What happens when a Caulerpa goes sexual?

[Hara]

Can anyone tell me what to expect when a feather caulerpa goes sexual?

Is it harmful to tank inhabitants? or is it just tank nastiness?

Mine is looking very nice, and I imagine this is the next step?

On another list, I heard keeping the lights on 24/7 prevents this, but it is in my FO tank.

Thanks for any info.

 

[Anemoneman]

If you prune your caulerpa regularly it will not go sexual. When it does you will know it because the algae will turn white or clear and your water will get cloudy. This is the algae reducing itself to spores(?) and using all available oxygen. If it happens, quickly remove all traces of the white algae and run a mechanical filter to remove the algae cells. A water change won't hurt but I have survived this on two occasions without it.