Bryopsis Cure: My Battle With Bryopsis Using Fluconazole

stevo01 · Feb 4, 2017

trido said:
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.

Trying the half dose may be in your favor...

stevo01 · Feb 4, 2017

Rick.45cal said:
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!

Im right there with you in spending a lot of money on getting rid of this. At one point it becomes a war and the cost is secondary for me.

"My name is Stevo. You killed my corals, prepare to die!"

NCreefguy · Feb 4, 2017

trido said:
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.

https://payless-petproducts.com/fluconazole200.html

Sorry I was slow at typing but yeah PPP has it cheaper than F&S

jelly · Feb 4, 2017

trido said:
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.

See if there are others with unused pills you could buy off them for cheap. I spent 40$ to treat 250 gallons so 80$ should treat you I went to https://www.payless-petproducts.com...less-petproducts.com/fluconazole200.html#2691

Luis Figueroa · Feb 4, 2017

stevo01 said:
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.

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.

Has there been any evidence or research on doing water changes during treatment? If exporting n03 is performed mainly by water changes by reefer in a small aquarium and not carbon dosing or using vibrant.

NCreefguy · Feb 4, 2017

Luis Figueroa said:
Has there been any evidence or research on doing water changes during treatment? If exporting n03 is performed mainly by water changes by reefer in a small aquarium and not carbon dosing or using vibrant.

I don't think that many (maybe 1 person)have tried wcs during the treatment. I think it's going to come down to the minimum effective dosage really. If we are dosing 2 or 3 times the amount needed(maybe more just throwing a number out there)then performing a wc during probably won't remove enough of the meds to hinder the treatment.This would also depend on the % of wc.

drawman · Feb 4, 2017

I feel like this thread updates faster than I can read it but I love hearing all of the success. Makes me think bryopsis is a thing of the past now.

@stevo01 you had in the FAQ that the fatty substance is a symbiotic fungus. Please correct me if I'm wrong but isn't ergosterol a component of the cell membrane of this algae and just a compound that fungus also contain? Otherwise the FAQ is a great writeup good work

NCreefguy · Feb 4, 2017

drawman said:
I feel like this thread updates faster than I can read it but I love hearing all of the success. Makes me think bryopsis is a thing of the past now.

@stevo01 you had in the FAQ that the fatty substance is a symbiotic fungus. Please correct me if I'm wrong but isn't ergosterol a component of the cell membrane of this algae and just a compound that fungus also contain? Otherwise the FAQ is a great writeup good work

@Pongo Pointed out the difference this morning. FAQ's were updated ealier.

stevo01 · Feb 4, 2017

drawman said:
I feel like this thread updates faster than I can read it but I love hearing all of the success. Makes me think bryopsis is a thing of the past now.

@stevo01 you had in the FAQ that the fatty substance is a symbiotic fungus. Please correct me if I'm wrong but isn't ergosterol a component of the cell membrane of this algae and just a compound that fungus also contain? Otherwise the FAQ is a great writeup good work

Yes sorry. Was trying to make in more easier terms, in doing that got some information incorrect and mixed it with an algae that @bios can elaborate on.

cmcoker · Feb 4, 2017

My toadstool has blisters on it this morning... This is a new coral to me but never heard about any blisters when researching them..

drawman · Feb 4, 2017

stevo01 said:
Yes sorry. Was trying to make in more easier terms, in doing that got some information incorrect and mixed it with an algae that @bios can elaborate on.

Yeah I hope I didn't sound critical the FAQ is a great summation of this thread nice work! Now we just need to find the flucan for aiptasia!

stevo01 · Feb 4, 2017

drawman said:
Yeah I hope I didn't sound critical the FAQ is a great summation of this thread nice work! Now we just need to find the flucan for aiptasia!

No offense taken. Science makes things clean cut. I was wrong. I'm happy to help in any way I can. I share the same passion

stevo01 · Feb 4, 2017

cmcoker said:
My toadstool has blisters on it this morning... This is a new coral to me but never heard about any blisters when researching them..

I'm not sure what I'm looking at here. I would make a separate thread for this. Also doubt this has anything to do with Fluco. I would say pest.

mcarroll · Feb 4, 2017

+1 Not looking to include research in the FAQ, just include some words of caution. (That FAQ may be the only thing some folks read.)

stevo01 said:
Disposal for me will either be into my septic or onto the ground.

