Finally an easy solution to bryopsis!

[TWallace]

I haven't been measuring my mag lately so I couldn't tell you what it is right now. I believe last time I checked it, it was around 1450.

The Salifert kit does only go to 1500, but you can fill up another syringe worth of the reagent and figure out how much each hundredth of a mL is. I think it's 30ppm of mag per hundredth of a mL, but that's just going from memory.

 

[kypatriot]

Couldn't you also use 1 mL of tank water and 1 mL of RO/DI water to dilute it, run the test normally, and then double your result?

 

[UrbanSage]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10367756#post10367756 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by UrbanSage
I dosed the mag flake/epson salt mix and saw no effect what so ever.
Then I dosed Tech M and looks at this:
(Used to be healthy and green).

Here the same area 3-4 days later.

 

[Neptune777]

I have had an interesting run on this project. First I thought the Mg Chloride was working....the Bryopsis did receed for a while but never really died. I let the tank go back to normal Mg levels for a while and the Bryopsis grew with vigor.......anyone who has had this stuff knows no matter how clean your tank is the stuff will proliferate with gusto! Water changes, zero PO4, zero Nitrates have no effect.
I did some more research on the Mg subject and learned some very important items. Those who used Kent Tech-M were successful in eradicating the Bryopsis, those who used Epsom Salts had the same results, those who used Mg Chloride were not successful. Mg Sulfate is what you want to use and my guess is that Kent Tech-M is basically Epsom Salts.
So round 2 I used Epsom Salts (Mg Sulfate) exclusively this time..........no doubt about it the Bryopsis is dieing....turning brown and falling to pieces or melting away. It hasn't happened as fast as others have reported but it definitely has an effect on this algea (it kills it at high levels). This has been going on for over a week now....each day more turns brown and dies. I will let you know what happens after a couple more weeks...

FYI my MG level is at 1800....

 

[bhdmc]

I been battling this pest for over two years and tried everything to rid it. Each time it is remove, it grows back. I figure what do I got to lose trying this method. Raise the Mag level above 1500PPM using Kent Marine Tech-M. In two weeks it is going, going, and almost gone. No effects on my SPS corals nor Clams, but my Yellow Scroll and Zoo's turn pale. The big questions is will it grow back after the Mag drop back to normal. I hope not!

 

[Steve 926]

So round 2 I used Epsom Salts (Mg Sulfate) exclusively this time..........no doubt about it the Bryopsis is dieing....turning brown and falling to pieces or melting away. It hasn't happened as fast as others have reported but it definitely has an effect on this algea (it kills it at high levels). This has been going on for over a week now....each day more turns brown and dies. I will let you know what happens after a couple more weeks...


Would you pls tell us how you mixed the Epsom salts & what ratio did you add it at.

Thanks for a reply

Steve926

:smokin:

 

[UrbanSage]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10403494#post10403494 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Steve 926
Would you pls tell us how you mixed the Epsom salts & what ratio did you add it at.

Thanks for a reply

Steve926

:smokin:

Uhm.... He said "I used Epsom Salts (Mg Sulfate) exclusively this time"
No mixing, comes in a bucket......

 

[SaltyDr]

Just buy it at the pharmacy or supermarket and mix it with RO/DI water. You can figure out how much you will need by going to the chemistry forum and getting the calculator. One pound of epsom salt raised my 100G system about 100-120 ppm. It seems to be working for me as well. results were not immediate. Has taken about 2 weeks to see improvement.

 

[kevin2000]

MMM

You can get 1500+ levels of mg using Oceanic salt at std reef salinity .. and people using Oceanic still get Bryopsis .. maybe I am missing something here?

 

[TWallace]

I don't think it's the magnesium alone. I think in particular, it's magnesium sulfate (not chloride). I believe most (if not all) of the people who have used Tech M to kill bryopsis were successful. Although far fewer people have tried it (judging by this thread) I also believe most people that used epsom salt (magnesium sulfate) were successful, as well.

I don't know which Tech M contains, possibly both.

 

[kevin2000]

Thanks saved me from going through a 14 page thread.

 

[UrbanSage]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10412198#post10412198 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by kevin2000
Thanks saved me from going through a 14 page thread.

