Ugly Tank Contest!

[johnmaloney @ Reef Cleaners]

Got an ugly tank that is marred by nuisance algae? We want to see it! Post your pictures here, and we will choose the ugliest tank to us. The "winner" will receive a custom crew from us, (or a refund on a recently purchased custom crew), and be given step by step instructions on how to get their tank clean. Everybody who participates will be given a 25% discount.

Show us how bad it can get! :)

Note: By submitting a photo, or a link to a photo, you confirm that you are both the owner of the photo and the tank. By posting the photo, or linking to it you give us the right to use the photo on the site. You have the choice whether to remain anonymous or be credited for the photo. If you wish to be credited for the photo, please place your name on the actual photo itself.

[Bill S]

John,

Does my tank count? We've been TOTALLY unsuccessful at controlling the bryopsis. I'll get some photos right before my next "cropping". Here's a photo I posted before. In the background is a volleyball sized colony of A. paletta lovelli - sells for $65 an inch online.

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

[cpreefguy]

Shoot, help Bill out!

[Bill S]

Here's the list we've thrown at it (that I can remember)

fuzzy chitons (I actually still have about 10 of these)
2000 blue legs
200 turbo snails
1000 dwarf ceriths
18 emerald crabs
12 Lettuce nudibranches (these are actually eating it - just not very fast).
Tuxedo urchins (these guys are GREAT at moving it around the tank for you!)
Sea hare - never touched it.
Tangs of all sorts - I have 8 in the tank.
Lawnmower blenny - he's maybe a state record size...
Rabbitfish - now I have a very ugly fish in the tank. Poisonous too.

Tried all of the commone "cures":
Big water changes
Ozone
Mg to 1800ppm
pH to 8.4+
direct application of Kalk to bryopsis
manual pruning
6500K lights
20,000K lights
turn lights down
turn lights up
phosban
skim wet

I'm sure there are more, but that's all I can think of right now. This garbage started from a tiny spot. Now I take a couple of pounds a week out of the tank.

[johnmaloney @ Reef Cleaners]

Have you tried killing it with magnesium?

[Bill S]

See about 2/3 down the list:

"Mg to 1800ppm"

[johnmaloney @ Reef Cleaners]

Oh I have heard it higher. One of the guys from reeferscafe.com said he had to get it to 2200, I have heard of some success though at 2000. I haven't heard of success at 1800 though, maybe it wasn't high enough.

[princer7]

Bill definitely needs some help!!! :bigsmile:

I kept adding the Kent Tech M until I started to see the bryopsis start to receed. It went away within a few days. Not sure what the level went up to - did not slow anything down in the tank.

It has slowly started to come back in a few places. Once I get my calcium reactor back in full swing, it will dose the magnesium (Zeovit) as well to keep the Mg where it needs to be. Hoping this helps keep it gone.

[Bill S]

My Mg was up over 1800 - the 1600 figure is from RC. Just make sure I had my numbers right, I went back over there and re-visited the thread. That particular application was done with a mixture of Mg.

I just bought 2 gallons of Tech M to try it, by itself. I have a BIG water change to make tomorrow, so I'll start dosing Tech M after that.

[johnmaloney @ Reef Cleaners]

coll thanks, I will have to go check that thread out. I saw the original one, I think it was at reef sanctuary where they cracked it. That species of byropsis was Byropsis plumosa, ther is also pennata (spelling might be off), that was plauging the hobby, not sure if that responds to magnesium as well. Keep up the good fight though, and keep me posted if that stuff works.

[justahobby]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/32571307@N03/3042308207/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/32571307@N03/3042308207/

The stringy stuff above the curly q brown anem is feather/ fern looking algae. The rest is the same kinda stuff you see on the jettis in

[johnmaloney @ Reef Cleaners]

By the way the discount code for the posts is "ugly". When you enter a tank I will eventually move it over to my site for the judging. But if you use the discount to order, make sure during checkout you give me your username, and a link to the photo this way I can match them up for the possibility of a refund if you win the contest.

[johnmaloney @ Reef Cleaners]

last day to post pics!

[johnmaloney @ Reef Cleaners]

Finalists and Honorable mentions now posted at the site. If we left out yours, emails me and I will explain why.

Go here to see some of the ugliest tanks from around the web:
http://reefcleaners.org/index.php?option=com_fireboard&Itemid=59&func=view&catid=2&id=925#925

[LoneStar]

Congrats Bill on being a finalist! :wink_smile:

[Bill S]

Thanks... I guess.

I'm guessing I have zero chance of winning - since it would take a HUGE crew. However, please note that I have the nicest corals in that contest! And the best opportunity to show a GREAT success.

[cpreefguy]

bstreep or Jonathan Hale :what_smile:

edit: knocks on wood in hope that I never get that nasty stuff in my tank :sick:

[johnmaloney @ Reef Cleaners]

Thanks... I guess.

I'm guessing I have zero chance of winning - since it would take a HUGE crew. However, please note that I have the nicest corals in that contest! And the best opportunity to show a GREAT success.

That is true, the cuc would be really small actually. Nothing eats your byropsis, nothing to put in there. Maybe a bunch of chaeto and caulerpa to compete for nutrients and space with heavy trimming from you. If you can't beat it chemically, you are pretty much out of luck at this point, it has taken over. Maybe you can move the corals temporarily and turn out the lights?

[Bill S]

Hey John, take a look at my Turbo thread. I can't believe they are actually eating it... But they are.

[johnmaloney @ Reef Cleaners]

Picking at it or removing it? With 200 in there it should be gone quickly if they are eating it.

[Dee]

If I didn't like my yellow tang so much, I'd let you use him Bill to see if he'd help out. He hasn't let me down yet and eats anything green. I had a clam with hair algae that was passed around a couple members of another forum and nobody could get rid of it. One night in my tank and it was completely ceaned off. Unfortunately a year later after our move, something killed the gorgeous 8" Gigas :o(

Dee

[Bill S]

I have 2 yellow tangs. They pick at it every once in a while, but that's it.

[johnmaloney @ Reef Cleaners]

VOTING HAS STARTED ON THE FINAL FOUR, PICK YOUR WINNER NOW AT:
http://reefcleaners.org/index.php?option=com_fireboard&Itemid=59&func=view&catid=2&id=982#982

(sorry caps)

Registration is required to vote, sorry for the hassle but it helps keep the spammers away.