Into the septic is worth some concern all to itself – will it change the functionality of your setup? Onto ground, given enough time and rain and snow melt, is the same as into a stream.

Concentrations of hormones, pharmaceuticals and other micropollutants in groundwater affected by septic systems in New England and New York

That covers your area of the country for public septic systems.

Not directly about home septic systems, but the basic workings of your are the same. This paper's about a lot more than fluconazole, however it does mention the issues.

Maybe flip down to Page 53 to see the Conclusions and see if you think the rest is worth digesting.

cmcoker · Feb 4, 2017

stevo01 said:
I'm not sure what I'm looking at here. I would make a separate thread for this. Also doubt this has anything to do with Fluco. I would say pest.

The cap of my toadstool..
Well it was open and happy until the Fluconazole.. I can say the toadstool immediately reacted when I added the Fluconazole. The polyps appeared to be grabbing particles and falling over. It then slowly retracted. Didn't open yesterday, this was a pic this morning.
I crushed then dissolved one 100mg tablet in rodi and let sit for a couple hours, Stirring intermittently. Added into high flow area.
I'm not saying it's definitely Fluconazole, could be something in the binders of the tablet. Since fewer people are using tablets, I'd say that is definitely an unknown.
That said, I am not unhappy that I tried the Fluconazole tablets, the algae is dying. I am going to do a water change today (day 3) to suck out the algae that is starting to decompose. This is a small tank with very basic filtration. I plan to crush 50mg of Fluconazole and add it to a 5g water change bucket before adding it to the tank.

prsnlty · Feb 4, 2017

cmcoker said:
The cap of my toadstool..
Well it was open and happy until the Fluconazole.. I can say the toadstool immediately reacted when I added the Fluconazole. The polyps appeared to be grabbing particles and falling over. It then slowly retracted. Didn't open yesterday, this was a pic this morning.
I crushed then dissolved one 100mg tablet in rodi and let sit for a couple hours, Stirring intermittently. Added into high flow area.
I'm not saying it's definitely Fluconazole, could be something in the binders of the tablet. Since fewer people are using tablets, I'd say that is definitely an unknown.
That said, I am not unhappy that I tried the Fluconazole tablets, the algae is dying. I am going to do a water change today (day 3) to suck out the algae that is starting to decompose. This is a small tank with very basic filtration. I plan to crush 50mg of Fluconazole and add it to a 5g water change bucket before adding it to the tank.

I use the capsules and had no ill effects upon dosing. Leathers look fine. Might be the tablet binders as you suggest.

I have also observed that a lot of if not all of my LPS seem to have much fluffier polyps today. Check out this frogspawn!

that Yt is 5" for comparison in size

ChrisQ0904 · Feb 4, 2017

Day 5 update

80g at normal dose

Bryopsis is hanging on but barely, only a few little stems left (look at Monti pic) sorry for the over exposed shot but I had to for the stalks to show up. Tips of the GHA is starting to turn white. Still have not noticed at signs of the bubble algae giving up. All other live stock is still looking great!

I have noticed that I must clean my glass daily because of film algae. I did not test P04 today but I am willing to bet that it had gone up more. I'm tempted to do a WC and treat the new water. If the P04 doesn't stop climbing by day 7 I think I will have to change some water.

Jurg · Feb 4, 2017

What's everyone's thoughts on how long to keep the skimmer off line. I know some made no change but I feel it should be off at least 48 hours.

Woolleson · Feb 4, 2017

Jurg said:
What's everyone's thoughts on how long to keep the skimmer off line. I know some made no change but I feel it should be off at least 48 hours.

I kept mine off for 24 hours to allow the meds time to disperse. Had no effect turning it back on

Ssindt · Feb 4, 2017

I'm on day 3 of tablets and don't see much change I'm about to dose another tank that has a small patch starting.

Just FYI my tables don't dissolve completely it turns the water pink and some stuff settles out. Not sure if this will be a problem. Live stock including nems are fine at this time.

Picture is roughly 100ml of rodi with 14 200mg tablets crushed to fine powder. I let it sit over night to see if it settles or dissolves.