Cheato vs. Caulpera??

[clownlover]

which is better at cleaning out the sytsem. i have cheato bc i read it doesnt go sexual and it removes trates and phates as good as caulpera. i know have seen some posts where people say itsnot as good. should i switch to caulp?

 

[Deanos]

should i switch to caulp?

No.

 

[grknyer]

Only one answer to that question and it's NO!!!!!Don't even think about it.I now have cheato.Caulerpa is a pest.Read up on it on the internet.If it gets into your display tank and it will you will be trying to get rid of for a while.If you go to the swap I'm sure they will be handing out pamphlets on Caulerpa and why it's bad.They gave them out at the last swap

 

[vanceny]

FWIW, I actually use both. When I harvest the calupra I feed it to my tangs. The tangs dont like the cheato as much. Its never made back to my display and grows like crazy. I like the benefit of having both. I've been using it for years without any problems. My fuge light is only on during the evening.

 

[jw10604]

I run the same as vanceny. I have never had any make its way back into the main tank. Like anything in this hobby, periodic, responsible upkeep is necessary.

 

[cnotes999]

werent they just saying in another thread http://www.manhattanreefs.com/forum/general-discussion/33121-add-sump-cheato-hair-algae-long.html thatcheato can cause nitrate and phosphate build up if it doesnt get a steady tumble??:grumpy:

 

[clownlover]

werent they just saying in another thread that cheato can cause nitrate and phosphate build up if it doesnt get a steady tumble??:grumpy:

yea thats where i read it. im also having a hair algae problem thats happened after adding cheato. i leave the light on the fuge for 24 hours should i switch to alternating cycles w the display tank?

 

[yeahcheetah]

FWIW, I actually use both. When I harvest the calupra I feed it to my tangs. The tangs dont like the cheato as much. Its never made back to my display and grows like crazy. I like the benefit of having both. I've been using it for years without any problems. My fuge light is only on during the evening.

I do the same too. Caulpera grow a lot faster than cheato so I presume it can absorb the phates and trates much faster. Some caulpera does get into my display tank but they are consumed by fish & crab before they anchor. If caulpera becomes a problem, you can use some emerald crabs, they prefer caulpera than cheato, if offered at the same time. Dardanus megistos can consume them even faster, but it's not reef safe.