Bryopsis Cure: My Battle With Bryopsis Using Fluconazole

Did Fluconazole Kill all of your Bryopsis?

  • Yes

  • No

  • I'm treating my tank with it now.

  • I love Bryopsis and I'm mad that everyone is killing it.


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I have a 170 gallon system and I have had a bad bryopsis problem. Nutrients have always been low, nitrates below 1 ppm and phosphates around 0.03 ppm.
I dosed yesterday approx 3400 mg.
took carbon off and turned the skimmer off.
Cannot wait for a clean tank.
Pics were taken yesterday prior to the treatment.
 
So thought I would document my battle with bryopsis and it's downfall to fluconazole.


Bit of background on my tank and those parameters everyone loves !


So the tank is a red sea reefer 350, it has been running since April 2016. The tank was set up with part dry rock and old live rock from my nano. The old nano had a small bryopsis problem but this was kept in control by a kole tang.


The system runs It5012 running the SPS AB+ system. Filtration is 10l of siporax, bubble curve 5 skimmer and carbon plus poly filter.


I dose 3 part via a doser, plus 3 ml per day of bactobalance and A elements. Water changes are 50l weekly with tropic marin pro reef salt.


Parameters :


Salintiy 1.026

PH 7.8 (fed from outside but never raises)

Alk 8.3

Calc 430

Mag 1410

Nitrate 2 ppm

Phostphate not detectable.

Temp 26.


Fish load.


3 chromis

3 lyretail anthias

2 pyramid butterflyfish

2 common clowns

1 manderin dragonnet

1 silver bellied wrasse

1 starry blenny.


Feeding is 2 cubes of mysis/brine plus a dab of masstick.


The main bryopsis issue is on the new rock, especially in the high flow areas. At the moment I keep it in check by manual removal. I introduced emerald crabs to help but they don't touch this.


My first attack (before I was aware of fluconazole ) was vibrant. I also have quite a bit of red turf algea so it was I twin attack !


I dose 7ml twice a week for the last 3 weeks. So far the turf has started to break down and my back wall (glass) and all glass is perfectly clear plus my water is crystal clear. I do believe given time this will eradicate bryopsis (some signs of it waking now) but wanted to try the nuclear weapon that is fluconazole.


My dose will be 1500 mg. The 20g per 10 gallons minus displacement comes in at 1460 mg. But as the tablets come as 150 mg capsules and not sure of my exact displacement I'll go the full 10 capsules !


Tue 31st feb .


Within the first 24 hours there was no reaction from any livestock, all fish ate as normal and full PE from the corals. CUC also seem unefected. The water clouded some what but nothing major.


So the following photos were taken from day 1

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24 hours after initial dose. Not much happening, some slight whiting on the tips plus the bryopsis is slightly browner. Put the skimmer back in action. It's foaming good style ..... but it always does [emoji4]

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48 hours after dosing. More whitening and some signs of death! Some of the fronds have shed and I left with sticks. There is a definate sign of loosing the battle with life !


Only other thing of notice my palys are closed tonight (zoas ok though) might be nothing though. Also first time I'vehad skim come through the lid holes [emoji4][emoji4][emoji4]


72 hours real impact today! 60% of the bryopsis has gone, the rest is in decline. Most has lost its form and is white/Brown and listless. I'm seeing a slight diatom 6 bloom.


As others those bits in high flow and light seem to be effected more. No increase in po4 or no3, my palys and LPS are back to normal. Still getting good PE and definitely not effected my fish's apatite [emoji4]



96 hours later. Just patches now, the odd stubborn strand a few bits here and there. I can see this also going in the next few days. I have seen some more diatoms but dealing with them. Also my cuc is now starting to eat the bryopsis.

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Longterm we shall have to see but for me it's a wonder cure ! Those ever battled with bryopsis knows it's near impossible to be rid off. Fluconazole now makes the impossible possible [emoji4][emoji4][emoji4]
 
96 hours in treatment. Still have a ton more and doesn't look like it's affecting it anymore. Crossed fingers that it will. Treated 125 gal. with 12 caps. (200each)

Are you sure its Bryopsis and not GHA? GHA take much longer and perhaps beyond the 14 day treatment.
 
@Pongo @mcarroll @prsnlty

The "frequently asked questions" will continue to lengthen and some of the answers may change as more data is gathered. Dont get the FAQ sheet confused with a full researched scientific thesis. This was just to help reefers get through this treatment successfully. There is much we Still dont know.

Waste discussion is a great topic! This may be a concern for those having city sewage. I have a septic tank, and I live out in the deep woods. Disposal for me will either be into my septic or onto the ground.
 
Keep an eye on the NO3 levels. Some recorded data would be helpful.
I've been testing po4 and no3 every 3 days. No3 is pretty constant 2 ppm. I dose Np bactobalance plus with feeding it hasn't been stripped. No colour loss on the corals either.
 
Cool. Thanks. Just been battling this for ever. Actually just pulled all rock out and scrubbed a few months back.

It's dying Jim, it may just take a little longer than other people's! That's what it looks like when it starts to break down!
 
As algae dissolves NO3 may rise. There seems to be a big breaking point for the algae where a lot of it dies all at once. There could be a NO3 spike that begins here and will continue to rise until WC. Vibrant could help here in eating up the extra nitrates, while supply the additional 1,2 knock out punch.

When I began my Fluco treatment I had stopped vibrant for a few weeks. I was dosing too much and started bleaching out some sensitive corals. When I started seeing this I stopped vibrant and did some WC's. And by some miracle I read @Sabellafella thread on fluconazole.

Thanks. I missed that part. Don't know what vibrant is thou.

Since your not using vibrant and most of us are a this point the effects may be different or slower for you. Still, I can see dying algae in your pictures.
 
Ouch! in order for me to treat my 450G system I would need 9000mg for the low low price of $206 from Fosters and Smith. Not a treatment I'll be using. :(
 
Ouch! in order for me to treat my 450G system I would need 9000mg for the low low price of $206 from Fosters and Smith. Not a treatment I'll be using. :(

This is the most economical solution.
https://www.payless-petproducts.com/fluconazole200.html

I've spent probably close to $1,000 to NOT beat bryopsis in an 200 gallon system. Even that price from Dr. Foster's Smith is reasonable in my opinion. Especially since it works. Remember this is only a one time dose!
 

IF YOU HAD TO TAKE A REEFING EXAM, WOULD YOU PASS?

  • Yes!

    Votes: 32 45.7%
  • Not yet, but I have one that I want to buy in mind!

    Votes: 9 12.9%
  • No.

    Votes: 26 37.1%
  • Other (please explain).

    Votes: 3 4.3%
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