Algae type....wanted or not ? Identify !

Is this a species of Caulerpa that I want to be in my fuge. I am new at the fuge thing and don't really know if this is what I want to be growing in there. This stuff has only been in the tank for a little while and is really growing FAST! Should I keep it in or take it out? Plus what benifit does it give either way.

 

The larger leaf vine looking plant on top looks like Caulerpa bikinensis or maybe Caulerpa sertularioides to me ? Hard to tell from the picture need a closer look at the leafs of the plant. As for that ball of green ? Its hard to really say but it may be a ball of Caularpa seuratii or the Cheado crap ? But it does not really look like eather to me Just a little maybe ? But using these names maybe you can search them and get a better idea of the types.

 

Yup, looks like bubble calurpa and cheato to me too. I prefer the calurpa species myself for a fuge.

 

I will get a better picture of it this evening Tangster. I was really worried about the vine stuff with the balls on it. The big stuff was Cheato but I didn't know what else was growing on it. I had some Aptasia growing on it too that I already removed so I just wanted to make sure this is something I want in the fuge. Thanks for you reply.
http://www.3reef.com/forums/algae/yack-what-growing-cheato-38670.html

 

1357016 - grape caulerpa, Caulerpa racemosa (Caulerpales : Caulerpaceae) @ Forestry Images

That look like your algae?

 

With proper water flows and all the Vine plants will doa far better job then the cheado stuff will .. The cheado is a open water tumble weed type As for aptasias if you designed you refugium properly ? I'd keep them in there also I use them and the tube worms all the time make great water filters I'm growing them now that i got from Just-phis Here a few weeks ago I still need to drill the tank for the fuge LOL But when i drilled the sump I got interested in a race on T.V and well you know how that goes.. But Aptasias in a fuge are great water filters been using them for since i can remember.. So you may want to reconsider tossing them ? Again depends on how you set the fuge up..

 

Ive used aptasia as living mechanical filters on 2 tanks with no out breaks, you just need a micron sock in inline with uv in thier compartment, make it the fisrt stop in the fuge.

As for the pic youve got a 3rd confirmation. Its grape and cheato, theres several sp. of caulerpa that are highly dimorphic in shape and growth pattern...id is taxing.

 

Caulerpa is beneficial for refugiums as well as the livestock in your main tank.!!! You will have to prune it though as it grows rather quickly. One word of caution though is you should have your lights on in the refugium once your main lights go off in your main tank to avoid your caulerpa going sexual, causing low oxygen and poor water quality in your tank and possibly killing other livestock!

 

I am confused over your comment of caution: are you say to turn my refugium lights on when my display tank lights go out or make sure they both go out at the same time???:-/ I noticed my caulerpa has white strings growing off the vines last night. Is that normal?? One other thing, do I just trim this stuff in the water then feed it to the fish in the main tank or do I trim outside the water and then feed. Sorry about all the questions but I am new to the fuge thing.

 

What coral reefer is saying is that you should run your refugium lights on a reverse cycle to your tank. In other words, when your tank lights are on, the refugium lights should be off and vice versa. The white strings that you're seeing on the caulerpa are new roots that are looking for "purchase" in your substrate. If you have tangs in your tank, they will gladly eat whatever caulurpa you trim but make sure that the fish eat it before you put a bunch in because if the fish don't eat it, it's possible that the algae will get a hold in the main tank and you're going to end up with a problem. Your method of trimming while the algae is still submerged in water is fine.