If it's not one, then it's another

Have you guys ever noticed that once you get rid of a type of algae, another one pops up. I battled with gha for two months last year and got rid of that. Went clean for about 2 months and then got cyano. Got rid of that and now bryopsis shows up, it isn't bad yet, just a few patches in the sand bed. Will this cycle ever end!

 

I feel ya! No problems with byropsis yet (knock on wood) but cyano a few times.
It's frustrating and sometimes I feel like putting the whole system on craigslist and going back to playing WoW.

 

It does end or at least taper off after the system ages some. After about 1 1/2 years from my tanks start I stopped seeing any algae.

 

Any advice for stopping this bryopsis before it gets too bad. I have a good selection of corals and a clam so I'm a bit hesitant about trying the increased mag approach.

 

I got some and my approach was superheating ro/di water on the stove, get a syringe, and blast the thing with it.. It worked for me..

 

Get with tangster, he has battled multiple types of bryopsis. For my type (Bryopsis Pennata) he mentioned making a thick paste out of pickling lime and kent M then smothering the bryopsis with it. I am going to give it a shot because I can't pull all mine off.

 

Going through cyano myself my tank was algae free for months and out of no where, bam my tank is getting covered in cyano and is driving me insaine, I can't stand it

 

Your post made me chuckle....

I have a reef tank AND I play WoW - it is nice to have an outlet when the algae outbreaks really p*$$ me off! Look out Horde!

Hang in there!

 

Raising the magnesium levels won't harm clams or corals. I would raise them to at least 1800ppm, becasue the test kits for this are very inaccurate. Some say 1600 ppm will do it, but going well over that to 2000 has had no ill effect for anything but bryopsis.

There are several ways to raise mag levels, one of the cheapest is to use Epsom salts dissolved in water.

I think NSW is around 1600 ppm, so even 2000 isn't crazy in comparison.

 

from what I've read.. once one algae is gone another will come up as theres no competition for the nutrients & lighting available in your tank. with 9months+ on my reef tank I believe I am starting to win the battle. if you have macro algae (chaeto,mangroves,etc) growing in your tank or sump and a good size CUC, this will help lower your nutrients and will make it harder to feed any bad algae (cyano,gha,etc..) from blooming up quickly. I just started some mangroves and chaeto myself in my sump with a 15w 6500k t8 bulb over it at nighttime 12-16hrs lighting cycle.. its helping I can already tell in 1 week.

also if you have a dead spot where cyano is forming, adjust your powerhead a little.. to up the flow in those problem areas..

give it a try..and be patient..