Caulerpa Infestation

[fraggle]

I am having a SERIOUS Razer Caulerpa infestation. I have a yellow tang but he can't keep up with it. What is the best way to get rid of this stuff? I have tried pulling it out, but it breaks so easy so it would take a year at least to get it all out! It sticks to the LR. I was away from the tank for 3 weeks due to a business trip (had a friend watch over it) came back to this! Ack! TIA!

 

[theonella]

I have also had severe caulerpa growth. I got rid of it by pulling it out every day. the holdfasts will regrow the plant, so you have to make sure to get those too. If you start at the end of the piece, and carefully work backwards, detaching the plant from the rock down the holdfast, you can usually get the whole strand. Pulling at the very end will just break it off. For the hard to get pieces, I used a stainless steel tweezers. With consistent effort, you will be able to get it all.

 

[Emperator]

Seems to me like you have too much nutrients in your tank for the caulerpa to grow that fast.

Cut down on the nutrient import (water change, less feeding, etc) and prune till it is under control.

 

[fraggle]

Never fed. Never really had to. There is plenty for mr tang to eat. I never pruned either, and I just let it get out of control.