Some folks have told me that this is bryopsis, but it doesn't seem familiar to me when I am standing in front of it. The tank has been set up for 2 years, and haven't had much of an issue with algae for a long time. Just recently started feeding a bit heavier to try to get my SPS to color back up. This stuff has been starting to grow and spread in the sump/fuge and I want to keep it from spreading to the DT. Nitrates between 1<5, phosphate usually around 0.05-0.08, Calcium is high around 480 and Mg is also high around 1440. What do you think -some form of bryopsis, or a different kind of nuisance?
Another algae id request
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Should have mentioned that the main stem of the fronds has a silvery tint to it under bluish light, doesn't show up here under white light. Some kind of caulerpa? Doesn't seem to spread by runner, but instead is spreading by colonizing new separate clumps.
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Subsea
5000 Club Member
It looks like a feather Caulerpa.
https://www.marineplantbook.com/marineplantbookgreenalgae.htm
What do you think?
https://www.marineplantbook.com/marineplantbookgreenalgae.htm
What do you think?
Thanks for the link. Maybe, although I thought caulerpa usually spreads with runners? This has no runners, just shows up in new clumps as it spreads. That's especially got me worried, since at some point it could show up in the DT, and at least the yellow tang in the sump hasn't touched it so I am thinking it is going to be one of those problem algae that nothing will keep in check.
If it’s longer fronds then yea , calurpa. Bryopsis is very tiny in general.
Reef HD (a fluconazole ) is very effective at killing calurpa.
Very reef safe. But you may impact the chato slightly.
Reef HD (a fluconazole ) is very effective at killing calurpa.
Very reef safe. But you may impact the chato slightly.
Fronds get to about 3", maybe 4". It spreads out like a bush. Been pulling it out, and it keeps coming back.
I've followed a few of the threads with fluconazole, and get sold on it until I read about the seemingly random losses of SPS that some encounter. Saving it as a last resort ...
I've followed a few of the threads with fluconazole, and get sold on it until I read about the seemingly random losses of SPS that some encounter. Saving it as a last resort ...
Never heard of a coral loss due to it.
There are several reports of SPS loss as a result of treatment, but it seems like it is more due to a spike in nitrate and/or phosphate after the algae dies off and while the skimmer is shut down. If I have to resort to chemicals, I'll tread carefully.
At the moment, I am still hoping someone can tell me more about the algae itself. From the input so far, perhaps not bryopsis but caulerpa, which is also going to be an issue?
Subsea
5000 Club Member
Caulerpa should not be hard to eradicate. Pull it out. If holdfast come back, dip toothbrush in hydrogen peroxide and brush it away. Redip toothbrush in peroxide every 60 seconds underwater.
https://www.reefcleaners.org/nuisance-algae-id-guide
Check out Byopsis pennata. I think that is what you have.
https://www.reefcleaners.org/nuisance-algae-id-guide
Check out Byopsis pennata. I think that is what you have.
Calurpa in general aren’t usually bad. Many folks use them in Refugiums.
There are a few types that do excrete a “toxin” of sort as chemical warfare. If your chato or other macros are ok , you don’t have that kind.
Honestly, I’ve been on the boards a long while and I’ve seen no reports of sps die off. Acropora specifically. High no3 and Po4 won’t kill them. (Or mine would all be dead lol)
Honestly, when I got the bad calurpa , I just looked up the species. And had to pin point the specific strain based on those. Mine as it turned out , was a indo variety that came in on and order of coral (large rocks ) the lfs not knowing better sold it.
There are a few types that do excrete a “toxin” of sort as chemical warfare. If your chato or other macros are ok , you don’t have that kind.
Honestly, I’ve been on the boards a long while and I’ve seen no reports of sps die off. Acropora specifically. High no3 and Po4 won’t kill them. (Or mine would all be dead lol)
Honestly, when I got the bad calurpa , I just looked up the species. And had to pin point the specific strain based on those. Mine as it turned out , was a indo variety that came in on and order of coral (large rocks ) the lfs not knowing better sold it.
Thanks all.
Looks like it could be bryopsis pennata. I am going to try to continue to pull it, since it hasn't spread to the DT yet and it is limited in the spots it is growing in the sump.
If that fails, I will give fluconazole a try. Salty, I had come across reports of SPS loss in this thread:
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/b...sing-fluconazole.285096/page-253#post-4634619
May just be one guy (apparently an angry guy), and as I said, may have been due to his execution of the process rather than a direct result of the meds. I'll take it slow.
Looks like it could be bryopsis pennata. I am going to try to continue to pull it, since it hasn't spread to the DT yet and it is limited in the spots it is growing in the sump.
If that fails, I will give fluconazole a try. Salty, I had come across reports of SPS loss in this thread:
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/b...sing-fluconazole.285096/page-253#post-4634619
May just be one guy (apparently an angry guy), and as I said, may have been due to his execution of the process rather than a direct result of the meds. I'll take it slow.
Subsea
5000 Club Member
Before you broadcast treat your system, I suggest you do manual removal and spot treat with peroxide.
IMO, algecides have unintended consequences. Consider the broadcast treatment of Round Up. Ponder on that thought.
I tore down my tank three times over the course of of year and did peroxide. No luck.
Def look at the HOW fluconazole works though. The science was what sold me. It targets and blocks nutrient pathways rather than burn or break cells as an algecide does.
Just finished a month of fluconazole, and the algae/bryopsis is gone. I have read that it can come back, that the fluc may not totally eradicate it, so I will be on the lookout for a recurrence ... thanks all!
