This algae is taking over my tank

[SimonSKL]

I have been fighting this algae in my tank for the last 3 months. I think it is bryopsis. I have raised my Mg level to about 1600 using MgSO4 in the last 4 days but didn't observe any change or reduction of the algae growth. Any help to identify or eliminate this algae will be appreciated.

This tank is about 1 year old. It is a 92gal AG corner tank with 95 lbs of LR and a 20g sump. RO/DI water is used and lit by a 250W HQI MH light and about 100W actinic for about 9-10 hours a day.

As you can see, this algae is occupying a large portion of the live rock near the top of my tank.

Here is a closeup of the algae. Hope you can clearly see its fern like structure. The algae is about 1/2" to 3/4" long.

Simon

 

[graveyardworm]

I agree its bryopsis. I havent really been on top of following the high mg vs bryopsis deal, but I dont think its an overnight fix. Also if I remember correctly there is apparently some correlation with how you raise your mg and bryopsis. I think if you raise the mg with Randys improved two part the results are different than if you raise it solely with the Epsom salt part.

 

[SimonSKL]

David,
Thanks for the input.

I heard many people have success with Tech M and Epsom salt in reducing bryopsis but some didn't. What I read so far seemed to indicate MgCl2 does not work. Randy's improved version of Mg solution consists of both MgCl2 and MgSO4 in a ratio of 5:3. So if MgCl2 did not work on bryopsis, I am hasitate in using Randy's Mg new solution. That was why I am raising my Mg level with just MgSO4, Randy's old version of Mg solution.

Simon

 

[Lucky-rc]

Too bad it's so aggresvive, I think it looks kinda pretty.
I wonder? Does any of your livestock eat it?

Lucky

 

[SimonSKL]

I think it looks kinda pretty.

Lucky,
My wife was telling me the same thing when the algae started out as two small patches. So I ignored it and let them grow. After 3 weeks, I knew I was in trouble and have been battling it ever since.

None of my livestock would touch it. I have a yellow tang, a regal tang, a cherub angelfish, 4 blue/green chromis, a mandarin, a pair percula crownfish, a pair of bangai cardinals, a bunch of hermit crabs, 3 turbo snails, a serpent star, an emerald crab and a sally lightfoot crab.

 

[graveyardworm]

Do you have any room to set up a refugium with macro algae to compete for nutrients?

 

[SimonSKL]

Do you have any room to set up a refugium with macro algae to compete for nutrients?

David,
Unfortunately no. My tank is a 92gal corner tank located in the family room. The walls behind the tank share with the dining room and kitchen and I have no basement. You can see in this picture that I took a year ago when I was setting up the tank. There is no space for anything else other than the sump. My tests showed phosphate and nitrate at undectable levels. It could be that the algae are picking the nitrate so quickly that it never got into the water column.

Simon