Bryopsis

Herbie

Herbie

Banned
I completely eradicated my HA and now I'm having a terrible outbreak of bryopsis. I had initially misidentified it as Calurpa (or just confused those at some point) I've been plucking what I can when I do WCs, but it is growing in cracks and starting to completely take over. The Chaeto in my media basket is doing great and I am running Purigen in there as well as a reactor with seachem seagel. I am at a loss as to what to do. This stuff is almost impossible to pluck and has already killed one frag (or took an opportunity on a sick ((chalice)) frag). I've been adding algae eaters like crazy and have only now realized that nothing eats bryopsis. Any thoughts? Blackout, chemicals, M80s, I'm willing to try anything because I will soon have a bryopsis species tank? For a "hobby"" this can sure be frustrating. . .:suicide2:
 
Hi my friend. The only thing that'll take out bryopsis is to dose kent M. There is tons of info out there on it.
 
Do some searching around the internet for hyrdogen peroxide treatments. I had a bad outbreak in my FOWLR tank, and you are correct, nothing will eat that stuff. And you have to be careful when plucking it out, because it can actually release spores when plucked and spread even more.

I fought it for a long time, before I finally found out about using H2O2. Basically, I filled up a bucket with 3 parts saltwater to 1 part 3% H2O2, and dipped and scrubbed and plucked every single rock in my tank. Get as much algae off in the bucket before you put the rock back into your tank, because anything plant matter left on it will slowly die and decompose into your water column. I would recommend having a decent protein skimmer on your tank if you don't already. Also, as a side note, supposedly, you can even dip rocks that have soft corals attached to them with no harm, never tried that though. But trust me, H2O2 is the only way you are going to get rid of this, besides boiling all your rock and starting completely over.
 
H2O2 works great as a dip but is not safe with all corals. You also can't treat a whole tank with H2O2
 
Ask smitty.. he's currently dealing with the same problem. He tried a blackout but it persist. He's currently working on raising his magnesium. Good luck.
 
Kent M it is. Dipping the rocks I would need to would basically require starting over, so I'll try to dose first. Thanks guys. It is mostly my fault because I was plucking it like crazy at first. Believe it or not, I got this from a LFS that gave me a handful of macro from his fuge when I asked for Chaeto (He gave it to me for free and specifically said it wasn't chaeto but his "own special fuge mix"). For a long time I was running it in my media basket and my HA was so bad that I didn't really notice it taking root. It's too bad it so vile because a little of it is actually sort of pretty. It is now growing on absolutely everything and it really is hard to pull off by hand in some places. If the kent m doesn't work, could you just add a little peroxide to the whole tank? I'd rather try something crazy like that than start completely over. Does MCF carry Kent M? Thanks again for the help. (by the way Poi, that Stoli is looking sweet and it is out of harms way because it is on an easily plucked branch of my rock. The green tips are crazy under the actinics)
 
I've battled Byropsis many times and have won most of the battles but the three treatments I use are the following.

ALGEFX - sounds like a cheap product but i've had good luck with it.

Kent M to manage magnesium

Phosphate level management (GFO,Carbon) and how efficient your skimmer is at getting gunk out of your tank and how often you service your skimmer

And of course all the obvious things: adequate flow for your setup, cleaning dead spots- in sump and tank, removal of dead algae and tuffs and proper feeding of fish.

I've tried blackouts and it's helped to eliminate it, but if it's going back into a environment that will foster that unwanted algae it will unfortunately come back...

I hope this helps and it is really one of the most frustrating aspects of having a reef - good luck
 
Picked up kent M at MCF just now (glad they have it). They also suggested the algefx which I will move to next, but I would rather not have to remove my chaeto in the fuge. I am not currently running a skimmer, but the one I ordered from BRS will arrive tomorrow.
 
Not the one I have anyway. Everything I've read said nothing eats it with any dependability. I have a lawnmower blenny, a lettuce slug, a chiton, 3 pep shrimp, 2 emerald crabs, many hermits (red and blue) 5 or 6 different snails species (it's growing on their shells) and nothing touches it. The stuff is crazy. Even a tiny wisp of it can take enough pulling force to remove that the whole rock it is attached to moves when I pull. It seems to really like frag plugs too. I would gladly trade it in for my HA problem any day.
 
Emisis said:
I know this is my first post. I was/ am also fighting Bryopsis (still a few strands here and there) I have been dosing the Kent Tech M and it stunts it for the most part. I was informed to try a 9 hole Abalone which I have and it seems to be doing the trick. The only issue with the Abalone is that it IS a bulldozer and rearranges the rock work. I also have a lettuce sea slug too and it is mowing the stuff down like candy.
I have also used peroxide on my frags and it works excellent. I know this is going to sound way out there but I have also used my contact cleaner. It is "Clear Care" and contains 3% peroxide. I have used it directly on Zoas with no harm done, they are PO'd for a day or two but come back to normal. I have tried it with SPS but only on the plug itself keeping off the frag.
Good luck, it's one he!! of a long drawn out battle.

