Bryopsis Explosion

[jdp13]

I have what can only be described as an explosion of Bryopsis algae in the past week or so. It's has been "hanging around" the past few months. I've been trying to keep in check by pulling it out manually, increasing water changes, adding Microbacter Clean, bought some Tangs (which I've since learned do not usually eat Bryopsis), etc. but nothing seems to stop it from coming back. Now it is everywhere.

It's a 92 Gallon tank set up for about a year. All parameters seem in check (fully understanding that my Phospate may be in check, because of the Bryopsis). Only about 15 corals in there at this point. Some LPS. Mushrooms, and Zooanthids.

It seems like I need to take a more aggressive approach and I'm looking for recommendations. From looking on the forum and watching BRSTV, it looks like Reef Flux, which I just purchased from BRS, may be the best options. Do most agree with this? or have any other recommendations?

Thanks in advance for any help.

 

[ZombieEngineer]

Fluconazole works. Turn any carbon or skimming off. Dose between 100-150% what the bottle says (reef flux or flux rx) into both your tank and your saltwater storage barrel. Continue normal to double your usual water change schedule to export the bryopsis that will die. The skimmer can be turned back on once the bryopsis is mostly melted away. Hold the medication in the tank for 2 weeks after you see all the bryopsis turn white and melt away. Then resume carbon if you use it.

This may take 2-3 treatments since sometimes you missed a root and it sneaks back or a new frag reintroduces it.

 

[theMeat]

Have used Kent marine magnesium with excellent results a few times. Get mag up to 15-1600 and it just goes away. Fluconazole works too. Used it on hair algae too, where magnesium doesn’t work.
Fwiw think it’s the other metals in cheap magnesium, like Kent, that does it

 

[Lavey29]

Have used Kent marine magnesium with excellent results a few times. Get mag up to 15-1600 and it just goes away. Fluconazole works too. Used it on hair algae too, where magnesium doesn’t work.
Fwiw think it’s the other metals in cheap magnesium, like Kent, that does it

This was my solution too along with some turbos and urchins. Tank clean in 3 weeks.

 

[ZombieEngineer]

Have used Kent marine magnesium with excellent results a few times. Get mag up to 15-1600 and it just goes away. Fluconazole works too. Used it on hair algae too, where magnesium doesn’t work.
Fwiw think it’s the other metals in cheap magnesium, like Kent, that does it

This is no longer effective. They changed the formula and whatever impurity was killing bryopsis is gone now.

 

[Lavey29]

This is no longer effective. They changed the formula and whatever impurity was killing bryopsis is gone now.

Did that come from kent?

 

[G Santana]

I had two stubborn patches of bryopsis, after one dose of Flux RX within a week it was gone and never came back.
It's been months now

 

[ZombieEngineer]

Did that come from kent?

Stopped being effective back in 2016. One example thread. I tried it in 2017 and it was not effective.

Man Vs Bryopsis - Kent's, Continuum, and Vibrant treatment thread

Kent's Tech M (FAIL) - Continuum reefbasis (FAIL and not waiting) - Vibrant Reef Cleaner - (FAIL) THE CURE PLEASE CLICK HERE Hello friends, I'm doing this method of treatment as I feel it best suits my particular Bryopsis invasion. I have a 20g 4-5 month old tank going strong. This tanks...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[A_Blind_Reefer]

This is no longer effective. They changed the formula and whatever impurity was killing bryopsis is gone now.

+1 for this

 

[A_Blind_Reefer]

Fluconazole works. Turn any carbon or skimming off. Dose between 100-150% what the bottle says (reef flux or flux rx) into both your tank and your saltwater storage barrel. Continue normal to double your usual water change schedule to export the bryopsis that will die. The skimmer can be turned back on once the bryopsis is mostly melted away. Hold the medication in the tank for 2 weeks after you see all the bryopsis turn white and melt away. Then resume carbon is you use it.

This mat take 2-3 treatments since sometimes you missed a root and it sneaks back or a new frag reintroduces it.

+1 for this. I’ll only add that some, not all, had drastically reduced Alk demand during treatment. So I would keep an eye on it at least. Some, not all, have also had experience with stn on certain corals.

 

[Big Smelly fish]

Like others have mentioned, flux RC works great, it’s actually a product that dose what it claims.

 

[Lavey29]

Stopped being effective back in 2016. One example thread. I tried it in 2017 and it was not effective.

Man Vs Bryopsis - Kent's, Continuum, and Vibrant treatment thread

Kent's Tech M (FAIL) - Continuum reefbasis (FAIL and not waiting) - Vibrant Reef Cleaner - (FAIL) THE CURE PLEASE CLICK HERE Hello friends, I'm doing this method of treatment as I feel it best suits my particular Bryopsis invasion. I have a 20g 4-5 month old tank going strong. This tanks...

www.reef2reef.com

I must have got an old batch then. When I bumped my magnesium to 1500 my GHA and briopsis turned white on the ends and became easy to remove and my cleaners attacked it then but my chaeto did get affected too but subsequently grew back bigger then ever.

 

[jdp13]

This was my solution too along with some turbos and urchins. Tank clean in 3 weeks.

I have turbos that don’t seem to bother with it. Is there a type of urchin you’d recommend that is more effective than others. Someone recommended a tuxedo Urchin

 

[Spare time]

Like others have mentioned, flux RC works great, it’s actually a product that dose what it claims.

Yeah flux is the best bryopsis treatment 10000%

 

[A_Blind_Reefer]

I have what can only be described as an explosion of Bryopsis algae in the past week or so. It's has been "hanging around" the past few months. I've been trying to keep in check by pulling it out manually, increasing water changes, adding Microbacter Clean, bought some Tangs (which I've since learned do not usually eat Bryopsis), etc. but nothing seems to stop it from coming back. Now it is everywhere.

It's a 92 Gallon tank set up for about a year. All parameters seem in check (fully understanding that my Phospate may be in check, because of the Bryopsis). Only about 15 corals in there at this point. Some LPS. Mushrooms, and Zooanthids.

It seems like I need to take a more aggressive approach and I'm looking for recommendations. From looking on the forum and watching BRSTV, it looks like Reef Flux, which I just purchased from BRS, may be the best options. Do most agree with this? or have any other recommendations?

Thanks in advance for any help.

I just now caught the manual removal comment. Bryopsis will spread like crazy when you manually remove it in the tank without treating.

 

[Lavey29]

I have turbos that don’t seem to bother with it. Is there a type of urchin you’d recommend that is more effective than others. Someone recommended a tuxedo Urchin

I used tuxedo urchins effectively. Hand place the turbos and urchins in the jungle and force them to eat their way out.

 

[Lavey29]

I just now caught the manual removal comment. Bryopsis will spread like crazy when you manually remove it in the tank without treating.

I guess if you let small pieces float away

 

[A_Blind_Reefer]

I guess if you let small pieces float away

on certain strains you can actually feel them popping when you grab them. They pop and spread without letting pieces float. Some strains may not do this.

 

[ZombieEngineer]

on certain strains you can actually feel them popping when you grab them. They pop and spread without letting pieces float. Some strains may not do this.

Still worth manually removing while treating.

 

[Lavey29]

on certain strains you can actually feel them popping when you grab them. They pop and spread without letting pieces float. Some strains may not do this.

Interesting, thanks for sharing, will research this further.