Using Fluconazole to cure bryopsis on a biocube

[TexasReefer82]

Noclav,

Judging from your photos, you don't have bryopsis. I'm not convinced you ever did. The very first pics you posted on March 10 show a lot of "runners" which would be some species of caulerpa as Jose Mayo suggested.

Fluconazole will completely exterminate bryopsis from a tank within two weeks when used at the appropriate dose. The bryopsis visibly starts to turn white and disintegrate within just a couple days of adding the medication. It's a profoundly valuable tool for this hobby! After treatment the bryopsis will not grow back unless the species is reintroduced to the tank. It will appear to kill hair algae but it will instead only inhibit the growth of green hair algae temporarily. The hair algae will brow back once the fluconazole is no longer present in the water. Some people maintain a constant low concentration of fluconazole to continuously inhibit hair algae.

The algae that you posted on October 10 is 100% NOT bryopsis. I don't know what it is.

One option for you is to try using a product called Vibrant by UnderWater Creations. Make sure to keep your Nitrate up at a measurable level - perhaps through dosing - while using vibrant.

I'd also suggest buying a very small tuxedo urchin. Urchins are tremendous algae eaters.

 

[Jose Mayo]

From the first photo, although not very clear, it is possible to perceive by the stalks and branches that it is not Bryopsis; is a variety of Caulerpa called Caulerpa verticillata which, like all Caulerpa, can be toxic to corals. Caulerpales also have ergosterol in their cell walls and are also sensitive to fluconazole but are very minus sensitive than Bryopsidales and, because have deep rhizoids, will regrowth as soon as the fluconazole concentration is below the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). The MIC of Caulerpales is very high. Also remember that fluconazole is not an algaecide, that is, algae do not die from the direct action of fluconazole, but rather from the direct action of the environment in which they live, as their defenses (cell walls) are weakened by the action of fluconazole.

Regards