Caulerpa prolifera

[msmith619]

I bought a piece of live rock that had a small amount of Caulerpa prolifera growing on it. I figured this was a good thing as everything I have found about Caulerpa prolifera on the web is positive. It is a macro algie and helps keep nitrates, phosphates and amonia down as well as, by removing those wastes, helps to control nuisence algie. As an added bonus, my Hippo tang and emerald crab love it. It has grown tremendously in my tank and everything is thriving. Has everyone else had positive success with Caulerpa?
Also, it grows on stalks and attaches to any rock, sand bed or item you attach it to and is easy to transplant and propogate. My Caulerpa crop is now ready for thinning. I can supply some cuttings to anyone who would like some for their tank or refugium if you don't mind a 15 minute ride from San Antonio to Boerne (15 min from the Rim, La Cantera, I-10 and 1604).
Send me a message and you can have some for free or trade me a little of your macro algie, polyp frags, or anything if you feel you need to offer something in exchange.
I hope you enjoy it as much as I have. It really dresses up my tank and, to me, makes it look more natural.
Mike

[Gilbert]

if gone untrimmed it will take over ur tank, but it does look pretty cool

[brewercm]

I'd love to get some for my fuge. I used to have bundles of that in my old fuge and one of the few that held it's own to all the cheato in there. I'll see when I could get free to get up there. The best way is to carefully pull the root system from the rock also to keep it alive when transfering to other people. Sorry if you already knew this, just wasn't sure if you'd' done it yet.

[justahobby]

Cliff gave me a bunch of this stuff a while back. Sadly, it dwindled away while my fuge was a remote. But since adding the fuge to my display I have seen a possible comeback. I have maybe ten strands popping up in the last couple weeks. Looking forward to giving some back! I have always been a fan of algae in the display. The pods and herbivours LOVE it and it really makes for a natural look. The ocean has it, why shouldnt the tank?

[mharmon]

I want some for my fuge, but sadly I have little to offer other than chaeto and razor caulerpa. Oh and maybe some Xenia... some of mine is starting to get a little out of control.

[msmith619]

Like I said, the Caulerpa is free. I can give away 2 or 3 hand fulls. No need to trade if you just need some. Razor Caulerpa or xenia sounds fun if you have extra but you are welcome to the Caulerpa I have for free.
We can meet someplace in between too or come by, visit, look at the tank, etc. I am just glad I am at the point I can give something away. Now I want to try some polyps, zoa, pallies, etc and see if I can do the same. You can pm me to set up a time. The aquarium is at my office but I go in 2-3 times a day on weekends to feed and play with it.
Mike

[Jonthefishguy]

Keep in mind that although Caulerpa is known for removing nitrates from the water, it can go asexual and thus releasing all its nutrients and nitrates back into your system as it dissloves.

Being that Caulerpa grows rapidly (known to grow an inch per day), it can overwhelm an aquarium quite easily. The root system is almost impossible to remove completely as it tends to ground itself in rockwork, crevices, and sandbeds. Due to its destructive behavior, many countries including some of our own states have made it illegal to posses, transfer, trade, within/through state lines including internet trade, or destroy improperly from individuals or pet shop and face a very stiff fine from the USDA.

The states that currently have this ban are Alabama, California, Massachusettes, Oregon, North & South Carolina, and Vermont. I believe Texas is also working on this same ban. The United Stated Postal Service prohibits the mailing of the aquarium strain of this species and it is up to the sender to know the law and see that this species does not get mailed. Again stiff fine for those that do.

There is a team that goes out and removes this species whenever spotted by divers or other individuals. You can read more about this at this link:

http://www.sccat.net/#the-caulerpa-information-center-1e86c5 (http://www.sccat.net/#the-caulerpa-information-center-1e86c5) (EVERYONE SHOULD READ THIS. EVERY PART OF THIS WEBSITE, INCLUDING HOW TO PROPERLY DISPOSE OF THIS)

In my opinion, caulerpa should not be used in the trade and should be destroyed properly. The use of chaeto is much safer and has the same possitive effect. It does not have a root system nor has been known to go asexual.

By the way, this all started because a famous oceanographer who was Director of Oceanographic Museum of Monaco along with those under him failed to admit that this species could become problematic and did not destroy it but instead allowed it to get introduced outside of its natural haibitat. His name is Jacques Cousteau.

Here is an excerpt written by an authority figure on this subject what and how this all started:


Caulerpa taxifolia was first found outside its native habitat within yards of the Monaco Aquarium, which had been growing a strain obtained from the Stuttgart Aquarium. Initially, before the big press descent, aquarium workers admitted to releasing it, thinking it would not grow in colder Med. waters, according to Alex Meinesz who found it and raised concern.
Although we can't declare Jacques himself quilty, all evidence points to the Monaco Aquarium. I personally feel they have been irresponsible by refusing to admit C. tax. is a problematic invasive spp. Their research is biased as a result.
Molecular id's confirmed that the C. tax. strain in the Med. arose from the Stuttgart public aquarium and this is the strain that invaded Southern California.
It's time to get past pointing fingers. An institution like the Monaco Aq. could do great public service by educating on the risks of releasing non-natives. Over a decade ago, the consciousness re. marine invasive spp. was barely aware and certainly no one would have predicted that if released, this alga could survive the winter. Now one of the best-known things about invasive spp. is we can't predict well what they will do in new environments. Of course, we know this now, so what really is at stake for the MA in persisting that C. tax. is only invading in response to pollution just gets in the way? The point is that it is non-native and had to be introduced.
"The Killer Algae" by Alex Meinesz documents the anecdotal evidence, which is not contradicted by the molecular evidence. One might also wonder why he did not rip up the square meter patch when he first found it..."

Hope this gives you a bit more insight on what exactly Caulerpa is and just how much it SHOULD NOT be in the trade.

[d3rryc]

At the risk of thread hijack, there's a really cool show on the Science Channel called, "Killer Algae," that chronicles the C. taxifolia invasion of the Mediterranean. It's worth the DVR space if you can catch it.

[brewercm]

I've also heard from other "authority figures" that cheato doesn't come close to the same capacity in nitrate removal as caulerpa. Cheato makes a great breading area for pods etc., but using for other purposes of a fuge I'd heard it just doesn't do as well. I had read a lot about what you were talking about with the spreading of this because it was introduced into areas it never should have been. They have the same problem with many freshwater lakes and rivers where Hydrilla has been introduce either on purpose or accident.

Then again I keep my light on my fuge 24/7 and have never had any strand of caulerpa go asexual on me yet, and I don't put form of macro algae in my main display tank.

[msmith619]

I am very familiar with the web site: http://www.sccat.net/#the-caulerpa-information-center-1e86c5 (http://www.sccat.net/#the-caulerpa-information-center-1e86c5) and did my home work before bringing the Caulerpa prolifera into my aquarium. There are 9 banned species of Caulerpa. This is not one. In fact, you can buy this from those California fish dealers as a beneficial macro-algea. It is not considered a threat and grows normally in the Gulf of New Mexico and comes from Florida origionally.
Mike

[vman181]

Here are a few links about caulerpa going a 'sexual' from the DFWMAS guys.


What caulerpa prolifera looks like when 'going sexual'
http://www.dfwmas.org/Forums/viewtopic.php?t=20638

and

What Caulerpa Nummularia looks like when 'Going Sexual'
http://www.dfwmas.org/Forums/viewtopic.php?t=37252

Hope this helps for who ever needed to know about Caulerpa 'going sexual'

[msmith619]

Going to thin the Caulerpa this weekend. I hate to see it go in the trash. Let me know if you want some.
Mike
(575) 640-7249