Algae ID

It is some kind of macro but I can't find any info on it. It is almost impossible to remove without making big mess, I tried few times but it seems to make things worse as it spreads to other places. My kole tang picks on it from time to time but not enough to make any difference. Is there any other fish/crab/snail that would eat it?

[christyf5]

Hello bryopsis!

http://www.reefs.org/hhfaq/pages/mai.../faq_algae.htm

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2002-06/bcap/feature/

Good luck!

Christy

I had bryopsis before and I know what it looks like, but this is something else, it covers the rock in the same way as Caulerpa and it even has white roots

Here is better pic

[fishface]

uggh! i think i have bryopsis!! i just never knew what it was called...seems very difficult to get rid of...

[Troy F]

Darren just won a major victory with this stuff. If he doesn't see this thread I'll PM him. He got some advice from Anthony Calfo that worked wonders for him. I think the advice was to spike the pH with washing soda but my memeroy is a little soft.

[Beermaster]

Damnit, i have that stuff growing all over the place in my tank


damnit, damnit, damnit, damnit

[IslandReefer]

My foxface thinks its green buttered popcorn

[DJ88]

Dominik,

I don't think it is bryopsis. Too fluffy for that stuff. As well Bryopsis doesn't form runners like this stuff you have in the pictures. I have had loads of experience with bryopsis and this isn't it IMO.

I don't know that it will work for you but what I did to get rid of my algae problem was by raising the pH of my tank to 8.6 for about 3-4 weeks.

You would HAVE to use a pH meter in this case as you want to carefully monitor the pH as you do this. Too high and you can have a mess on your hands.

To raise the pH you can do the following. Take baking soda and bake it in the oven (300 deg F, 1 hour in a normal oven). You then use it by mixing it in with RO/DI water and pour it into your tank. I used to mix 2Tbsp of soda with 4 cups of RO/DI and pour 1/3 in at a time so I didn't have a huge pH spike. Start slow with this stuff and get used to it. Don't over do it.

For a more concrete identification and possible predators you may like to go ask Anthony Calfo on Reef Central. He has his own forum there and is very approachable.

For removal by hand one thing you can do is get some very narrow diameter hard acrylic tubing , 1/4" or so and set up a siphon and suck the stuff out when you do a water change. GEt as much out as you can and do immediate water changes.

hth. sorry I couldn't help more.

Cheers!

Thanks for the info, I didn't think it was Bryopsis either. I will try the baking soda method, ph spike shouldn't be a problem as I have PinPoint ph monitor.