PowerSun UV bulb versus Bryopsis... UPDATE

[Bill S]

OK, after Ace's change to solar lighting, and the subsequent dieoff of his bryopsis, we were wondering whether or not light spectrum MIGHT be critical to the growth of Bryopsis. I toyed with buying some 6500K bulbs, but didn't.

I was at Ace's on Monday, and he gave me a PowerSun reptile bulb to try out. We don't know what K the bulb is - I've got a call into the mfg to see if they can tell me. But it's only a 100w bulb. They also make a 160w bulb.

Anyway, I put the bulb over a spot of Bryopsis on Monday. The spot is a piece of rock glued to my calfo. After 3 days, here's what we see so far:

Monday
http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z157/bstreep/IMG_7339.jpg


Thursday
http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z157/bstreep/IMG_7552.jpg

Meanwhile, the rest of the byopsis in the tank is growing just fine...

[hobogato]

:D

[apedroza]

Nice find guys!!!! This may help a lot of people out!!! Are you just using a spot light currently ??

[subsailor]

Is it a UVA spotlight type bulb or a UVB Long bulb?

[ErikH]

WOW! :D

I do wonder if it is causing it to burn off due to the heat of the rock's surface. Those bulbs do put alot of heat off, I use one on my Mali's cage and I know those rocks stay warm even though the temp of the air drops to room temp faster. Either way, since you have a chiller, the overall temp isn't affected, but what about neighboring corals, nothing adverse?

[Bill S]

Here's the product:

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=15466

The tank has a chiller, and runs in the high 70s. There is SO much flow by that rock, there's no way it could have burned it off by gettnig the rock hot.

I told Ace I'd leave it there until Sunday night, to see if it's ALL gone. Looking at it tonight while doing my 2lbs of bryopsis removal, I noticed that the rock is really looking bare right now. Next I'll move it over some deeper growth, and see what happens.

I matched the spectrum of this bulb to the Iwasaki 6500K, and except for the wavelength at around 300 in the low UV range, they are very close. I'm probably going to buy an Iwasaki 6500K tomorrow to try out.

My huge outbreak of bryopsis HAS coincided with my change to 20K bulbs.

As for neighboring corals, the only one I have is the tiny remaining piece of orange & green monti that's slowly been coming back. On the top photo, it's the yellow splotch underneath the turbo snail in the background.

[Bill S]

OK, I ordered a 6500K Iwasaki bulb from hellolights this morning. Should be in next week, for the second part of the test...

Speaking of which, when switching from 20K K (??? is that right?) to 6500K, with the 20Ks running for 8 hours a day, and the bulbs are 8 months old, how long should I run the 6500s at first?

[Bill S]

OK, an update. This morning before the light came on, I decided that the rock was "done". This photo is WITHOUT the PowerSun light on, so the color is a bit different:

http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z157/bstreep/IMG_7553.jpg

So, I moved the light to another spot - this one is quite a bit deeper than the other one, which was just 2-4" deep.

http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z157/bstreep/IMG_7554.jpg

[SoLiD]

You guys are awesome. This has been an issue for marine aquarists all over the world. Bill are you 2 the first to solve this issue? That would be cool thing if that is the case. :applause:

-David

[Bill S]

Whoa! Hang on a minute - we haven't solved this by ANY stretch of the imagination. Did I fry some bryopsis with a reptile light? Yup. BUT, it was only 2-4" below the surface.

We're now working on replicating this, at 6-10" below the surface, using the same light. I've also purchased a 6500K bulb for my MHs, to see if that will work.

HOWEVER, it could be, for instance, the UV that killed it. UV will kill a lot more than bryopsis! If it fries my SPS that are sitting right below it as it sits, we'll be back to square 1!

However, I have some tabling SPS - the colony on the right in that last photo (#4) that had a part that was also underneath the light from the first experiment.

[SoLiD]

NO... You guys solved it! Case and point... lol :lauging:. OK, ok, Maybe I got a little ahead.

