Bryopsis Alge

[maplereef]

I would like to know if any of you have had any experence with Bryopsis! Alge.. I have had this for a few yrs and its getting to be quite a pain.
here is a link to a pic of it and some threads.. from what i have read its a really bad thing to get...and very hard to get rid of...
Any help would be great...Thanks
Maplereef

[maplereef]

http://www.globaldialog.com/~jrice/algae_page/bryopsis.htm
Might help if i give ya the address EH!...lol

[ajx22]

In respect to maplereef's post regarding Bryopsis - has anyone ever used the Elysia sp. sea slugs to help eradicate a Bryopsis outbreak??

Not very much other then these guys have been reported to eat Bryopsis, and I wanted to see if there were any personal reports of an impact. The biggest issue known with these guys is that they ONLY eat Bryopsis...and eat it fast too. So in a very short time, they clear the tank of their food supply and starve - not good.

If they actually do work, and there is a large enough need for these guys; then they can be passed along from tank to tank to help clear up numerous problems - and then be returned to someone who is willing to "feed" them until another 'Mission' comes up.

Just looking for feedback on these guys, and curious as to how many folks here have had an issue with Bryopsis.

Any information is appreciated.

Regards,

[Kenzy]

I've also had minor problems with bryopsis in the past. The only way that I've found is to manually remove it when it is found.

I doubt you will get much info on Elysia sp. from us Canadians, since it is likely to have been rarely found up here in the North.

If you can get hold of a couple I'm sure there would be some people interested in giving them a try.

[maplereef]

I have found a big problem with this guy... If stressed out or dies he can nuke a tank... I have been there with a sea apple and not going to chance it in my reef.. They can order it for me at a cost of aprox $15 but now i am looking more towards the problem and not the cure... Skimming..

[Archie]

Lettuce Sea Slugs/Nudibranches are usually available from Big Al's both in Mississauga and Scarborough. They are normally ordered in fairly large numbers as they come from thre relatively close-by Carribean.
They do eat Bryopsis, but are rather slow in the process. They will park themselves on a patch for days on end. Only a sizeable amount would make a dent on a large outbreak. I'd say dozen per 100 gallons (at about $15 - $18 each) would be effective.
I don't believe that they are capable of nuking a tank. You may want to check with a true professional like Dr. Ron on the Reefcentral boards. However, I have not experienced any problems whenever one simply vanishes away in my system.

Other drawbacks are that the relatively high water flow of a reef tank often proves too strong for these little guys usually blowing them up and about just when they come to find a sizeable stand of bryopsis. Also make sure that your powerhead's vents are efficiently guarded. A friend of mine minced his nudibranch, but suffered no negative effects from it. (Leading me to believe that they aren't as toxic as Sea apples or some cukes).

My system was also plagued by the dreaded bryopsis. I used a combination of methods that are known to work:
1. Dripped kalwasser to precipitate the phosphates.
2. Used Seachem Phosguard
3. Purchased Sea Urchins (although not known to eat Bryopsis, they did clear up the rocks of everything inluding the coralline, but helped to spread coralline spores to the cleaned up surfaces)
4. Used a UV sterilizer (ya ya I know, they aren't the trend anymore but the corals and fish are doing just fine)
5. Purchased the aforementioned Lettuce Nudibranches as well as Turbo and Astarea Snails, and Halloween hermit crabs.
6. Improved existing skimmer (Turboflotor with ozone-yeah yeah I know- see UV above).
7. Picked the stuff out by hand.
8. Installed a Calcium reactor. Initially, the co2 fueled a quick but short increse in the bryopsis population, until the tank balanced intself within a month. Now my acros and other various inverts are the primary consumers.
9. Weekly small (5-7%) water changes using RO water.

From the handfulls I pulled out this past August to the several relatively miniscule patches that remain today. I would have to admit that I am finally on the winning end.

[Archie]

Maplereef,
Soory I havent been able to call you just yet. Here are a few pics of the tank as you had requested.
Hopefully this works. Also sorry for the picture quality, still getting used to the coolpix.

[Archie]

left side

[Archie]

right side