caulerpa problem

[Kat]

I would like to eradicate the caulerpa in my tank, I have to prune it constantly or it takes over and crowds out my corals. is there anything that will eat it or does anyone have any suggestions.

 

[yote]

If its in your 14gal,you'll just have to keep pulling it out.Get as much as the runners as possible.

 

[Kat]

is there anything that eats it that I could get for a short time. I have access to a large tank I could put the creature in after the job is done

 

[Bifferwine]

Unfortunately the only fish that I can think of that eat it are big fish. Way too big for your tank. Do you have a friend that has a larger tank than you do? If so, you could buy them a tang or rabbitfish as a gift, and rotate your rocks through their tank, one at a time, until it's gone from all your rocks.

Maybe an emerald crab will work. But that's a big maybe. And most likely a no...

 

[Kat]

thank you bifferwine thats a great idea my son has a 175g and he has tangs.

 

[Bifferwine]

Awesome! Most tangs will eat that stuff up.

 

[Kat]

I was told that a lettuce sea slug (nudibranch) will eat it. do you think that might work?

 

[yote]

Lettuse nudis are more of a hair algae and bryopsis eatter.

 

[hibye]

They also don't live that well in captivity from what I have heard. Try plucking it off the rocks. Then sell it to others. That algea can get expensive just for a little handful, or at least it is at my LFS.

 

[Bifferwine]

Lettuce nudis won't eat caulerpa.

 

[Kat]

well, if anyone want's some I've got plenty for free

 

[acerhigh]

get out the toothbrush and pull the rock out of the tank and start scrubbing... you should be able to get most of it that way...... if you get a spot where it keeps coming back.... use a pick or screwdriver and dig the root out of the rock.... the roots don't penetrate very far and you should be able to clean it out..