Dont sweat the algae too much...

[jbird69]

Algae is probably the #1 headache and most common topic in this hobby. I am far from an expert (really, REALLY far!) But my observation in my own tank over the 2 years Ive had it is as follows.

An outright lack of algae, or completely successful irradication of common algae is not necessarily healthy.
I have succeeded in eliminating all but coraline algae in my tank and from my observation, my more sensitve livestock doesnt like it at all. Whether its from super frequent water changes, aggressive phosphate removal or even magnessium ramping for bryopsis, my corals lose color and even stop growing during these periods.

I have found myself excited to scrub the green film off the glass after one of these "algae free" periods. It never fails. My corals open up, color up and grow up if Ive got 'some' algae growing in the tank.

The trick is to find that line of keeping it under control, but present.

I have no science to back this up. Just personal observation :bum:

 

[Sisterlimonpot]

I have very similar observations in my tank as well. even though I dose vodka I get some algae on the back glass and scrape it every month or so and notice pretty much the same thing. I have never ramped up mag because I haven't seen enough bryopsis to care about it the treatment.

 

[jbird69]

I have done the mag treatment for bryopsis and it did the job well. It was probably the least impacting on my tank because I did have some other algae uneffected.

 

[Billabong]

From what I understand, is that high mag is only useful for getting rid of bryopsis and nothing else.

 

[jason2459]

I sat mine out and let it kill itself off. Did some water changes and had some chaeto in the refuge that I split off and put some in the main DT. For the past several weeks the bryopsis went through several stages. Started with a nice dark green forest everywhere. Then large amount of the bryopsis started turning a brownish color right up the middle of each strand. I thought that was it but then it went through another stage. Strands of the bryopsis starting turning white and really light green. Soon all the brown went away and everything was a really light green, transparent, or white. Once that happened I went in and started pull out as much as I could along with a syphon. (I used a vortex xl diatom filter). Now all I have left are pretty pathetic looking strands just falling apart and breaking up into the water and the skimmer is getting that. My nitrates and phosphates have been at 0 the entire time too. I figured that they might go up as the bryopsis died off but I think that pulling as much as I could helped to export what they were storing before it went back into the water?

So, I definitely agree with the OP "Dont sweat the algae too much... "