Help on unknown algae..
- Thread starter leng1986
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+1 on the Bryopsis. First I would try to rip it down. I would pull the rocks out that have it and putem in a bucket of saltwater and rip off as much as you possibly can. The reason for the bucket is so it does not spread thru out your tank if you accidently have some fly off. Than I would raise your magnesium levels to 1800ppm as the Bryopsis is very fragile to magnesium and can't take it. The results will be that the Bryopsis will die off and it does not affect your fish or corals you have. I have about 20 Different corals in mine with the C.U.C. and two clowns with no ill effects. I just did this less than a month ago and it wiped out. They say you shouldn't raise anything more than 20ppm per day. But most people have accidently doses 900ppm in a day with no ill effects. I raised mine from 1100 to 1812 in 2 days. Mine was not as severe as yours, but It is always a guarentee to work. I would not rely on any C.U.C. as none will touch that stuff much and also you have it to the point where its getting out of control. Depending on your size of your tank. You can eiether dose with Kent Tech M otherwise if its a huge tank, than you will have to go the route of Epsom Salts and Magnesium Chloride. You can google Magnesium fix for Bryopsis and probably get a billion responses on how to do it.
Good Luck!
Conrad
Good Luck!
Conrad
tektite
Active Member
It looks like hair algae to me. Hard to tell for sure with the pictures. If the algae strands are just one straight strand, its hair algae. If the algae strands look like really delicate ferns, its bryopsis. Which does it look like? Hair algae is much easier to get rid of than bryopsis.
What's your current CUC?
What's your current CUC?
I will try to raise the MG level, removing rock from the tank will be quite challenging as there are anemones on the rock, I afraid if i move the rock it will get shocked and stressed. Is there any invert that eat this algae?
BTW, many thanks for the reply ^^ i though no1 will help me...
BTW, many thanks for the reply ^^ i though no1 will help me...
tektite
Active Member
Sorry, CUC is clean up crew, crabs, snails, etc. To know if anything will eat it, we'd need to know if its hair algae or bryopsis.
Is it just single strands of algae, or are they like tiny fern fronds?
If its bryopsis, you'll want to try raising your Mg as pretty much nothing will eat it.
If its hair algae, there are several different creatures that will eat it.
Is it just single strands of algae, or are they like tiny fern fronds?
If its bryopsis, you'll want to try raising your Mg as pretty much nothing will eat it.
If its hair algae, there are several different creatures that will eat it.
Cloudburst2000
Member
+2 on bryopsis. I think it's bryopsis too. It looks like several hairs are connected to one stem instead of hair algae where each one is a single strand.
johnmaloney
Well-Known Member
when you change your mag levels, watch your other parameters (alk, calcium and maybe even ph can be affected by it)
hey guyz,
is hard to remove it with hand and brush, it stick hard on the rock. I only manage to pull out the long 1, but base on my observation it does not look like hair algae as described. Here is the closer picture on the long greeny things. is looks like wires to me -.-
Any idea what algae is this?
is hard to remove it with hand and brush, it stick hard on the rock. I only manage to pull out the long 1, but base on my observation it does not look like hair algae as described. Here is the closer picture on the long greeny things. is looks like wires to me -.-
Any idea what algae is this?
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NanoNewbie
Member
If it is bryopsis lettuce slug will take care of it quickly.
I had one cleaned my 14gal biocube which was overgrown with it in just couple weeks. But once the bryopsis is gone the slug wont have anything to eat.
I had one cleaned my 14gal biocube which was overgrown with it in just couple weeks. But once the bryopsis is gone the slug wont have anything to eat.
cbrownfish
Well-Known Member
It looks a bit bright green to be bryopsis but I can say for sure from the pics (your first pic definitely does resemble it though). Bryopsis has a feathery appearance as in my picture below. "Hair algae" is a generic term that typically describes several species of algae, including: Bryopsis, Cladophora, and Derbesia.
cbrownfish
Well-Known Member
Bryopsis is indeed a version of "hair" algae, however, it is the least desireable of the 3 (grazers don't tend to eat it as well). This is a phase that many newer tanks go through, so don't over react here. Be patient and work on manual removal and nutrient export (PO4, NO3 reduction).
Good article -- Phosphate and the Reef Aquarium by Randy Holmes-Farley - Reefkeeping.com
As someone suggested earlier, though the post was incomplete, there is a product that many have used to beat Bryopsis. Tech M magnesium has some sort of an ingredient or byproduct that will typically kill bryopsis when you dose it to raise Mg. You need to utilize it and raise your Mg level by 300-400 ppm, maintaining that level temporarily. Many have successfully eliminanted bryopsis this way.
DISCLAIMER - I AM NOT A FAN OF TREATING THE SYMPTOM, IN THIS CASE THE ALGAE, AS THE ELEVATED NUTRIENTS THAT LEAD TO SUCH AN OUTBREAK CAN OFTEN FUEL OTHER ISSUES WHEN THE BRYOPSIS IS GONE (CYANO, TURF ALGAE, ONE OF THE OTHERS LISTED ABOVE).
Good article -- Phosphate and the Reef Aquarium by Randy Holmes-Farley - Reefkeeping.com
As someone suggested earlier, though the post was incomplete, there is a product that many have used to beat Bryopsis. Tech M magnesium has some sort of an ingredient or byproduct that will typically kill bryopsis when you dose it to raise Mg. You need to utilize it and raise your Mg level by 300-400 ppm, maintaining that level temporarily. Many have successfully eliminanted bryopsis this way.
DISCLAIMER - I AM NOT A FAN OF TREATING THE SYMPTOM, IN THIS CASE THE ALGAE, AS THE ELEVATED NUTRIENTS THAT LEAD TO SUCH AN OUTBREAK CAN OFTEN FUEL OTHER ISSUES WHEN THE BRYOPSIS IS GONE (CYANO, TURF ALGAE, ONE OF THE OTHERS LISTED ABOVE).
Cloudburst2000
Member
I have heard that fuzzy chitons will eat hair algae.
Cloudburst2000
Member
I think they are cool-looking 