krourke85 Posted July 2, 2014 Share Posted July 2, 2014 Hi all, I've decided to try and run my tank as a caulerpa farm to export phosphates until they become negligible. The trouble is I'm getting lots of green hairy algae growth which I can't export. So how do I kill one while leaving the other alone? Right now I'm trying snails, and next I'm thinking Tech M from Kent Marine. There must be something that selectively kills green hairy algae better then caulerpa, right? Link to comment
Snow_Phoenix Posted July 2, 2014 Share Posted July 2, 2014 If you're upping Mag, just don't up too much at a go or it'll nuke some of your softies. I upped my Mag too fast and one of my leathers literally melted. Link to comment
Reefwiser Posted July 2, 2014 Share Posted July 2, 2014 Try blue legg hermit crabs they are hair algae eatting machines. snails really don't eat hari algae way to big for them they eat the film algae on clean good but hiar is just too mcuh for them. Link to comment
Polarcollision Posted July 3, 2014 Share Posted July 3, 2014 Try blue legg hermit crabs they are hair algae eatting machines. snails really don't eat hari algae way to big for them they eat the film algae on clean good but hiar is just too mcuh for them. I may have unusual astrea snails, but I peel them off the glass and place them in patches of hair algae. It's gone the next day. What if the caulerpa with the densest hair algae hitchhiker is removed when you harvest? It's still exporting nutrients and maybe in time the caulerpa will win out? Link to comment
krourke85 Posted July 3, 2014 Author Share Posted July 3, 2014 I have noticed a lot of hair algae growing on my caulerpa. Maybe I will try exporting both together. I miss my old tank SO much. It was a tank that thrived on neglect. It's only now in hindsight that I realize how lucky I was. Link to comment
Tamberav Posted July 4, 2014 Share Posted July 4, 2014 I have noticed a lot of hair algae growing on my caulerpa. Maybe I will try exporting both together. I miss my old tank SO much. It was a tank that thrived on neglect. It's only now in hindsight that I realize how lucky I was. I have noticed if the macro was wild collected then GHA will often spring up on it so I trim it back and the fresh growth is GHA free. I would just export both. It should grow super fast anyways. Link to comment
JoeDigiorgio Posted July 22, 2014 Share Posted July 22, 2014 Go through and meticulously clip off every "leaf" from the caulerpa, even ones that look clean, leaving just the runner. Then throw in like 10-15 Cortez or blue legs. Hair algae will be a distant memory within a week and you'll get explosive caulerpa growth from the heavy trimming. Link to comment
krourke85 Posted July 25, 2014 Author Share Posted July 25, 2014 Thanks everyone for their input. Thought I'd post the solution that worked for others to know. Tech M by Kent Marine destroyed the Bryopsis. I accidentally overdosed to 1640, but no snails died. Already started exporting phosphate and other organics in the form of 1 cup of Caulerpa so far. The Caulerpa was unharmed and now has a solid root throughout the entire tank and it has clear access to the LED. I plan to proceed this way until phosphates are close to 0, then I will trim the Caulerpa back so it only lives in the hidden areas of the tank. Link to comment
skimlessinseattle Posted July 25, 2014 Share Posted July 25, 2014 The caulerpa will out - compete the hair algae IME. Just give it time. Caulerpa as primary export has worked great for me. Link to comment
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.