this stuff is new to me

[golfish]

Hey guys.
The way this tank is going I should be an expert on bad algea..I've never seen this stuff before.. PLEASE, what is it and what eats it? I think I might know but I don't want to hear it.

[Adam]

It starts witha B...

Bryopsis..??

ahahaha thats what I think it is.

Mine went away after I did BB, looks from the pic that you are BB...

IMO it is caused by bad water quality(poor skimmer), overfeeding, or not using reverse osmosis water.

[Orion76]

I am not an expert on algae identification but there is only one way it can grow like that and that is when there is too much fertilizer (aka nutrients) in the water.

[Aged Salt]

Hi Mark, is this a ZEOvit tank? As Timon, said, this system is running nutrient-rich. The HA, btw, is Derbasia, which needs manual removal as it appears, along with nutrient reduction procedures. Bob

[mesocosm]

Greetings All !

It would appear to be a Derbasia species ... definitely. One of the things that makes Derbasia so difficult to control is that it demonstrates a variety of different reproductive patterns.

... needs manual removal as it appears, along with nutrient reduction procedures.

Absolutely ... A tootbrush will be helpful with removal from the clam, and a long-term nutrient reduction strategy is the only way to really be "rid" of it.

Sprung suggests the following ...

Controls: Maintain alkalinity above 8 dKH, use phosphate export via protein skimming, algae filters, or phosphate absorbing media. Use toothbrushes to remove small patches. Herbivores.

Herbivores: Hermit crabs, Amphipods, Surgeonfish, Rabbitfish, Angelfish, Diadema urchin, Tuxedo urchin, Trochus snail, Turbo snail, Astrea snail, Limpets, Elysia spp. sea slugs.

Extracted from:
Algae. A Problem Solver Guide, Sprung, Ricordea Publishing, 2002.

Clearly some of these strategies are not compatable with ZEOvit methodology.

IME ... The herbivores cited by Sprung can all be very effective is managing initial and small Derbasia outbreaks, but large patches require manual removal. Derbasia outbreaks will persist until the "nutrients issue" is resolved.

HTH ...

[golfish]

This is probably the problem. I've had trouble with fish lately. The few that I have for over a year are all doing well. I added a few Anthias last month along with a small Atlantic blue tang. They all died in a matter of a few weeks. I could only find 2 or the 5 dead fish..I feed the fish maybe every other day. I use RO/DI (zero TDS off the RO) My nitrates test at zero along with po4's on the Salifert test kits...I'm going to test the water on Steve's PO4 meter today.

Bob, yes, this is a Zeovit system. As of late I haven't been too impressed with it.

I'm about ready to get rid of this whole system and start over. I've nothing but one problem after another since I started this tank over a year ago.

[Orion76]

A few dead fish decaying in your aquarium can definitely instigate an algae bloom and this could very well be what fuels the Derbesia.

On an unrelated note, feeding anthias every other day is not sufficient, should be more like two or three times daily in very small amounts.

[GTR]

Mark...

Sea Hare

SteveU

[Aged Salt]

Hi Mark, I certainly understand your frustration. I've been there beforeas has most of us If your corals are fine, then I would do a few extra things to help.
1) Manually remove the HA, hands/razor blade/toothbrush/turkey baster.
2) Add a extra PH to your sump to attack the "settling effect" more efficaciously to your skimmer & zeo-filter.
3) Add a PH or two to your main display, at least for a time to increase the quantity of the nutrients to the water column/overflows.
4) Increase your zeo-dosing quantities 50% for a time. Continue this unless visual cues of zeo-excess appear
5) Most important, believe that you can accomplish a beautiful reef . Bob

[golfish]

You know Bob, its guys like you that keep my spirits up..thanks so much.

On an unrelated note, feeding anthias every other day is not sufficient, should be more like two or three times daily in very small amounts.

yup, I knew that back when...that's what I did when I had em.

Mark...

Sea Hare

SteveU

Steve, Ron mentioned that a few weeks ago. I'm going to head over there today and pick up Fox face and see if he has a Sea Hare.. see ya in a few hours.

[OUinLA]

Mark you should just borrow Roland's sea hare

BTW, can you bring one of those 18's to Steve's today or am on the next week list?

[golfish]

Madison.
I had no idea you were going to Steve's today, if I would have known I would have kept it for you. Leo came over yesterday and cleaned me out.

[golfish]

who says Bryopsis isn't good...The PO4's on my RO\DI water is 09 and the tank water is 05...I tried to sale some of that Bryopsis at Steve's get together today but couldn't get any takers

I guess I'm color blind and or have two bad Salifert test kits.

needless to say I'll be replacing everything on my Spectrapure unit this week..

[OUinLA]

Goold ole bryopsis

At least now you know where the source of the problem is.

BTW, If possible get me some of those 60's you have. I'll take as many as you can get and you just let me know what you want for them.

[golfish]

Goold ole bryopsis

At least now you know where the source of the problem is.

BTW, If possible get me some of those 60's you have. I'll take as many as you can get and you just let me know what you want for them.

How about a new BK skimmer like Steve's I'll let you know when I get stocked up again. You want the 18 gal too?