Losing battle against algae

[Tswifty]

I upped the lighting on my 55g tank... about 2 weeks ago.

I had a serious outbreak of some kind of green algae. I removed the rocks, scrubbed them, and put everything back.

However since then, I get these outbreaks about every 3 days... I can't get rid of it!!!

I'm beginning to worry about my corals now... how do I get rid of this stuff???

I just added a large clump of caulerpa to my refugium to hopefully help... but what else can I do?

 

[Tswifty]

Here's the fuge with the caulerpa I added:

 

[anaelitz]

Get a phosban reactor going in that sump

 

[Kreeger1]

Thats not hair algae, thats bryopsis. Phosban won't effect that tstuff.

Do a few searches on it.
I beat it after a 2-3 year battle by raising my mag levels like the threads you'll find say to do.
Good luck....Worst thing I've ever come across in this hobby.
Erik

 

[Tswifty]

I had a hunch it wasn't hair algae... it's not like anything I've seen before.

Can it damage the corals...? As of right now it hasn't really spread to any coral rocks, besides the one Zoo rock.

 

[Kreeger1]

YEah, it will cover corals and kill them. Don't pull in it to get it out, that spreads it really fast.
I've tried all the cures, only thing that killed it for good was raising the mag level. I still get scared about seeing it again in the tank.

Once it takes hold its a monster. Almost worthy of replacing everything in the tank at plague levels.

Get some kent tech m or tropic marin Mag and slowly store raising it to 1600 or a tad more.

Good luck man.

 

[Tswifty]

I have Tech-M, and my mag level is at 1410 right now.

How high can I jump it in one sitting?

 

[Tswifty]

Also, should I alter my lighting period at all?

Will any snails or crabs whack this stuff?

 

[Kreeger1]

If you do it slow, say raise it about 1600 in a week you should be fine then keep it there for a month or so, even past the time you can still see any bryopsis at all

 

[Aquarist007]

here is the link to the bryopsis thread:

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1113109

 

[Tswifty]

Thanks Scott

 

[Thinslis]

I think that may have been what killed my tank... grr.....

 

[Tswifty]

Ok I read through a ton of info today, and it looks like only 2 methods have had success.

1. Raising Mag to 1600

2. Scribbled Rabbitfish and/or Yellow Tang
http://www.marinedepotlive.com/ps_V...8941139-01.html

I'm going to try the Mag first, and am thinking about ordering the rabbitfish as a safety and for preventative maintenance to keep this weed from coming back.

 

[SW75MAN]

Hair algae/Bryopsis

Hair algae/Bryopsis

I've been battleing this stufff since last August. I've spent hours reading evey forum I could find. I find dosing with Tech-M and frequent water changes along with scrubbing the rocks has helped. Every time I think I'm getting the upperhand and I see it dying off to a lighter yellowish brown a day or two later it's vivid green again!Grrrrrrrrr
I did put on a Phosoban Reactor as part of my "leave no stone unturned" approach to this plague. It is soooo frustrating! Especially after I'm blue in the face from testing and getting all excellent results!
Stay the course. I also cut my lights back to about 6 hours a day.
I am going to add another batch of clean up crew this Friday after I do yet another water change and scrub the rocks. I am about at the end of my rope. After having SW fish for over 25 years and a reef tank now for about 3 years, this has taken a whole lot of the fun out of this hobby for me.
But hey, Friday I get to take a vacation day from work and play in SW and the sand. Even a bad day in this hobby beats a good day @ work!

Good luck.

Tim

 

[Tswifty]

Here's some before/after pics from this morning after last nights, late night, scrubbing/cleaning expedition:

 

[Tswifty]

...and here's what I syphoned out:

 

[Tswifty]

Back-up plan added yesterday... 2-1/2"

 

[Kreeger1]

He won't touch bryopsis though, and will only add to the pollution that is feeding the tank.
Bryopsis is toxic, online a handful of things will eat it and thats hit or miss too.

 

[Tswifty]

Yeah I know it's hit or mis...

Out of everything I read the highest success was with yellow tangs or scribbled rabbitfish, so I figured I'd give it a shot.

Also I read some success stories with urchins, a type of sea slug, and sea hares. There's just no way I'll find any of them around here though.

I'm still dosing the mag up though, and manually removed a TON the other day. Gonna take a crack at gettiing a good bit of the remaining out today.

 

[Tswifty]

Also added these yesterday:

Left is HydroCarbon, Right is Phosban