| As far as algae problems go in saltwater aquariums | | | | emerald crabs, tangs, etc.) will eat it. Once successful, |
| (primarily reef aquariums), none is as nightmarish as | | | | lower Magnesium levels to 1300ppm and keep it |
| bryopsis. It just doesn't go away with normal efforts | | | | there long term. |
| the work on fighting most other algae outbreaks. But | | | | Once the Bryopsis reaches its threshold for binding |
| here I am going to give you a solution that actually | | | | Magnesium, the Magnesium will then function as an |
| works, and believe it or not, it works pretty fast too. | | | | enzyme inhibitor and cause the Bryopsis to shutdown |
| There are many types of algae outbreaks, such as | | | | and die off. |
| hair algae, cyanobacteria (i.e. red/green slime algae), | | | | To raise your magnesium levels, there are many |
| diatoms, bubble algae, etc.. But when it comes solving | | | | different products you can use, such as: |
| the algae outbreak, bryopsis is in a class all by itself. | | | | - Kent Tech M |
| In most cases, you can manage your way out of the | | | | - Magnesium chloride |
| problem, by reducing nitrates and phosphates, | | | | - SeaChem Reef Advantage And once you have the |
| elevating pH (8.4-8.5), increasing water movement, | | | | problem licked, it is vitally important to focus on |
| adding a diverse army of grazers (tangs, emerald | | | | prevention. This means maximizing high water |
| crabs, hermit crabs, sea hares, urchins, snails, etc.), | | | | circulation in your aquarium, continual removal of |
| and removing detritus from the system, as well as | | | | detritus, efficient protein skimming, keep pH at 8.4, |
| other steps. | | | | use several forms of removing phosphates and |
| But bryopsis algae does just fine even after you add | | | | preventing their addition to your saltwater aquarium: |
| an army of inverts to graze, because few will eat it. | | | | - use phosphate removing media such as Rowaphos |
| Also, it can still thrive even when phosphates and | | | | or Puraphos; |
| nitrates are at zero (or undetectable). And even if | | | | - employ use of chaetomorpha and gracilaria algae in |
| you have a refugium attached to your saltwater | | | | a refugium; |
| aquarium or reef aquarium, the bryopsis algae just | | | | - use calcium hydroxide (a.k.a. kalkwasser) to |
| keeps on keeping on. It does not need much in the | | | | precipitate out phosphate so that the protein |
| way of nutrients to sustain itself, unlike cyanobacteria | | | | skimmer can remove it; it also elevates the pH and |
| (i.e. red/green slime algae), which can easily be | | | | contributes to calcium and alkalinity; |
| reduced with phosphate removing media, increased | | | | - filter tap water with RO/DI (reverse osmosis with |
| water movement and detritus removal (not to | | | | deionization post filters) as it removes phosphates |
| mention a product called Chemi-Clean, which nukes it | | | | from tapwater; |
| instantly, but does not deal with the cause). | | | | - thaw out and rinse all frozen foods prior to feeding |
| And manual removal of bryopsis is an exercise in | | | | them to your saltwater aquarium, as just looking at |
| futility. It will actually help it reproduce via asexual | | | | the thaw water will show you there is a lot of |
| fragmentation. | | | | unwanted nutrients that would otherwise end up in |
| So by now your wondering "alright already - give me | | | | your tank and contribute to algae problems; |
| this elusive solution". Ok here it is. | | | | - service your protein skimmer at least once a week |
| The solution to nuking, wiping out, a bryopsis | | | | and keep it functioning at peak efficiency Here's to |
| outbreak (no matter how massive the outbreak), is | | | | your success in staying ahead of the game and to |
| to raise the magnesium levels to 1600ppm (normal | | | | preventing such nasty problems as a bryopsis algae |
| levels ~1300ppm) and keep it there for 3 months. Do | | | | outbreak. Remember to keep an eye out for |
| not raise it faster than by 100ppm per day. Once you | | | | bryopsis attached to new coral additions or live rock. |
| have your magnesium levels at 1600ppm, there may | | | | Now that you have the solution, we'd love to hear |
| be a slight increase in algal growth (at first), and then | | | | your feedback, by commenting on our blog, which |
| the bryopsis algae will shut down and begin to fade | | | | can be found in the author resource box below this |
| and die off, whereby your grazers (snails, hermits, | | | | article. |