and observe my green/yellow corals for signs of overdosing/underdosing.

We will see what the next ICP test says.

Cheers,
Joey

Daddi0 · 06/11/2018, 08:50 PM

I would get rid of the caulerpa. It began to invade my reef and was impossible to get rid of without ripping the rocks out. Do you have a reactor that you could run a little gfo in?
Cheers! Mark

Sk8r · 06/11/2018, 09:44 PM

I would rather loose ich in my tank than caulerpa. It repros by fragment, runner, roots, and sporing, it can get through the pump, and it led me to have to break down a tank. I would ask, too, about light. A daylight LED, about 6500 k, is good.

Daddi0 · 06/11/2018, 09:55 PM

Caulerpa is also illegal to buy, sell, or even give away in California

Anemone · 06/11/2018, 09:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daddi0

Caulerpa is also illegal to buy, sell, or even give away in California

Some species, not all.

Quote:

2005 California Fish and Game Code Sections 2300 CHAPTER 3.5. CAULERPA ALGAE
FISH AND GAME CODE
SECTION 2300
2300. (a) No person shall sell, possess, import, transport,
transfer, release alive in the state, or give away without
consideration the salt water algae of the Caulerpa species:
taxifolia, cupressoides, mexicana, sertulariodes, floridana,
ashmeadii, racemosa, verticillata, and scapelliformis.
(b) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), a person may possess, for
bona fide scientific research, as determined by the department, upon
authorization by the department, the salt water algae of the Caulerpa
species: taxifolia, cupressoides, mexicana, sertulariodes,
floridana, ashmeadii, racemosa, verticillata, and scapelliformis.
(c) In addition to any other penalty provided by law, any person
who violates this section is subject to a civil penalty of not less
than five hundred dollars ($500) and not more than ten thousand
dollars ($10,000) for each violation.

Kevin

malx · 06/11/2018, 11:25 PM

I plan on swapping my out for Cheato this week.

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mcgyvr · 06/12/2018, 04:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ReefJak

Thoughts on using Caulerpa vs Chaeto?

Devil vs Angel

While it has some pros over Chaeto are just too many cons to it IMO..

One little bit gets into your display tank and you are in trouble... It can quickly spread and cover a tank and it can be a PITA to remove as it roots into the rocks,etc... and just breaks off in pieces...
To me thats the biggest con to it and the reason I won't run it.. All the rest are easy to overcome but that one alone is horrible (speaking from experience as I've pulled/scrubbed rocks before to rid it)

anthonys51 · 06/12/2018, 10:36 PM

I actually feed my tangs and my 2 barred rabbit fish caulerpa from my refugium . Also no idea what kind I have.

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06/11/2018, 01:34 PM	#1
malx Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 1,324	What element am I missing? Hi, All. So my phosphates are 0.2ppm and I have some Calurpa in a reactor. It won't grow! What am I missing here? I think I'm going to swap it out for Chaeto. Am I missing some kind of element like Iron, Iodine, Bromine or something that prevents it from growing? I'm trying to get my phosphates to slowly creep down. Some of my easier SPS/LPS isn't extending polyps anymore. Thanks, Joey

06/11/2018, 01:58 PM	#4
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	In general macros need nitrates/phosphates/iron/light.. What type of Caulerpa? Are you getting any growth? Define "not growing"? Turning white? dying? takes months to fill reactor? __________________ Who me?

06/11/2018, 08:50 PM	#9
Daddi0 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: Redwood City Posts: 1,354	I would get rid of the caulerpa. It began to invade my reef and was impossible to get rid of without ripping the rocks out. Do you have a reactor that you could run a little gfo in? Cheers! Mark __________________ 2x 65g displays with a 30g cryptic refugium and 30g sump - 55g reef 30g Bio-cube reef - I.M. 30g reef - 45g freshwater

06/11/2018, 09:44 PM	#10
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	I would rather loose ich in my tank than caulerpa. It repros by fragment, runner, roots, and sporing, it can get through the pump, and it led me to have to break down a tank. I would ask, too, about light. A daylight LED, about 6500 k, is good. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

06/11/2018, 09:55 PM	#11
Daddi0 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: Redwood City Posts: 1,354	Caulerpa is also illegal to buy, sell, or even give away in California __________________ 2x 65g displays with a 30g cryptic refugium and 30g sump - 55g reef 30g Bio-cube reef - I.M. 30g reef - 45g freshwater

06/11/2018, 01:43 PM	#2
Tripod1404 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2016 Posts: 1,821	What is your nitrate?

06/11/2018, 06:49 PM	#6
thegrun Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Garden Grove, Ca Posts: 17,023	Iron would be a likely suspect, most tanks are low on iron unless you dose. Do be careful however as overdosing will fuel an algae outbreak.

06/11/2018, 07:42 PM	#7
ReefJak Registered Member Join Date: May 2018 Posts: 11	Thoughts on using Caulerpa vs Chaeto?

06/11/2018, 11:25 PM	#13
malx Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 1,324	I plan on swapping my out for Cheato this week. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

06/12/2018, 10:36 PM	#15
anthonys51 Registered Member. Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Kings Park, NY Posts: 2,789	I actually feed my tangs and my 2 barred rabbit fish caulerpa from my refugium . Also no idea what kind I have. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro