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Bryopsis


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  1. #1
    graphixx - Reefkeeper CR Member
    Join Date
    Jul 2005
    Location
    Idaho
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    2,785
    First Name
    Greg

    Default Bryopsis

    Bryopsis is a common problem algae that can overgrow your tank quite quickly. Along with covering your rocks it will also overtake your corals and other desirable algae by outcompeting with them for nutrients. It is generally dark green, coming from the chlorophyts division, and can be either spiky or filamentous (hair like) sometimes misidentified and thought to be caulerpa or debesia, its easy to tell apart by just trying to pluck some off of your rock. Bryopsis tends to burrow deeply into a rock crevice feeding off nutrient rich detritus and thus will take quite a tug to pluck it out.

    Contributing Factors
    There are a few contributing factors to these sudden outbreaks from water quality to lighting. Your nitrates might be too high, your phosphates may be too high (.03 or less is the general goal), your lighting has recently been replaced or perhaps your bulbs are so old that the spectrum of light has shifted, which would bring on this bloom. First thing is first you need to get your water parameters to natural sea water levels:


    A lot of this starts before you even add salt to the water. If you use tap water, your most likely adding nitrates or phosphates to your tank on a daily or weekly basis. RO/DI water is your best and most pure option. Onceyour water parameters are in the acceptable rangeis you need to get the bloom to a manageable level which most of the time means manual extraction (pruning) this process takes some time and consistency on the part of the reefer, you need to keep at this daily to start to get a hold on this green menace. by keeping at this daily and diminishing the amount of algae in the tank your "cleaners" will kick in and help as well (snails, hermits, tangs, etc). Also clean your skimmer completely. The your collection cup often, so you dont have slime buildup hindering it. You want to skim out as much of the dissolved organic compounds before they can break down in your tank and add to the cycle.

    You can also introduce algae eaters such as a Lawnmower blenny, Foxface, yellow tang, diadema urchin. Another method of dealing with bryopsis is to go "mechanical" or "non biological" One of the newer trends is the magnesium solution, elevating your magnasium from the normal 1280 ppm to 1500-1600 ppm. Alot of reefers feel this is the least harmful way to correct a bloom. the theory behind this is that the mag stops the photosynthetic processes in the bryopsis, BUT does this without affecting other desirable macros in the reef, but in the same breath some say tha elevated levels can kill desirable inverts, so as with most thing in this hobby, SLOW IS BEST.

    You can also try aggressively skimming, elevating your pH to a steady 8.5 for 3 weeks, seems a low ph/alkalinity ratios aggravate an outbreak. Phosphate reactors are also a popular method as well, a more drastic measure would also be taking all of the LR out of the tank and "cooking" it. I am sure there will be members of the forum that will also chime in on this and add their knowledge and what works for them (that is what these are for, for all of us to learn collectively)

    A quick recap of some of the thigs that bring on this dreaded bloom:
    • adding already "infected" rocks to your tank
    • inadequate flow to keep detritus in suspension
    • inadequate flow to move detritus through the sytem to the skimmer
    • failure to keep detritus off rocks and properly remove from sand bed
    • lack of consistent skimming
    • poor water source quality (non RO/DI water)
    • phosphates are too high
    • nitrates too high
    • lighting has shifted in spectrum
    • new lights
    I hope this has shed a little light on the GREEN MONSTER. I said I am SURE that I have over looked something please feel free to add your knowledge and experience in combating this problem.
    Attached Images Attached Images  
    Last edited by jimsflies; 03-10-2012 at 07:27 AM.

  2. #2
    jimsflies - Reefkeeper
    Admin/Founder

    Join Date
    Aug 2009
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    Michigan
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    First Name
    Jim

    Default

    A lot of us have had success using Tech M magnesium to kill bryopsis have you had any luck with that?

    Despite trying a lot of the methods you describe, I still was unable to completely get it out of my system until I tried the Tech M.

  3. #3
    graphixx - Reefkeeper CR Member
    Join Date
    Jul 2005
    Location
    Idaho
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    Greg

    Default

    I have not tried the tech M

    in the past I have been actually really really lucky and have not had many outbreaks. when I had all my tanks running along with my frag tanks (1200 gallons total) I was very very very carefull on the water that I used and the feeding and lighting and I think that helped ALOT.

    when I did have a little outbreak I would first test the water and then crank up the skimmer and change my phos media more often and that usually seemed to keep it in check. I was lucky each frag tank had a lawnmower blenny each in there and they were machines on the algae. I dont know why but I had algae worse in my frag tanks than I did in my display tank.

    I hope I am that lucky in the future as I am about 9 months out on starting a new tank.
    fulltankshot 1 - Bryopsis

  4. #4
    Sir Patrick - Reefkeeper A2 Club Coordinator
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    Oct 2009
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    UofM territory
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    Chris
    Awards Monthly Giveaway Winner

    Default

    Great write up. Very nice pic! Now that I see the pic, I dont think I have ever had THE GREEN MENACE in any of my tanks. Always though I did, but it was somthing else!

    Gotta find some wood to knock on now!!

  5. #5
    Bella127 - Reefkeeper CR Member
    Join Date
    Nov 2009
    Location
    Roseville,MI
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    419
    First Name
    Pete
    Awards Fantasy Football Champion - 2012 Fantasy Football League Champ Photo of the Month Tank of the Month

    Default

    I had a lil batch that grew in the back of my tank and I would pull it off when it got out of hand. When I read about the Tech M , I was skeptical at first . Then I read everyone having success with it so I gave it a try. Boy that stuff really works.

  6. #6
    CR Member
    Join Date
    Jan 2010
    Location
    Madison Heights
    Posts
    14

    Default

    Are you guys using the m-tech other than how its listed on the bottle? I have aquired the green menace and I am looking for suggestions. I have followed all specs listed above and was thinking of trying Tech M next?
    Last edited by qtrmile; 03-01-2010 at 10:13 PM.

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