Byropsis sp. problem

i didnt see a picture of the species you had in there. are you sure it was pennata? since that time I have had a few successes stories with it...or maybe I am getting it confused with plumosa again? not sure, would still like to see pictures... I was re-reading that thread, algaecide worked for you? They usually cause oxygen depletion, did you experience any of that? (Not that they do it directly, they cause the algae to deplete oxygen en masse when it dies and that can effect aquarium chemistry especially ph for a a short spike). Friend of mine lost a whole tank from a large treatment, he had a planted SW tank though...was trying to get rid of cyano...crazy....

 

maybe it isnt the magnesium...but how the magnesium affects other parameters that kills bryopsis....I doubt any of the other people followed their other parameters as closely as amcarrig or tangster would have...

these threads of success are on other forums for the most part. bad etiquette to link them bu you can google some info on "bryopsis + magnesium" and you should get a few more stories...if any of you catch one with parameters let me know....lots of sorting to do....

 

It was definitely pennata. Roger (Tangster) had it analyzed by a marine biologist back when he was working at Aquatic Art Tech. The algaecide started to work but then, for whatever reason, stopped working.



Now, I don't want to discourage the original poster with my tale of woe. A lot of people have had success getting rid of bryopsis by raising mag levels. We just weren't that lucky. Perhaps the chain of events described here led to our not being able to get rid of that easily but I suppose we'll never know:

http://www.3reef.com/forums/filters...e-too-much-filtration-50074-2.html#post461763

 

oh well that would have made it easier...There has to be some "set limit of something that bryopsis can't take" going on in the tanks that have had success....it is weird that magneisum sulfate works better than other things too. I was thinking maybe some other parameter or chemical might be doing it instead of magnesium, or contributing..Sure there are different strains of algae that will react differently to different environments, but why does it work flawlessly for some and not at all for another strain of the same species...? You are probably right, we will never know, some will luck out and some won't. Good to know that it isn't fool proof for that species like I once thought. I must have forgotten that thread...I was feeling pretty good about the magnesium trick until that. Don't tell me the inverted soda bottle trick doesn't catch fish any more, I can only take so much in one day.

 

I have some photos for your viewing pleasure:


Close up:


Back Glass:


Film on the Front:


I believe I have Large Leaf Watercress Alga growing from my LR. I really like the look of it.

 

You have a lot of macro algae in there. what are you phosphate and nitrate levels? (You probably won't show any though.) I would start to run some GFO and cut back on your feedings.

 

phosphate and nitrate are both 0, I'm assuming they're locked up in the algae.

I haven't fed the tank at all yet, no livestock. Just some GSP.

I should probably test my RO water to see if maybe there are nitrates in it or something

 

Strange, from your info, your original total light period was 13 hours (a bit much) with 13 hours of actinic and 11 1/2 hours of daylight. Your second or new light period is; 13 hours total light period with 13 hours of actinic and 11 hours of daylight. So, you didn't change much, however that is a long light period. I would try, for the time being, 11 total hours of light, 11 hours of actinic and 9 hours of daylight (one before and after the daylight).
I am assuming the lights are fresh and within the scope for what they are, no more than 1 year to 13 months old.

 

Didn't realize that. I would check your water that you use.