Finally an easy solution to bryopsis!
- Thread starter TWallace
- Start date
Forget the mag treatment. It IS about nutrients and mostly Phosphate. Algae loves phosphate. And even if your tests say 0, the algae is probably still getting enough to grow. You need to use gfo and feed much less than your feeding -- every other day for a while if necessary. The other half of the battle is light. If you are running your metal halides longer than about four hours a day, you'll have algae growing. The weed recedes - slowly - over a few months. But that is the nature of this battle. I've been through it and tried everything. 3 things will cure all algae problems: less light, gfo, and less feeding.
neontreefrog5
New member
you could probably have gotten a sea slug/nudibranch, specifically Elysia crispata or Elysia diomedea. they live on bryopsis and you wouldnt have to dose a ton of things to your tank.
das75
New member
is there references other than from online suppliers that these things actually feed on bryopsis.
Mael
New member
I had the usual hair algae outbreak during the first few months my tank was running. My emerald crab which was rumored to like it did go after it but so slowly as to not make an impact. I got surprised that like Mxx my Turbo snails(2) ate it like crazy, they would even get on the pumps and eat it off there as well. While definitely not common I can only say what I saw.
If that turbo wasnt such a pain in the butt with dragging frags around and knocking them loose I would love the little slimy guy.
If that turbo wasnt such a pain in the butt with dragging frags around and knocking them loose I would love the little slimy guy.
DopeCantWin
Active member
Yep, that would be Bryopsis.
TankCla
SPSychology
DopeCantWin
Active member
Snails will have an issue with higher levels. I'd suggest before going high on Mg you remove any nutrients in the tank. Lower the bioload to the extreme and do a very good job of sucking out all detritus from the sand, or remove all sand completely. When I still had crap in my tank, it didn't matter how high I raised the Mg, the issue would come back. When all the water was cleaned and I raised the Mg to just north of 1500, all Bryopsis disappeared.
jimmy frag
New member
I have gone 1850 on mag with snails and had no problems. Never had a clam in that high of mag though.
When I had a bryopsis problem I tried elevating Mg with Epsom salt to no avail. I then switched to Tech M and quickly cured my problem. I have no idea what my Mg was, but it was high. I quit testing around 1300 and kept dosing for about 2 weeks. My bryposis problem went away and I didn't lose any coral or clams (truly mixed reef).
TankCla
SPSychology
I started with live cured rock and Marco rock. No bryopsis for 1y6m, and then after I added a few frags, boom, everywhere.
Update on my bryopsis battle: I borrowed a sea slug and ate 3/4 of the algae, but I think I still have to do Mg treatment, for any leftover algae and swimming spores.
DopeCantWin
Active member
This is why it's so important to quarantine everything, including frags. Who knows what else came on that frag, Bryopsis could have been just the beginning of the problems.
For those of us that are unable to have a quarantine tank set up and ready to go, is there a good coral dip that can be done prior to adding new frags? Not just for bryopsis, but for most hitchhikers.
Thanks
