Fish Werx
Active Member
Ok, so I think I know the answer. But there are so many smarter people than me in this forum! Will somebody either confirm or deny my suspicions please? What kind of algae is this on my rocks?
This stuff sucks....
- Thread starter Fish Werx
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GHA would be my first guess, although Bryopsis is definitely a possibility too though. Either way it's definitely not something you want growing in your tank.
http://www.reefcleaners.org/nuisance-algae-id-guide
http://www.reefcleaners.org/nuisance-algae-id-guide
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Fish Werx
Active Member
Thanks! I looked at that ID link a while ago trying to figure it out myself. Its weird, every time I look at it my mind changes. Sometimes it looks like dense clusters of GHA and others it looks like Bryopsis... One weird thing is I have always found GHA to be easy to remove, it just kind of sucks out with a siphon hose usually. But some of this stuff actually lifts up my rocks when I try to rip it off. Someone said that may be because it is older clusters of Bryopsis? Ive been fighting it for quite some time (read several months).
SG - 1.025 (calibrated refractometer)
NO3 - undetectable (Salifert)
PO4 - >.25 (Api)
Cal - 430 (Salifert)
Alk - 7.8 (Salifert)
pH - 8.1 (Api)
mag - 1300 (Salifert)
temp - 78*-80*f throughout the day
SG - 1.025 (calibrated refractometer)
NO3 - undetectable (Salifert)
PO4 - >.25 (Api)
Cal - 430 (Salifert)
Alk - 7.8 (Salifert)
pH - 8.1 (Api)
mag - 1300 (Salifert)
temp - 78*-80*f throughout the day
reeferfoxx
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Looks like bryopsis with some GHA in the tank. I wouldn't worry about the GHA yet, opposed to the bryopsis. Manual removal is the best method to rid the tank. If you pinch at the base of the cluster and pull, be assured it typically won't grow back in that spot. Now if the filaments begin to free float, they will latch and start new growth. Best thing to do is turn all pumps off, remove dense areas, use a fish net to gather any free floaters and run a canister filter for about 30 minutes to filter out anything else. It will take time but is a successful route to take. From my experience if you let the bryopsis grow to long lengths, it becomes easier to remove. Good luck!
reeferfoxx
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I guess Fluconazole is the new method. I'm learning this now! I would try that! Cheers
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Fish Werx
Active Member
YES! I am reading that long thread now in hopes to see if there are any ill effects that anyone has come across.... So far, so good! Cheers to you!
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Fish Werx
Active Member
Some of it looks like it might have some feathery ends... Some of it not so much. I think its like Reeferfoxx said, prob a bit of both inter-meshed...Do the strands have feathery ends like this? If so, it's bryopsis. You can check out the Fluconazole thread if you're curious about that option.
stevo01
R33F!N @DD!CT
1. Get Fluconazole 200gm capsules from here https://www.payless-petproducts.com/fluconazole200.html
2. Do standard WC. Add 20mg per 1g of water in your system. Do this by slicing the tip of the capsule then dump the powder into a cup of tank water. Mix best you can, but be aware Fluco is not very soluable. Dump all of the contents directly into the display in the evening, after fish go to bed.
3. Pull carbon (but this also maynot matter), shut down skimmer for 2-3 days (longer you can go the better), take ATS offline and sterilize (leave out until treatments complete), no WC's until after the treatment is completed. (More on what to take offline and leave online in FAQ's).
4. Watch Bryopsis/species of derbesia/turf/GHA turn white and melt.
5. The dead algae NO3/PO4 will feed your corals, but allow for additional export if needed.
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/bryopsis-cure-my-battle-with-bryopsis-using-fluconazole.285096/
2. Do standard WC. Add 20mg per 1g of water in your system. Do this by slicing the tip of the capsule then dump the powder into a cup of tank water. Mix best you can, but be aware Fluco is not very soluable. Dump all of the contents directly into the display in the evening, after fish go to bed.
3. Pull carbon (but this also maynot matter), shut down skimmer for 2-3 days (longer you can go the better), take ATS offline and sterilize (leave out until treatments complete), no WC's until after the treatment is completed. (More on what to take offline and leave online in FAQ's).
4. Watch Bryopsis/species of derbesia/turf/GHA turn white and melt.
5. The dead algae NO3/PO4 will feed your corals, but allow for additional export if needed.
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/bryopsis-cure-my-battle-with-bryopsis-using-fluconazole.285096/
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stevo01
R33F!N @DD!CT
The algae's will die in stages. Bryopsis species are the first to go.
This single dose will kill it all. This treatment should last for up to 3-4 weeks. Im on day 25 and its time for me to do a small WC. Tank looks awesome!!!
This single dose will kill it all. This treatment should last for up to 3-4 weeks. Im on day 25 and its time for me to do a small WC. Tank looks awesome!!!
stevo01
R33F!N @DD!CT
sorry, I meant 20mg per 1G!
Although reefers are trying as little as 5gm per 1G, this is not suggested but half dose does seem to be effective.
You may also have a coralline bloom that will begin around week 3.
Although reefers are trying as little as 5gm per 1G, this is not suggested but half dose does seem to be effective.
You may also have a coralline bloom that will begin around week 3.
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Fish Werx
Active Member
No sweat! I am reading the other looooonnggggggg thread right now to follow several peoples experiences using this method. I will def make sure and follow the steps very carefully when I decide to go ahead and pull the trigger. Very soon most likely. Seems to be a very positive review so far! And believe me, a coralline bloom would be a welcome thing at this point! Haha!
Rick.45cal
2500 Club Member
Fluconazole works. Your's looks like bryopsis that has been hanging around for awhile. It loses it's fern like structure and starts just looking like what you have going on there. 
stevo01
R33F!N @DD!CT
Im guessing right now your trying to starve the algae in the tank by going dangerously low in nutrients. Your coral if your have a reef want some NO3. You wont be able to beat the algae this way nor by reducing your light drastically. Ive tried everything up to Fluconazole. H2O2, Vinegar, Mg treatment, Mg with LiCl treatment, Low light, low NO3/PO4, and Vibrant treatment specifically. I pushed ULN to my corals breaking point and dosed Mg so much I turned softies translucent! Crazy what this algea will drive you to do 
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stevo01
R33F!N @DD!CT
Fluconazole works. Your's looks like bryopsis that has been hanging around for awhile. It loses it's fern like structure and starts just looking like what you have going on there.
As we say in gaming, BOOSH!
Rick.45cal
2500 Club Member
stevo01
R33F!N @DD!CT
This algae was introduced at some point. Probably from a frag. Just a strand of bryopsis is all it would take. It roots into rock and burrows right through softies.
OP
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Fish Werx
Active Member
Well, I have been pretty religious about my water changes the past few months. About %10 per week. Plus running GFO in a reactor. I have some chaeto in my sump, but only for a few days now. That being said, I have been feeding fairly heavily for my scheduling because of a tang acquisition that was a bit thin and picky when it came to eating. Now its a pig, getting fat and happy. So I had planned to slow down on the feedings this coming week in an effort to lower waste. I assumed that was what was fueling my algae issue. I was also assuming, until recently that I was battling GHA solely. But if it is Bryopsis, from what Ive read and heard here and other places, then ULN isnt going to do any good really and may adversely affect my corals?Im guessing right now your trying to starve the algae in the tank by going dangerously low in nutrients. Your coral if your have a reef want some NO3. You wont be able to beat the algae this way nor by reducing your light drastically. Ive tried everything up to Fluconazole. H2O2, Vinegar, Mg treatment, Mg with LiCl treatment, Low light, low NO3/PO4, and Vibrant treatment specifically. I pushed ULN to my corals breaking point and dosed Mg so much I turned softies translucent! Crazy what this algea will drive you to do
My LPS (acans, frog, hammer, octo, duncan, elegance, torch) seem to be doing well. Softies (zoas, palys, pulsing xenia, GSP) are doing good as well. Chalices are growing visibly almost daily. My newest SPS acquisitions are too new to tell anything really, only had them a bit over a week. But all have very nice polyp extension and colors.
So, hopefully I havent gone too far on the ULN train. I believe that in all honesty that I have not been as stringent as I like to believe I was being anyway!
Perhaps its time to order some Fluconazole?!?!
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Fish Werx
Active Member
More than likely from some live rock or a frag Im sure... Always have dipped frags and such. But bug killer does nothing to algae! LOL! I tell you what, if and when I get this crap under control (GONE) I am never adding another thing to my tank!
OK, thats a a lie. But I bet my wife would love to hear me say that! Haha!