There is also a long thread on it at Nano Reef:
http://www.nano-reef.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=268706
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Very interesting read and I appreciate it. I have two rocks I can pull and dip to try this for myself. I just dosed 28ml of Kent m, but I like to fight on as many fronts as possible. Definitely beats my first post!

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk
 
I can definitely see what you are talking about. I dosed the kent M yesterday and today, but as an expirement I pulled this rock and dipped it in a 4:1 ratio of peroxide for about 5 minutes (there are no frags or anything on the rock, but there are vermatid snails and feather dusters and those two prong worms). Several interesting things I have noticed (i don't thinks the pics really read well).
View attachment 2089

View attachment 2090
1. The coraline on the rock went first. it turned white right away and now there are fluorescent orange patches that really glow in the actinics that definitely were not there before. Very cool, but odd.
2. The Bryopsis was instantly affected, but it looks even worse (better) today. It has thinned and gone wispy in the current whereas it had previously been pretty stiff and rigid prior.
3. My small emerald crab now seems to be able to eat the stuff and he knows it. this morning he was pulling off individual fronds and eating them like french fries and was still (or at least back) at it when I got home tonight. Previously I had never seen anything eating any of it.
4. The snails and worms seem completely unaffected though I did see several pods die in the dipping container last night.

I will try to post a picture of this rock each day as things progress. It will cross reference well with the other bryopsis which will only be affected by the Kent M.
 
Navycook2 said:
be careful not to over dose Kent M thats what i just went through and am going through!!
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Oh great. I've been reading about your trials. Were you dosing for the mag or for bryopsis control? I've done 28ml twice now. I wonder if it would be safer for me to go with the algaex? :a43:
 
mario from aquatica said algaex is a temp fix! just make sure you text everyday before you dose
my mag got up to 1700-1900 very toxic!
 
Herbieace said:
I can definitely see what you are talking about. I dosed the kent M yesterday and today, but as an expirement I pulled this rock and dipped it in a 4:1 ratio of peroxide for about 5 minutes (there are no frags or anything on the rock, but there are vermatid snails and feather dusters and those two prong worms). Several interesting things I have noticed (i don't thinks the pics really read well).
View attachment 2089

View attachment 2090
1. The coraline on the rock went first. it turned white right away and now there are fluorescent orange patches that really glow in the actinics that definitely were not there before. Very cool, but odd.
2. The Bryopsis was instantly affected, but it looks even worse (better) today. It has thinned and gone wispy in the current whereas it had previously been pretty stiff and rigid prior.
3. My small emerald crab now seems to be able to eat the stuff and he knows it. this morning he was pulling off individual fronds and eating them like french fries and was still (or at least back) at it when I got home tonight. Previously I had never seen anything eating any of it.
4. The snails and worms seem completely unaffected though I did see several pods die in the dipping container last night.

I will try to post a picture of this rock each day as things progress. It will cross reference well with the other bryopsis which will only be affected by the Kent M.
Click to expand...

If you end up dipping more rocks, try to scrub/pluck off any algae you can see because, when you put it back in your tank, all the nutrients from that dying algae will go right back into your water column and most likely increase your nitrates and phosphates.

Also, I noticed similar weirdness with coralline when dipping. I had some that like yours, turned white and then strange orange colors showed up. And I also had some that turned from deep red, to bright pink.
 
PufferMan said:
If you end up dipping more rocks, try to scrub/pluck off any algae you can see because, when you put it back in your tank, all the nutrients from that dying algae will go right back into your water column and most likely increase your nitrates and phosphates.

Also, I noticed similar weirdness with coralline when dipping. I had some that like yours, turned white and then strange orange colors showed up. And I also had some that turned from deep red, to bright pink.
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That is a good point. I will definitely do that with any other rocks, but I think this specific small piece will be scientifically worth the increased nutrients. Also, I just added this monster,
View attachment 2093
rated for 70g. That and my continued weekly water changes are hopefully going to geet the export going well.
 
ill post some pics after my friday night wet arm time. That one rock (peroxide dipped) actually grew some bryopsis back, but with the kent M dosing I can tell it is weakened greatly. My lettuce slug and emerald crabs are definitely eating the stuff now and it seems like one species of my snails (mexican turbo?) are on it now too. Definitely not done with the war, but it seems like dosing the kent m softens it to a point where it is edible. I've noticed that pulling it is easier now too.
 
Spot treating with kent tech-m worked best for me. Pull the rock out, pour it right on the rock.

It's not the magnesium, most people think it's some kinda coingredient in tech m.
 
I feel your pain...I'm still fighting a no ending war with it, and it's still winning...good luck. A member of mt lfs have me some advice to just let it be and run its course, until it runs out of nutrients. He said he didn't do water changes on his tank for awhile, because that seem to help fuel it a lil. Although yet doesn't sounds like a bad idea, but I can't do it because I have a few sps corals.
 
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