Bryopsis Eaters (This is NOT Hair Algae)

[BIGBIRD123]

This a good topic of discussion and for some people better late than never. I'm sure there are a few people out there that are battling what they think is hair algae but instead could be one of the other forms of bryopsis. This topic will go on and on for as many years as there are hobbyist in the aquarium field. There are a lot of people that had good luck ridding their tanks of it and some that just had to give up and start over. So no matter if it is emergency discussion or just continuous input discussion, it will always be a needed topic of discussion. This is just where the Education part begins...what we are all about.

[cyrus]

I am sorry that you had no positive results with the information I put forth. As others have pointed out how ever, there are many, many things in the marine world that we have yet to understand and my input is purely to increase information in our shared hobby. I have no interest in trumping anyones advise and I hope you all understand that. I do know that there are newer forums on this subject and I repeat my previous statement that time does not dictate our ability to share our experiences we are all here for knowledge not ridicule. I currently am engadged in a battle with bryopsis and that is why I don't see a problem with reviving the forum. I welcome any and all input. That said HAPPY SAINT PATTIES DAY!!!

[hobogato]

ok, i moved this to the current forum so we could continue the discussion

i had it in my big tank, and when i put in the solar tubes, it melted away. we tried to replicate that in bill's big tank with a reptile daylight bulb, with no success. not really helpful info, just thought i would add it to the discussion...

[alienspacepirate]

WHen i first got into this hobby I thought it was totally silly to have a 'quarantine' tank.. but after dealing with a few nuisance hitchhikers I understand the necessity.. especially if you had a large tank that you would just be unable to get to every crevice and cranny. In my 55 I can move coral and rocks around but its already a pain in the butt..

[Bill S]

Mine came in on a rock. Steve, you might remember seeing it as a quarter-sized tuft on the rock - you said "you better get rid of that". I wish you'd said "take that freakin' rock out NOW!". I'd still have an SPS tank.

The reptile bulb DID make a difference. I tried replicating the bulb with a daylight MH bulb (UGLY color), but it didn't work.

[CoryDude]

cyrus,

Bill is correct. Increased mag will work on some types of bryopsis. I had a type that would disappear when the mag levels where 1800-2000 mg/L. But once the levels were brought back to 1200, the algae would return.

These are some of the things that seemed to work on my 60 gallon. Most are outlined in this thread.

1) Increased mag. This really seemed to help with the stuff growing on the plastic parts in the aquarium. Constant levels are kept around 1400-1500
2) Manual removal by pulling the algae from the base instead of just "mowing" it.
3) Increased total alk @ 5meq/L, and high stabilized ph around 8.3 day and 8.2 night
4) vigorous protein skimming
5) reduced nitrates and phosphates

As long as I do the above, the bryopsis is manageable and stays at bay. But, if I let any of the above slip, it slowly returns.

I also found some little patches in my 90 gallon sps tank. I got the nitrates to almost zero, added new some phos remover, and dosed with mag. The bryopsis turned white and melted away in a few days. Haven't seen any traces of the stuff in the 90 for almost 5 months now. This could also be because of the Hiatt.

bstreep has some good advice in his previous posts and threads. I'd recommend you research his older stuff.

Best of luck to you and keep up the good fight. Don't let this stuff run you out of the hobby!

[Shu]

Dose ken tech M worked like a charm for me. used one whole bottle and it was all gone.

[Europhyllia]

3) Increased total alk @ 5meq/L, and high stabilized ph around 8.3 day and 8.2 night

My alk tends to get kind of high (buffering) and I get nervous at 4.65. Did you have any problems with calc/alk balance or precipitation at alk that high?

[CoryDude]

Not really. In a high demand system like the sps tank, I add a little carbonate to my make up water along with what the calcium reactor adds. My levels are 5.0 meq/L total alk, 400-450 mg/L, and ph is 8.3 rock solid.

There is some lime buildup on the sump, and the air inlet on the venturi for the skimmer has to be cleaned every few days. Other than that, no real problems. But, that's just my experience.

[CoryDude]

precipitation at alk that high?

I caused a snow storm in my tank years ago when i didn't know how to dose kalk water. I thought it was pretty cool till I realized I lost an elegance and some porites because of it.