Macro algae : Caulerpa prolifera

Caulerpa prolifera

CARE : Easy, undemanding under normal reef conditions

GROWTH : Fast, once settled

INVASIVE? : Not invasive, as easily removed by lifting its holdfast, does require maintenance though and pruning if kept as a display species, due to its fast sprawling growth.

LIGHTING : Medium 

FLOW: Medium, requires movement in large bed to stop debris accumulating between fronds.

VARIATION : Higher light results in faster fresh growth and lighter colouration.

HOLDFAST ATTACHMENT TIME : Very fast (Days once settled)

NUTRIENT UPTAKE : Exceptional 

SPECIES INFORMATION:

This species requires little introduction. One of the first species to find its way into the hobby and often adopted in refugia, grown in a bed as a nutrient control method. This is no reason to assume it should be limited to this purpose, it can look strikingly attractive in display aquaria too; should you be prepared to keep it regularly pruned.

This species has found its way to most tropical regions now.

Caulerpa prolifera,  as with most Caulerpa species grows via a 'runner like' holdfast system under the substrate, sending up the characteristic long blade like fronds at regular intervals. Fronds are capable if reaching a length of around 20cm.

This species does extremely well in and is great for a refugium if grown in a 'miracle mud' or equivalent substrate medium, failing this it will grow with its holdfasts buried into normal aquarium sand or even without a substrate.

 CUTTING INFORMATION:

You will receive an actively growing holdfast runner with a minimum of 5 adult bladed fronds growing from the runner.