Green Hair and fern like algea

[Bbristow]

I have had my tank set up for a couple of years and the past few months I have really been fighting hair algea problems. I was told that by taking out my carbon it might cut down on the phosphates(I think) and in turn the algea would begin to subside. I have not had any luck with that yet. I also thought my lights my be old so I replaced them a few weeks ago. Still growing algea like crazy. One of the algeas looks like a fern, it is green but with leaf like growth. Anyone have some suggestions?

[TexasState]

The fern stuff could be Bryopsis. Bryopsis is very hard to get rid of.
http://www.globaldialog.com/~jrice/algae_page/bryopsis.htm
If you rip it out like that person above did, it will only help them to spread faster (free floating Bryopsis will blow around and settle elsewhere.)

[Bbristow]

That is what I have and according to his experience I don't see any light at the end of the tunnel.

[Bbristow]

I don't have pics now but I could get some for later. But, it does look just like the picture of the link from the first reply. Sorry I haven't been around much. Sometimes I think life pulls us in too many directions.

[TexasState]

When I first start out reefing, I bought some bryopsis from the LFS thinking it was caulerpa. I even rip it out to start propagating it in my different reef tanks. Luckily, it went away by itself. Other peoples just don't have that good of a luck though.

[Bbristow]

So from what I am reading, I might get a nitrate, and phosphate sponge. Do a huge water change, and remove any debri I might find in the tank.

[Bbristow]

I also think that it might be time to replace my membrain on my RO unit.

[TexasState]

That article is from 1999. You can try to grow some plants 24/7 to outcompete the bryopsis for nutrient. I think the Ecosystem articles was talking about how they were able to outcompete bryopsis. I'm not sure since I haven't read it in a long time. Try: http://www.ecosystemaquarium.com/html/News.html
and
http://www.ecosystemaquarium.com/html/Testimonials.cfm

[TexasState]

If you do have lots of Bryopsis, you can also try Lettuce Nudibranch to remove it. Just remember to cover your powerheads so that the nudibranch doesn't get chop up.

http://www.reefscapes.net/gallery/lettuceslug.jpg

http://www.biology.ucsc.edu/classes/bio170/spring99/bryopsis/images/tcrisp.jpg

[Bbristow]

I didn't have any luck with the nudibranch. Not sure what happened to the little guy. But, the week or so he was there he didn't seem to be interested in any algea, and believe me there is plenty to go around.

[TexasState]

I tried them at one time. I had too much current in the tank then, so the nudibranch spent of of it time clinging for dear life, or blowing around in the current.