Caulerpa cupressoides Care Guide
Caulerpa cupressoides is a marine green macroalga with cypress-like erect fronds, used in refugiums and reef tanks for nutrient export.
Overview
Caulerpa cupressoides is a marine green macroalga in the family Caulerpaceae, named for its cypress-like erect fronds. Like all Caulerpa it is coenocytic, meaning the whole organism is effectively a single giant cell with many nuclei and no internal cross-walls. It is grown in reef refugiums for nutrient export.
Taxonomy
- Family: Caulerpaceae
- Genus: Caulerpa
- Scientific name: Caulerpa cupressoides (Vahl) C.Agardh, 1817 (WoRMS AphiaID 144467)
- Common synonyms: Cypress caulerpa; basionym Fucus cupressoides
Habitat
The species grows in shallow, protected areas with sandy bottoms and is widespread across tropical and subtropical oceans, including the western Atlantic from Florida to Brazil and the Caribbean, both African coasts, and the Indo-Pacific to Australia. Sand-covered runners give rise to upright branches; the alga reaches roughly 2-25 cm tall.
Aquarium requirements
- Placement: midground / refugium
- Temperature: 22-28 °C (72-82 °F)
- Specific gravity: 1.024-1.026
- pH: 8.0-8.4
- dKH: 8-12
- Lighting: medium
- Role: nutrient (nitrate/phosphate) export
Growth and care
Caulerpa grows fast and absorbs nitrate, which is why it is popular in refugiums. Harvest regularly rather than letting it overgrow. To reduce the chance of the alga going sexual (releasing gametes and crashing), keep illumination consistent and prune steadily; the genus also contains defensive compounds such as caulerpin.
Propagation
Propagation is by division of the runners and by fragmentation; detached pieces with intact runner tissue continue to grow.