Hmmm.... Could you explain your interpretation of "old enough to know better"? :lol:

 

[Neptune777]

I think the reason why Mg sulfate works over Mg Chloride is how it makes itself more avaiable to the Bryopsis (the Mg portion I mean).

It is taking weeks but the bryopsis is going away with the epsom salts. I did not get these results with Mag Flake. One benifit of epsom salts over Kent Tech-M is the cost.....it takes a lot of Mg to boost your levels and if you have a large tank the kent tech-m is going to get pricey....

 

[HBtank]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10303556#post10303556 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jdieck
I read it somewhere here in RC about 6 months back. At that time I was having the same large amounts of algae in my frag tank but nowhere else. I used to take all the eggcrate out, inmerse it in muriatic acid and then bleach it to completely clean it, just one week after putting it back algae started catching up again. I even replaced the whole eggcrate a couple of times to no aveil.
After I read that I ordered acrylic based eggcrate, which by the way is thicker 1/2" rather than 1/4" and I have been algae free since then.

What kind of algae was growing? And is there any way to confirm it is styrene? I am pretty sure mine is 1/2 inch thick (this is the thickness of the sheet right?).

My refugium, which is the only place with any eggcrate, always has cyano or other micro algaes= that just will not go away.


Here is a pic of the stuff I used.

 

[jdieck]

Difficult to tell unless you compare it side by side although the Styrene I have seen comes in 1/4 and 1/2" thick most of the one from hardware stores is styrene.
Styrene is normally cheaper than acrylic. Retail, an acrylic sheet might be around 20 to 30 bucks for a 2'x4' while styrene may be 12 to 15 bucks.
While cutting it compared to the acrylic you may notice styrene is a bit more "brittle" and tends to break with a more "brisky" mode lawnching pices all over. It also seems to melt easier and leave a larger flash if using a power tool.
The best way to know is take a look at the box were you purchased it.
The most promoted algae seems to be hair algae.

 

[HBtank]

Sounds like I have styrene. Don't really need 130 dollars of eggcrate I will have to see if I can find some acrylic locally, though it seemed that it was hard to find it in the first place, I'll try and check somewhere that is lighting specific. This is the second time I have read about it being a problem and it is not to much trouble to switch it out..



I am all worried about storage containers now too... Arghh

 

[RichConley]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10412188#post10412188 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by TWallace
I don't think it's the magnesium alone. I think in particular, it's magnesium sulfate (not chloride). I believe most (if not all) of the people who have used Tech M to kill bryopsis were successful. Although far fewer people have tried it (judging by this thread) I also believe most people that used epsom salt (magnesium sulfate) were successful, as well.

I don't know which Tech M contains, possibly both.

SO it might have nothing to do with magnesium, and everything to do with Sulfate.

 

[jimwat]

I've had bryopsis come and go and have never known why. I recently notice a small patch growing in the back of my tank (which none of my HA eaters will touch). Interestingly, I have NOT been very diligent in checking my Mg levels recently. Since I already have the salifert test kit (and Tech M) at home, I'll be very interested to see what my levels are tonight.

BTW, I have just read through this entire thread and learned:

- How to get an anemone to split
- Egg crate can leach chemicals that promote HA
- A dozen or so ways to add Mg to my tank
- And I've almost memorized the exact ingredients in Tech M

 

[seapug]

I'm 2/3 of the way through a bottle of Tech M on my 90 (adding about 30 ML/day for the past week or so) and *may* be seeing some progress against the Bryopsis in my tank, but I'm not sure if it's more from the Tech M or my hand to hand combat against it. Regardless, it's on the way out.

 

[sbertomen]

Will I ever learn?

Will I ever learn?

I ws over focused on my aquascaping and for the past few weeks neglected to check my Mg levels. What a surprize, little tufts of bryopsis started appearing. Three days ago I upped the Mg and now the tufts are getting skinny, loosing fronds and in general it is in remission. This time I did not turn my lights out for three days and it is on it's way out.

Again - not terribly scientific, but for me a clear cause and effect. Unfortunately now I think my tank may always have that tendency to break out if I am not vigilant.