Finally an easy solution to bryopsis!
- Thread starter TWallace
- Start date
mr.wilson
.Registered Member
PVC (phthalates) doesn't cause algae, just cancer.
Many plastics foster the growth of algae due to a lack of bio-film coverage. There's nothing there to compete with algae, so it becomes "the weeds in the cracks".
Bio-films (bacterial slime) don't form as much on plastics due to the pore matrix, or lack there of. It's also possible that chemical agents interfere with there formation. After all, engineers have worked very hard to develop plastics that discourage organisms from forming on it.
King-Kong
New member
Chemical agents are what im referring to when I say plasticizer.
edit, to add; "Plasticizers for plastics are additive, most commonly phthalates, that give hard plastics like PVC the desired flexibility and durability."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plasticizer
edit, to add; "Plasticizers for plastics are additive, most commonly phthalates, that give hard plastics like PVC the desired flexibility and durability."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plasticizer
pjf
Premium Member
Salt Mixes with Elevated Magnesium
Salt Mixes with Elevated Magnesium
Instead of using supplements to raise magnesium levels, has anyone tried switching to a salt mix with elevated magnesium levels? Per an Advanced Aquarist study (http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2005/12/aafeature1), the following salt mixes have 1600 ppm of magnesium or more:
• Oceanic (1690 ppm)
• Tropic Marin (1700 ppm)
• Crystal Sea Bio-Assay (1600 ppm)
In theory, if you've used any of the above salt mixes at full strength for 3 months, you should not have problems with bryopsis. Can anyone confirm this?
Salt Mixes with Elevated Magnesium
Instead of using supplements to raise magnesium levels, has anyone tried switching to a salt mix with elevated magnesium levels? Per an Advanced Aquarist study (http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2005/12/aafeature1), the following salt mixes have 1600 ppm of magnesium or more:
• Oceanic (1690 ppm)
• Tropic Marin (1700 ppm)
• Crystal Sea Bio-Assay (1600 ppm)
In theory, if you've used any of the above salt mixes at full strength for 3 months, you should not have problems with bryopsis. Can anyone confirm this?
mr.wilson
.Registered Member
Re: Salt Mixes with Elevated Magnesium
Re: Salt Mixes with Elevated Magnesium
These are just the starting points for magnesium. They will deplete if not adequately buffered or supplemented.
The calcium levels of these salts are likely 400, but not for long if there is a demand for it.
Re: Salt Mixes with Elevated Magnesium
These are just the starting points for magnesium. They will deplete if not adequately buffered or supplemented.
The calcium levels of these salts are likely 400, but not for long if there is a demand for it.
Roland Jacques
Premium Member
FWIW I still think the mag sulphate is the answer here. I did talked to both Sea Chem and Kent employees and they both said the vast majority of ingredients is Epsom salt in their Mag sup. Remember Mag Chloride had little to mostly no effects on this algae.
Last edited:
pjf
Premium Member
Well, this may put a crimp on my salt mix theory. The Advanced Aquarist article shows that marine salt mixes have sulfate levels that are far below those of natural seawater (904-928 ppm). The salt mix with the highest sulfur level is Oceanic with only 70 ppm. This is less than 8% of its level in natural seawater. Of course, it would help if we understand how magnesium sulfate works against bryopsis.
linklemming
Premium Member
Re: Salt Mixes with Elevated Magnesium
Re: Salt Mixes with Elevated Magnesium
Well maybe I can althought there might be other factors in play here.
I went through a phase of bryopsis outbreak which I couldnt seem to cure. Laziness and a busy life kept me from doing any water changes for about 6 months. Only other supplement added during this time was kalk. Nitrates and phosphates were 0 with the salifert kits. Ironically Chaeto and even grape caulerpa wouldnt grow in my fuge either. As a latch ditch effort I started doing 20g water changes in my system (total of 70 gallons) to the tune of abut 1 change every two days. I went through a whole bucket of Instant Ocean. At first the bryopsis took off for about a week and then died off completly. Caulerpa growth took off.
Stopped the water changes for about a month, caulerpa growth was still substantial and bryopsis has started making a comeback. Started doing water changes again but the net effect this time seems less(went thru another bucket of salt). Current Mg levels are 1100 so I will be trying the Kent M next.
Before trying the water changes, I did try sugar. The use of sugar 'substantially' reduced the bryopsis as well. Unfortunately I had too many other side effects from this although I was careful with its use. The sugar experiment was interesting in that it makes me believe there is a nitrate problem although I never measured any.
Just ordered a gallon of the Kent M, we will see what happens.
Gary
Re: Salt Mixes with Elevated Magnesium
Well maybe I can althought there might be other factors in play here.
