Cheato has morphed to another plant. Need ID

I've been running my new 120g tank with a refugium for a little over a month and I picked up some cheato a couple of weeks ago. It has expanded to a different form. I've seen this plant before. Actually, I saw a LFS feeding some angels and tangs with it. Can anyone help me with this? In the picture the dark green plant is the cheato.

 

That would be grape calpera (if I spelled it right..lol) I have it in my sump along with my cheato also but I split them up so one doesn't dominate the other.

 

How did I get it I wonder?

 

I think the grape caulerpa - Google Image Search was mixed in with yor chaeto when you bought it and you didn't notice it until it grew larer.

 

I know I ran the fuge light 24/7 which I just changed because I've got red slime in there. Could it have been because of too much light or because I split cycled the lighting to come on with the moonlights?

 

Well all it takes is one small peice, this stuff has the ability to be ripped apart and each piece will grow new roots. I like it because it feeds on the same stuff the cheato does. so having it in your refuge is a good thing( if you like it) some people freak out about it going a sexual and getting in the DT but I have never had that happen. ether way I would ripp it apart to separate it from your cheato and put the pieces to one side believe me they will keep growing or throw it away. just make sure to get every single piece even a stem will grow again

 

I never used caulerpa in my fuge. I did read it's risky and you need to light your fuge 24/7 if you choose to keep it. Caulerpa, allegedly, has a tendency to release spores if it is lit with a day night cycle. The spores, allegedly, rob a lot of oxygen from the tank and can cause it to spread. Also, after releasing spores it can simply die releasing all of the nitrate and phosphate back into the tank. Here is a thread to start you off. http://www.3reef.com/forums/refugium/help-caulerpa-32322.html Do some google searches and you'll find a lot more info.

I'd pull out the caulerpa if I were you.

 

I've kept nothing but caulerpa in all of my refugiums and have never had a problem. I've never run a 24/7 light cycle and I've never had it go sexual on me. If you keep it pruned, you won't have any problems.

 

i agree.

 

I agree also I just run a different light cycle on my refuge(on at night when the tank lights are off) also caulerpa is more efficient at removing phos and nitrates then any other macro out there which is why people tend to keep it.