Caulerpa

I stopped feeding it and it almost starved. I've literally tried everything. I'm sure whyyou think I just threw a hunk if broccli in... I've mixed, used garlic, tried all sorts of veggies. I also know it's unhealthy why else would I mention it? Thanks for more critisism.

 

Not everybody has the time to read every single thread so we don't all know the entire story or the entire history. I don't see any criticizm here at all. Just people giving good advice with the information that's been given in this thread.

 

Not sure why you'd want some in your dt. My mom really liked it so that's why I left mine and it exploded overnight in the biggest problem ever.

 

well your trying to make it sound like he's not TRYING to feed it properly. which is very very very seriously not the case. Its alittle offensive, its kinda like if someone were to say your not feeding your kid properly, how would u take that? i would be pissed.

but this is all besides the point.

fact 1.
he has tried to feed it just about everything veggie under the darn sun, from the lfs (assorted flakes, pellets etc.), and fresh veggies.
Fact 2. it wont eat it. (yes we do use garlic too and even that wont make it eat it)
Fact 3. we are indeed trying to correct the problem, implying we arent is just plain offensive.

Back to the problem at hand.

The culerpa


Question.

If we rip it out but the roots are still intact (i dont want to disturb the sand bed) will it still grow back? or can i just cut it with a razor at the base?

 

You have to pull it from the roots. Don't worry about distubing the sandbed too much because it won't.

I was giving simple suggestions of what to try with different foods. Considering tangs are built weak and disease prone, it is very important to get it as healthy as possible and to get it eating veges. My suggestion is just keep trying new foods and the same old ones that didn't work. Just because it won't eat one food once does not mean that it never will. Sometimes the fish don't realize how tasty some other foods are. No one is implying that you are not trying to correct the problem. The first post obviously stated that you were trying to do something and trying other foods. Just keep trying. We are all on the same side here and we are here to help. You posted about a problem, I noticed another problem that the forum would be able to help with so I mentioned it. I'm not criticising, I just want to help.

 

I did no such thing. I have been guilty of thinking that my fish would only eat one thing too until somebody told me differently. I suppose advice is how you take it. I'm sorry that some people are so easily offended by some good natured advice but that was not the intent.

 

what species? the remedy will need to fit the problem, literally hundreds of species of caulerpa. If you are not sure, (better not to guess), post a picture and I can figure it out for you

 

Ok, so I one of those crazy people who tried to introduce this stuff into my DT. I was going for a natural mixed reef with some macro mixed in there like I've seen in some reef photography. Any ways, that why.

I've intentionally put halimeda, grape and fern caulerpa in the tank. And my hermit crabs (blues & reds) pretty much ate ALL of these macros. It's kind of frustrating because I wanted them in there and know fully capable of fast they were going to grow. I don't know why and no body else has heard of this, but I think that's because most people don't put this stuff in their DT. Maybe I have too many crabs for my tank and they were just starving? IDK.

 

I intentionally put caulerpa prolifera in my display. It gets eaten in about 24 hours depending on how much. I know my hippo munches on it, I'm not sure if my crabs do or not.I always wanted it to grow in my display but the tang and whoever else just eats it up asap.

 

Same here. It was all eaten in about 4 days. I don't have any tangs and I sat there and watched the hermits go to town on it. It's frustrating. I'm going to try shaving brush next as a test. If that doesn't work, I'm removing some hermits.

Moral of the story for the OP: maybe try increasing your hermit population?