[Bill S]

Well, here's an update, after 2 days of using the light on a deeper spot. Not so encouraging:

Friday:
http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z157/bstreep/IMG_7554.jpg

Sunday:
http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z157/bstreep/IMG_7555.jpg

[DrMark]

this time looks as if it got a little worse..........
mark

[Bill S]

Yup, I'd agree. I'm going to up the hours a bit - right now it's set for just 6 - same as the MH. I didn't want to scorch anything right away.

[Bill S]

OK, here's the last photo in this series:

http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z157/bstreep/IMG_7638.jpg

Obviously, this isn't working well!

New bulb came in - Iwasaki 6500 x 400w. So here's a shot of the difference between it and my Helios 20Ks.

http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z157/bstreep/IMG_7641.jpg

And here's the beginning shot for the 6500 test (I had to do some lawn mowing first):

http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z157/bstreep/IMG_7640.jpg

[DrMark]

Bryopsis definately won that battle...........war not over yet, though?
mark

[aquasport24]

Your tangs won't eat them? I had a frag with that stuff on it ,but my tangs clean them out real quick. I also have alot on my powerhead , i turn the powerhead off and let the tangs eat most of it . Try not feed your fish for a day or 2 and see if they will feed on that stuff..good luck Bill.

[Bill S]

No, tangs won't eat it. Yes, I've tried starving them. It's byropsis, not plain ol' hair algae.

[LoneStar]

Hey Bill, have you heard about Ultra AlgeaX by Fauna Marine?
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1423032

[Bill S]

Yeah, I've heard about AlgeaX. I've followed some threads on RC, and it scares the heck out of me...

Here's todays update. So far, not looking good...

http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z157/bstreep/IMG_7685.jpg

[dustint21]

I would take down my tank if I had to deal with that crap! Hope you figure this out!

[SoLiD]

Will a lettuce nudibanch or a sea hare eat bryopsis???

[Bill S]

I have a 1/2 lb sea hare. It was B & B's pride & joy. It snacks on the bryopsis. That's all.

I'm contemplating a purchase of 12 nudis from reeftopia next week.

[Bill S]

Well, here's the photo from last night. NOT looking good...

http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z157/bstreep/IMG_7691.jpg

On to Lettuce Nudis. Hopefully, they will live up to their other name: Bryopsis eating nudibranch.

[SoLiD]

Holy Moly!!! :ph34r:

[DrMark]

whoa.

[princer7]

I was reading a thread the other night on ReefCentral talking about using Kent Tech M or Magnesium Sulfate (Epsom Salt) to get your Magnesium levels around 1600 and maintained over the course of treatment. This wiped the briopsis within a week or so. :bigsmile:

[Bill S]

Been there, done that. A while ago. NADA. Right now - still - my Mg is over 1500.

[apedroza]

Wow Bill that must be such a pain!!! I scrubbed my rock and re cured them when bryopsis broke out in my tank. Good luck with that. Hope the nudi's work for you.

[speer]

I've had the same problem. Battled it for over a year with no success. I just started pulling the rock out yesterday to recure in tubs in my garage. Sucks but its the only option I have at this point.

[topsoil]

I'm also 'cooking' some rock, after the high mg thing didn't work. I feel your pain.

[princer7]

What form of Mg did y'all try?

[SoLiD]

I know a pencil torch works for aiptasia.... What about torching the bryopsis??? :what_smile:

[topsoil]

Kent Marine

[Bill S]

KM and Bionic.

[clone]

hey Bill I always see nudis at TEXTROP.
i have a bryopsis problem right now aswell,i tryed the MG treatment with no luck (dt's MG).So im gonna try the nudi's.

[bluewalk20]

i bought a foxface from a friend two weeks ago and she is eating the bryopsis like crazy i had some power heads and rocks fully covered and now it is gone she is doing a great job i can't believe it.

[Bill S]

You sure it's bryopsis? I have a rabbitfish, and doesn't touch it.

[mikedelgado]

what is a pencil torch?

[mikedelgado]

and wow , thats a lot of bryopsis

[dustint21]

Here you go Mike!

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h59/dustint21/torch_ht1092.jpg