I'm currently fighting many different nuisance algae. I've had enough of it. I've cut back on feedings. Gonna do a 3 day blackout, dose 3ml per 10 gal peroxide, spike mag to over 1600, and add more cuc. Along with the manual removal I've been doing. My nitrates sit about 10 and phosphates don't register but I realize this is because the algae is using it up before it can read with my salifert test kit. I run cheato in my fuge along with a biopellet reactor for nutrient removal. Any other suggestions on nutrient removal and other ideas and suggestions on fighting this stuff would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
Sounds like you've got every method I've ever read about covered except GFO. How are you testing for phosphate? If it's the Salifert or API kit they won't detect PO4 at the levels important to our tank. I have read that it's not really high Magnesium that helps with bryopsis but an "unknown" element in a specific magnesium supplement (Kent) that helps. Hear different takes on that from different sources.
My DT is 90 gal and my sump is a 55 but probably 120 gal total. Im pulling a grocery sacks worth of cheato out about every 2 weeks. I try to leave a large amount.
Will, If this is truly Bryopsis none of those will work. Bryopsis needs to be killed with Kent Magnesium or BRS Magnesium. It needs to be one of these two because they contain something else that actually kills the bryopsis. It isn't the Mag itself doing the work. You need to dose your Mag up to 1600-1800 and keep it that high for several weeks. Don't dose it straight that high, bump it up as recommended by BRS' calculator. It has been documented time and again that Kent Magnesium works but I can tell you from first hand experience that BRS magnesium works too. John
Yes sir. I use Kent tech m. I've had success with it in the past. I've also read that hydrogen peroxide will also help combat it. I personally know peroxide works against dinoflagellates and figured it won't hurt. Im not 100% positive it's bryopsis but nothing is eating it. Tough stranded hair algae. The other hair algae is easy to remove but this stuff is attached something awful.
The other hair algae in my tank are quite a bit more "fluffy" and can be easily removed with my hands.
That may be what I call "turf" algae. Sticks to rock like glue. It can be battled with nutrient control if it's the stuff I had.