| A while back I posted on a method for bryopsis | | | | Step 6: Turned off the activated carbon filter. This is |
| algae control, that involved using Kent Marine's | | | | just a hunch, but since the active ingredient in Kent |
| product Kent Tech-M. And in that post, I also told | | | | Marine's Tech-M magnesium supplement is not known |
| you that one of the exhibits in my care was a | | | | (that which eradicates the bryopsis), I certainly didn't |
| 900-gallon reef tank with a persistent bryopsis algae | | | | want the activated carbon to remove it. Originally, |
| problem, and that I was about to use this method to | | | | people felt it was the elevated magnesium level that |
| eradicate the bryopsis algae from my tank. | | | | was doing the work, but after multiple methods of |
| And... | | | | raising the magnesium level produced inconsistent |
| Drum roll please......... | | | | results, it was concluded that Kent Marine's Tech-M |
| It worked! | | | | product worked the best because of some mystery |
| Yes, it worked quite well. Before treating the tank | | | | active ingredient. |
| with the magnesium supplement (Kent Tech-M), we | | | | Now that the preparation steps were completed we |
| did the following important steps to prepare: | | | | were ready to begin dosing the Kent Tech-M |
| PREPARATION STEPS | | | | (magnesium supplement). The main instructions are to |
| Step 1: performed two 35% water changes to help | | | | make sure that you do not raise the magnesium level |
| up the magnesium level to the normal 1,300ppm and | | | | by more than 100ppm per day. |
| to lower the phosphate level; | | | | So I went ahead with dosing the tank to raise the |
| Step 2: Manually plucked/removed as much bryopsis | | | | magnesium level by 100ppm per day until the |
| as possible while the water level was down (during | | | | magnesium level was between 1600-1800ppm, and in |
| the water change). We did this during both water | | | | one week the bryopsis dropped to less than 50% of |
| changes over a period of one week. | | | | what it was before dosing. And by two weeks, 99% |
| Step 3: stormed the tank with a powerhead on a | | | | of the bryopsis was gone from the display tank. I |
| stick to help get as much detritus out of the tank as | | | | was quite pleasantly surprised. |
| possible. We have 4 filter socks in the sump that | | | | Overall it took 2 weeks and the Bryopsis is now |
| catch it quite efficiently; | | | | gone. It is my feeling that the aggressive manual |
| Step 4: Replaced the Rowaphos media (a.k.a. ferric | | | | plucking/removal was a critical step to insulting |
| oxide) in our chemical filter (Precision Marine SR55P | | | | stressing the bryopsis. And remember we did this |
| Professional Series Substrate Reactor), which helps | | | | just prior to changing out the Rowaphos media |
| to insult and stress out the bryopsis algae. | | | | (lowered phosphates to zero) and the subsequent |
| Step 5: Began dosing kalkwasser (saturated solution | | | | dosing of the magnesium supplement. |
| of calcium hydroxide and R.O. water), which | | | | We will see what time will tell. I have heard of the |
| precipitates out phosphates so that the protein | | | | bryopsis coming back after a successful treatment, |
| skimmer can remove them. It also elevates the pH | | | | so the constant vigilence will continue - as it always |
| to 8.3-8.5, which helps inhibit the growth of unwanted | | | | does with a truly successful saltwater aquarium. |
| algae such as bryopsis and hair algae. And kalkwasser | | | | Please comment and share your experience with hair |
| also helps to elevate alkalinity, which also helps inhibit | | | | algae or bryopsis and how you went about it and |
| unwanted algae. | | | | what happened. |