Caulerpa racemosa question

[Bygkid]

I posted this query on the algae/macro board but got little response. I need some feedback before it gets too big.

I was curious how many peeps out there keep the C. racemosa variety in the refugia?

I recently aquired a small piece that seems to thrive in my refugium next to the Chaeto. It is already 2 times what I brought home from the LFS(they gave to me free) about a week ago. I currently have my refugium lighting on from 7pm - 8 am.

I haven't much worried about the Chaeto breaking off and 'wandering' in to my display but this one seems to grow MUCH faster. Most anything that is green usually doesn't stand a chance of survival between the appetites of my Yellow tang, Hippo and Magnificant foxface. I have read about this type of Caulerpa with mixed info.

Would appreciate some practical experience and opinions.
Thanks,
Scott

[m2434]

There are people keeping it. It is a better nutrient exporter than chaeto, but will tend to wander into you display. Also, they can OCCASIONALLY go sexual and kill you livestock, keeping up with pruning seem to help prevent this...

[2thdeekay]

Some poeple believe that keeping lights on 24 hrs/day also keeps caulerpa from sporulating. I've kept it in the past (sometimes for years). But sometime, it will eventually go asexual on you for some reason, and whatever amount you have will polute your tank when that happens, and a widespread coral bleaching event occurs. Fish are okay though.

[Bygkid]

OMG!!.. I don't want a bleaching. My sps' will be very unhappy if that happens. I was just trying to add a little more variety to my refugium to help export phosphates.

Are there some less invasive algaes I could use with the Chaeto?

Scott

[Lotus99]

I have some codium in my refugium. It doesn't grow as fast as caulerpa, but it does add some variety.