Magnesium overdose?

Nanodoc

New member
I have a bryopsis problem in my tank. Reading up on it apparently nothing really controls it. Some recommend blue tangs, emerald crabs, yellow tangs but I read conflicting reports of success. Increasing magnesium levels to 1600 seems to work by increasing it slowly until it dies, supposedly because bryopsis uses it in their photosynthesis and absorbs too much. I have dosed Kent Mg daily and it seems to slow it down but have not controlled it. My question is:
is there a danger to overdose the tank ( I guess you can overdose on anything) where it is harmful to the other citizens, and what happens?
Does anybody have experience with it. I don't have a Mg test kit, just doing it on the fly.:reading:
 
Here is some information from the Julian Sprung Algae book.

Bryopsis - Green or bluish filaments, usually with pinnate (feather shaped) tips.

This nuisance algae is not very palatable to most herbivorous fishes. It can be difficult to control for extended periods.

Controls: Seems to proliferate when there is some ammonia and or nitrate available.

1. Strong biological filtration (nitrification and denitrification) limits its growth.
2. Herbivores
3. Manual removal

Herbivores: Rabbitfish, Diadema Urchin, Tuxedo Urchin, Mithraculus crab, Sea slugs: Elysia spp., Caliphylla mediterranea, Placida dendritica, P. kingstoni, P. viridis, and Limapontia capitata.
 
I guess it depends on what all you have in your tank. Do you have sps, lps, what livestock, lots of inverts?

Also dosing a chemical without any knowledge of what level you are at by not having a test kit is really a bad idea. I would STRONGLY recommend a test kit for anything being dosed in your tank.

Have you looked into the lighting? bulb age? Have you tested your phosphate levels? What I am getting at here is you really need to find why you are having this problem, correct it, and then find a way to eradicate the nuisance. Otherwise you will just fight an uphill battle.
 
I have 4 different acropora , red and blue mushrooms, colt coral, torch coral, T. crocea, purple and orange montis, green BTA, plate coral, acans,ricordeas, birdsnest. My nitrate levels are 0, phosphate 0, ammonia "safe"( using Seachem thingie I won at JARC saturday). 1 fish- yellowtail damsel bought to check if the tank has cycled-that refuses to die.
My lighting is 150 wattMH. FIltration with chaeto and mangrove trees and 20% water change weekly, sometimes twice weekly.
I guess I will buy a tuxedo urchin and test kit..
Nudibranchs usually end up inthe filter.
Thanks guys
 
Back
Top