grape culapera

k, im new to the micro algae scene, and just built a AQ110 HOB mini fuge last weekend, to get a jump on the refugium im having built, so i tossed some chaeto in there that my LFS gave me.

so i seen this weird bubbly stuff in the chaeto, and tooked around to ID it as graper culapera, and im reading that this stuff can be a problem.

should i get rid of it now?
i have a yellow tang that is a hearty eater, should i toss it in my DT and let him feast on it?
should i not worry bout it?

thanks in advance for any replies

Rayn

 

You could feed it to the tang but it may take hold in the tank if bits of it escape the tang. You can keep it in the refuge if you keep close track of it and thin it often.

 

if it got in the DT, is it bad?
can it become a problem?

 

Grape caulerpa isn't necessarily bad, however if left unattended, it can grow to pest proportions in a tank. What you want to do is avoid keeping it in your DT. If you had an actual sump/refugium it would be best fit there as they are great nutrient exporters, but since you are using an AC for a fuge... It may be best not to introduce to the tank and only use chaeto.

 

k. the AQ fuge is just a temp, ill have my 29gal fuge up and running this weekend, just ordered the last of the parts today.
i jumped the gun with puttin the chateo in there, but i got antsy.
the culpera just happened to be in the chateo i got, and i happened to spot
what has turned out to be one piece, i looke thru the whole ball of chaeto today.
if it gets into the display, so be it, ill see how the tangs handle it, and if gets bad,
ill bust out my red max weed whacker, lol

 

I would let the tang try to eat it, for it is one of the tangs favorite algae. The bad thing about Caulerpa Algae is that it builds "holdfasts' which are attachments to the live rock, which makes the algae stubborn to remove.

 

i have calupera as my main macro algae and it has been known to get into the dt. only once has it been an issue, then i got a yellow tang. fat tang+problem solved. i pull some from the sump to feed him every week or so.

 

Thanx for all the replies but I like this one.
My tang is the fish I've had the longest so "ol yeller"
Will be getting culpera treats weekly.

 

your tang would never let it become a problem in your dt.