Finally an easy solution to bryopsis!

[badonkadonk]

I had a patch of bryopsis show up about 6 mos. to a year ago, and recently had started spreading, especially to areas where two corals had grown into each other and resulted in localized die-off. The rabbit fish that used to keep the small patch in check seemed to have lost interest. Also, my styrene egg crate frag rack got pretty heavily infested with it (that stuff always seems to be the first indicator of an algae problem in my system). My magnesium was typically around 1150 to 1200 and I would dose whenever I would think about it (not often enough). I use Reef Crystals and NSW. Anyway, I decided to try the hyper-mag method, and am very pleased with the results and grateful to the individual that first reported the effect. I raised my mag to about 1400 with Randy's 2-part mag mix, then raised with Tech-M to 1475 or 1500. The bryopsis started looking unhealthy after a few days, and by about 2 weeks was breaking apart. There are still some "filaments" here and there, but I'm hoping those will disappear eventually. There were no noticable ill-effects to any of the organisms; in fact, the corals never looked healthier (could have been I had a low magnesium problem all along). I might raise the mag a bit more, or at least I'll try and maintain the current level for the long run. I'll try to alternate dosing mag with Tech M and 2 part mag. BTW, the mag chloride is from BRS, and the epsom salt is from Costco. Thanks again, original algae assassin! (who was that btw?)

 

[tcmfish]

So who is going to figure out what causes the die off. Obviously it isn't the magnesium level!!!! There has to be something in Kent's Tech-M that is different from other magnesium supplements. It seems like the biggest waste of money to by a diluted magnesium supplement from Kent for some minor element in that supplement to kill a weed. Why not figure out the element or compound need to kill the bryopsis and buy that in bulk?

I think it would be much more helpful for people to focus on this does anyone have an ideas or input?

 

[tcmfish]

I'm not sold on the copper being the culprit because I doubt it is high enough in concentration to kill the algae but low enough to not effect coral or inverts although people have talked about corals lightening up or bleaching and some snails being affected.

These are the contents of Tech-M, taken from marine depot:
Deionized water containing the following elements (as ions): magnesium, chlorine, sulfur, calcium, potassium, bromine, strontium, boron, fluorine, lithium, rubidium, iodine, iron, molybdenum, zinc, nickel, copper, manganese, vanadium, cesium, cobalt, tungsten, selenium, and chromium.

It looks like some people use bromine in a similar fashion to keep pools clean:
http://www.askalanaquestion.com/bromine_for_pools.htm
Do a control F and type algae.

Also some various metal hydroxides look to be used as algaecides and many of the ions mentioned in Tech-M's composition are in these algaecides:
http://www.patentstorm.us/patents/6291397/description.html

Any thoughts?

Also the main ingredients of magnesium supplements are Mg Cl and sulfate so adding a bunch of that doesn't work but a minor element or compound in Tech-M does so once it is determined what it is you probably won't need much of it to dose for algaecide purposes.

 

[dyer_maker]

I recently purchased a gallon of Tech-M and as has been previously mentioned the trace elements are no longer listed in the ingredients. I hope that it still works as I'm dosing right now.

 

[redfishsc]

It seems like the biggest waste of money to by a diluted magnesium supplement from Kent for some minor element in that supplement to kill a weed. Why not figure out the element or compound need to kill the bryopsis and buy that in bulk?

Man, if we could figure out what the impurity is that is causing it, we could save a heap of money and perhaps even produce a more effective algaecide.

But, for the $20 I paid for the gallon of Tech M, it seems to have done the trick (almost--- I have had to resort to extra carbon dosing but it seems to have beaten it back into submission). It's an ongoing saga, but right now I only have very, very very tiny sprigs of it here and there that are not growing at all. I remove them as I find them.

 

[redfishsc]

These are the contents of Tech-M, taken from marine depot:
Deionized water containing the following elements (as ions): magnesium, chlorine, sulfur, calcium, potassium, bromine, strontium, boron, fluorine, lithium, rubidium, iodine, iron, molybdenum, zinc, nickel, copper, manganese, vanadium, cesium, cobalt, tungsten, selenium, and chromium.

Any thoughts?

Also the main ingredients of magnesium supplements are Mg Cl and sulfate so adding a bunch of that doesn't work but a minor element or compound in Tech-M does so once it is determined what it is you probably won't need much of it to dose for algaecide purposes.

They don't actually add those ingredients into the Mag chloride and sulfate. They tag along as impurities, according to the rep that I spoke with via email. They must have a pitiful source of mag sulfate and chloride b/c even the cheapest stuff I've seen is still crystal clear, yet Tech M looks like wet skimmate.

I recently purchased a gallon of Tech-M and as has been previously mentioned the trace elements are no longer listed in the ingredients. I hope that it still works as I'm dosing right now.

It's the same stuff. They removed all the impurities on the label because they do not actually add them in there, and are below concentrations that warrant listing as an ingredient (in the legal sense). The bottle I have reads the same as yours, and it worked. Kinda. The bryopsis will come back in my tank if I leave it ANY nutrients to speak of, so I am beating it back with Tech M and carbon dosing... seems to be working.

 

[tcmfish]

That makes sense. Just sucks for big tanks.

 

[redfishsc]

That makes sense. Just sucks for big tanks.

Yeah, it took me nearly a whole gallon to get to where I am now, and my system is only 45 gallons. The reason is b/c I did a water change too soon after the first round, and then on the second round I decided to get very aggressive.

I haven't lost any corals as of yet, but I did kill my two brittle stars (3-4" arm to arm) and my frogspawn is decidedly p/o'ed about the situation.

