The strangest thing is happening .....

[Derek B]

About 6 months ago I had a beautiful colony of Feather Caluerpa growing in my main tank. It looked great and kept the hair algae away. Well, all of it went sexual 6 months ago and I was really bummed. Since then, I slowly developed a hair algea problem, which has been spreading throughout my tank UNTIL .... over the last couple weeks, I have seen little bundles of Feather Caluerpa popping up in various locations. It seems like the hair algea growth is slowing and being replaced with macroalgae that I thought was all but extinct in my tank. I am extermely pleased at the turn of events and wonder if anyone has ever had a similar experience???

[GaryP]

I haven't had a similar problem, but it seems very reasonable to me.

The Caulerpa was using the phosphate in the tank. When it went sexual, growth of the Caulerpa stopped and it left the hair algae as the main user for the phosphate. Utilization of the phosphate by the Caulerpa started again as soon as it recovered.

I think you need to take a look at what you are doing for phosphate control in your tank, especially in the event when the Caulerpa goes sexual again.

Gary