I went through a phase of bryopsis outbreak which I couldnt seem to cure. Laziness and a busy life kept me from doing any water changes for about 6 months. Only other supplement added during this time was kalk. Nitrates and phosphates were 0 with the salifert kits. Ironically Chaeto and even grape caulerpa wouldnt grow in my fuge either. As a latch ditch effort I started doing 20g water changes in my system (total of 70 gallons) to the tune of abut 1 change every two days. I went through a whole bucket of Instant Ocean. At first the bryopsis took off for about a week and then died off completly. Caulerpa growth took off.
Stopped the water changes for about a month, caulerpa growth was still substantial and bryopsis has started making a comeback. Started doing water changes again but the net effect this time seems less(went thru another bucket of salt). Current Mg levels are 1100 so I will be trying the Kent M next.
Before trying the water changes, I did try sugar. The use of sugar 'substantially' reduced the bryopsis as well. Unfortunately I had too many other side effects from this although I was careful with its use. The sugar experiment was interesting in that it makes me believe there is a nitrate problem although I never measured any.
Just ordered a gallon of the Kent M, we will see what happens.
Gary
Travis
10 and over club
Re: Salt Mixes with Elevated Magnesium
Re: Salt Mixes with Elevated Magnesium
I have used Oceanic for the past year or so. I do 100 gallon (25%) water changes every 3-4 weeks. My Mg usually hangs around 1250 but I don't check it very often. I believe Mg levels get depleted constantly (not necessarily rapidly) in a tank fully stocked with fast growing corals.
Re: Salt Mixes with Elevated Magnesium
I have used Oceanic for the past year or so. I do 100 gallon (25%) water changes every 3-4 weeks. My Mg usually hangs around 1250 but I don't check it very often. I believe Mg levels get depleted constantly (not necessarily rapidly) in a tank fully stocked with fast growing corals.
wilsonh
New member
OK well an update on what I'm doing, there is some bryopsis I'd like to be rid of.
MG was around 1250 so I boosted it to just under 1600 with magnesium chloride, no effect. I then got some epsom salts, by the time I got to dose it, mg was down to slightly under 1500, I dosed epsom over 2 days and raised mg just over 2000, which is as much as I am comfortable with. There has been a slight die off in the bryopsis, but not much and some looks like it is starting to recover.
I am going to allow mg to fall right down again over a few weeks, and then try the Kent product.
MG was around 1250 so I boosted it to just under 1600 with magnesium chloride, no effect. I then got some epsom salts, by the time I got to dose it, mg was down to slightly under 1500, I dosed epsom over 2 days and raised mg just over 2000, which is as much as I am comfortable with. There has been a slight die off in the bryopsis, but not much and some looks like it is starting to recover.
I am going to allow mg to fall right down again over a few weeks, and then try the Kent product.
emoore
New member
I have been trying the epsom salt Mg method. I boosted my Mg to 1600 ppm and saw no effect so I upped it to 2000 ppm and saw some slowing to the bryopsis growth but a day later it continued to grow at the normal rate. I have let my Mg fall to 1600 and will probably just keep it there. In summary the Epsom salt did not work for me. I did notice that my Calcium was a little low (340) so I am in the process of upping that to about 450 and see how that does. For now I am back to removing it manually every few days or so.
linklemming
Premium Member
I received the Tech M and started dosing it at the rate of 300ml per day in my 55gallon system (total of 70 gallons). My Mg is now about 1400.
After 3 days, the results are nothing short of dramatic. Byopsis is easily only 1/4 of what it was 3 days ago. I suspect in two days it will be completly gone.
Any ideas on how to keep it from coming back. I was thinking of buying a UV sterilizer to kill the waterborne spores. Good idea??
Gary
After 3 days, the results are nothing short of dramatic. Byopsis is easily only 1/4 of what it was 3 days ago. I suspect in two days it will be completly gone.
Any ideas on how to keep it from coming back. I was thinking of buying a UV sterilizer to kill the waterborne spores. Good idea??
Gary
TWallace
New member
I'm in a similar situation. I have a 55 that was overrun with bryopsis. I used Tech M to eradicate it. When I start to see it come back (only tiny little strands of it become visible) I just dose some Tech M. Bryopsis has become my own automatic magnesium test kit. When it's visible, mag is a little low. I still do have a Salifert mag test kit that I use every once in a while to verify it.
linklemming
Premium Member
I am amazed at how quickly this worked. If I would have known, I would have removed as much as possible beforehand to keep the dieoff from putting things back in the tank. I wont have time to remove any till tomorrow and it will probably be all gone by then.
You mention Mg above 1500 in some of your posts(as I recall), my salifert kit only goes to 1500.
Thanks for sharing all of this info.
Gary