 

[kaiserkid]

I have been trying to find a way to rid my tank of what I think is byprosis and stumbled across this thread...can anyone confirm that this is byprosis that I have? This is the only pic that I have of it atm.

 

[Znut Reefer]

Sure looks like it to me.

 

[redfishsc]

Agreed- that sure looks like bryopsis. The variety I had was much "stalkier" looking and the fern shaped leaves didn't appear but on a few of them, but yours really shows it.

Get some Tech M quick, and you might consider calling in a priest or something :worried:

 

[ser_renely]

interesting

 

[rick s]

I know this doesn't contribute any help to your thread, but it certainly relates to the subject.

I had tried all the mentioned cures to no avail. About a month ago I had a total tank crash due to my own stupidity (not related to anything mentioned here). The only thing that survived? Yep. The Bryopsis!

So, since I was going to have to start over, the Bryopsis had to finally go! I used the only method that I was pretty sure would work. Bleach. I bleached the entire, running system.

 

[rjinct]

I have a fairly new setup (well new to me, bought everything used). Everything was swell for a month or so as I slowly brought up the light cycle to full lights around 6 hours a day..blues run for 12 hours (the previous owner said they only kept lights on (blue and white) for 2 hours due to algae issues...it was fish only). Didn't think too much of it--maybe I should have... Anyway, I got up to 6 hours of full lights and had been running for about a week and these little green stalks started to pop up everywhere. 1 week later, only 1 week, they all sprout the fern-like attributes of bryopsis. It has completely taken over all the rocks and much of the sand bed. Nitrates and PH are close to 0...figure the bryopsis is using it up so I decided to try the method in this thread.

Monday night before I started dosing TechM my Mg was 1140, before I dosed tonight I checked the levels again (it was up to 1230)...I'm dosing 1 cup a day for a 40g display 20g sump. Now, I don't know if it's the placebo affect or if my chaeto is really kicking in, but the bryopsis seems to be thinning out. The "fronds" on the bryopsis seem to be shriveling and there are a few visible areas where the stalks that have just turned white and will disintegrate if I blast them with the baster. I'm going to continue to up the Mg until I hit about 1700 and leave it there for a while but just wanted to post my results after just 2 days. Just seems odd that it appears to have worked this quickly and at such a low level. It could be attributed to something else, but bryopsis was very hearty up until Monday when I started dosing. Now, it just doesn't look as green and healthy. I'll update again at the end of the week (Sun). My Mg should be close to 1600 by then.

 

[redfishsc]

That's nothing unusual. Sometimes it takes a week or two, sometimes not.


Just keep in mind that if you don't let it sit and stew for a while, it may come back.


I just noticed today in my tank it's coming back more than ever. :sad1::mad2:

Still sort fronds, but now it's over more rockwork than I can really do anything about.


I have way too many coral in this tank to remove them (without getting this crap tagging along in some minuscule amount) and nuke the tank with bleach. I have come that close.... but just can't bring myself to do it.

 

[TeePee]

I have a fairly new setup (well new to me, bought everything used). Everything was swell for a month or so as I slowly brought up the light cycle to full lights around 6 hours a day..blues run for 12 hours (the previous owner said they only kept lights on (blue and white) for 2 hours due to algae issues...it was fish only).

Did you change out your bulbs? That could be contributing to the fast buildup, especially if the previous owner had problems as well.

 

[jennmac415]

I am beginning to think the stuff I have been battling on a few of my rocks is NOT HA but the dreaded bryopsis....I have been picking and picking and picking at one rock in particular for months and each time it has grown back by the next day....also, my nitrates are now zero and it still has not budged...SO... I am going to begin raising my mag with tech m...or could I get it up to the higher level with epsom salts and THEN maintain it for awhile with the tech m??? reason I ask is because my TWV is about 200 gallons and it sure would be alot cheaper to raise it with the epsom salts...and then start using the tech m....

any thoughts? I have read and read this thread but my eyes are bleary...

thanks!

 

[PhreeBYrd]

Did you change out your bulbs? That could be contributing to the fast buildup, especially if the previous owner had problems as well.

I'm not sure where the idea came from that old lamps would cause increased algal growth, but I think it's an idea that was misunderstood or misconstrued, and like in a game of 'telephone', has been erroneously repeated as fact over and over again. I believed it myself (seemed to be a general consensus) until fairly recently. But it is just not the case.

It is true that old, color-shifted lamps may provide a light spectrum which slightly favors algae over corals. However, along with the color shift comes decreased PAR output, which does not favor anything, and growth of all light-dependent organisms slows. IME, algal growth slows about as much as coral growth does as aquarium lamps age.

Also IME, replacing old, weak lamps with new lamps causes algae growth to explode immediately, regardless of the actual lamp color. Most alga, and particularly nuisance alga, are far more adaptable and less particular than our corals -- the corals respond more slowly, and as a result, the algae can easily overtake corals after a lamp change. So in fact, replacing your lamps can cause algal overgrowth much more easily than can running old lamps -- especially if you've waited a bit too long to replace old lamps. I have yet to see any evidence that algal growth accelerates as lamps age, and the idea doesn't make sense. If somebody can point me to a scientific study that proves this, I'd love to read it. My own experience tells me the exact opposite.

As for bryopsis, my experience tells me that it couldn't care less about light color -- only intensity, and the more the better.

 

[tcmfish]

Or as light is reduced the algae can grow at a faster pace than the coral. But I don't really know just throwing that out there and I would also think your idea would hold true.

 

[Snakebyt]

very good advice in this thread