Bryopsis or Wire Algae ? Any Cure ?

[Angel_V_the_reefer]

Hello R2R !

I currently have. 10 gallon breeder being used as a holding tank from my previous nano breakdown that got out of control from Bryopsis and other algaes that were hitch hiked into my nano.

I am now beginning to see a bit of ‘wire’ type of algae on my heater, and hammer skeletons.

i would like to get an idea of what kind of algae this is ?

also if we can come to a conclusion, how can I treat it.

i will add photos to this thread so you guys can see. I also have photos of my previous nano mess if you guys would like to see how my nano looked when it was taken over.

i do plan on getting a 10 G nano and setting up my current holding tank into a Coral QT to prevent any future disasters, however before I purchase a new tank, I would like to ensure I am not introducing any alien algaes into my tank.

here are images of my nuvo 20 prior to breakdown

 

[mindme]

Bryopsis looks more like a fern, so I don't believe that is what it is. The type I get is also very dark in color. There are different kinds, but usually fern like. It is treatable.

Which is funny for me to say that because it's one of the more dreaded algae, but it can be killed. You can use algaefix for other algae, but it's controversial and while it will kill the algae, it's not a real solution.

Ultimately you need to have some nutrient removal of somekind. Even if you kill the algae with something like algaefix, your nutrients are just going to build up. That algae is taking in nutrients, so when you manually remove the algae, you are removing nutrients. It's natures filter. So if you kill the algae, you kill the filter and you'll need to make up for it in other ways(like a refugium, skimmers, water changes, carbon dosing, etc). The kicker here is - if you do that, then the algae won't grow to start with.

And you can keep it somewhat under control in lower amounts with a cleanup crew. I see you have some branching euphyllia in there, I would stay away from urchins. I've had urchins chop the branches off mine. They are just trying to eat the algae on the branch, but they take away a bit of the branch with each bite, and over time, they get chopped down. Some snails could help keep it down.

 

[jcolliii]

Urchin would clean that up nice. If you go that way, make sure to get a tuxedo one though. They make great CUC members, but they are so effective you may end up having to eventually feed your new crew member.

 

[Angel_V_the_reefer]

Bryopsis looks more like a fern, so I don't believe that is what it is. The type I get is also very dark in color. There are different kinds, but usually fern like. It is treatable.

Which is funny for me to say that because it's one of the more dreaded algae, but it can be killed. You can use algaefix for other algae, but it's controversial and while it will kill the algae, it's not a real solution.

Ultimately you need to have some nutrient removal of somekind. Even if you kill the algae with something like algaefix, your nutrients are just going to build up. That algae is taking in nutrients, so when you manually remove the algae, you are removing nutrients. It's natures filter. So if you kill the algae, you kill the filter and you'll need to make up for it in other ways(like a refugium, skimmers, water changes, carbon dosing, etc). The kicker here is - if you do that, then the algae won't grow to start with.

And you can keep it somewhat under control in lower amounts with a cleanup crew. I see you have some branching euphyllia in there, I would stay away from urchins. I've had urchins chop the branches off mine. They are just trying to eat the algae on the branch, but they take away a bit of the branch with each bite, and over time, they get chopped down. Some snails could help keep it down.

Definitely. I have about a year of experience under my belt and have been good in keeping nutrients (phosphates and nitrates) in check.

my nutrients in my current holding tank are high but I’m slowly bringing them down and testing regularly.

i have more pictures I will post

 

[Angel_V_the_reefer]

 

[Angel_V_the_reefer]

This algae was the kind that I tested my DT

 

[Angel_V_the_reefer]

This algae was the kind that I tested my

Urchin would clean that up nice. If you go that way, make sure to get a tuxedo one though. They make great CUC members, but they are so effective you may end up having to eventually feed your new crew member.

I was planning on purchasing one but I stead went with a fighting conch. Those suckers do amazing works on all types of algaes

 

[MaxTremors]

Fluconazole is the only thing I’ve found that really works for algae like this.

 

[CoralB]

Fluconazole is the only thing I’ve found that really works for algae like this.

I’m not a advocate of chemical answers for algae but I’m curious as with fluconazole theirs a lot of people that have success and others who have had complete coral losses and the same with vibrant . Question is why is their such extremes on both ends of the usage of these chemicals . Has any one ever figured out why there is such a difference from one user to another . Is it user error , parameters of the water , combination of chemicals , bad batches etc . Years ago I used vibrant and lost all my torches and some mushrooms.dont know to this day why it happened as I followed instruction to the tee . I vowed to never use it again . Now I’m hearing about fluconazole with the same outcomes of good and bad . What is the common denominator of the people with the bad experiences??? Corals aren’t cheap and when I hear someone say their using it I cringe . You’ve obviously have had success . We’re you using half dose .did you have any casulties , anything get stressed , or was it as if nothing was dosed ?? . Curious!!!