Fern Caulerpa, (Caulerpa sertularioides), is a prolific grower, that needs
proper trimming. Under ideal captive conditions a runner can send 1-2 fronds up
a day as it covers one lateral inch. In the wild the growth can be triple-fold.
Because of this it is a better candidate for the refugium or sump rather than
the display tank, unless you are dedicated to pruning. The runner itself is
somewhat thick and can be peeled back when trimming if you use a delicate
touch. This is easier done if the Caulerpa is contained to the sandbed,
refugium, or an isolated rock, rather than in a difficult to access location in
your main display. Old growth should be discarded and new growth retained. It
will grow well under moderate to bright lighting. Brighter lighting all other
things equal will contribute to faster growth, but the plants will generally be
paler in color. Taller fronds grow in low flow environments, plants exposed to
turbulence tend to remain shorter.
Propagation : The macro grows from a "runner", a common name for the "root"
systems that grows along the substrate. The fronds of the algae grow up from
the runner. You can create multiple plants by removing the runner intact from
your tank, clipping it in an area that is between two fronds and replanting the
two new pieces back into the tank. This macro can be safely superglued, or tied
down with fishing line to hold it in place, but most people bury the runner
gently below the sand, until rhizomes are able to anchor it into place
naturally. This macroalgae is readily consumed by Tangs and Angels, French
Angels in particular go nuts for it.
We will ship a portion of Fern Caulerpa that is roughly 5 inches in length