Macroalgae getting out of control

[doc585]

Over the last couple of weeks some macroalge popped up on one of my rocks. It was not bad at first but now it is getting out of control. After doing some research I figure out that it is a Caulerpa species. Specifically the feather and grape variety.

http://www.reefcorner.com/images/FeatherCaulerpa.jpg
http://www.reefcorner.com/images/GrapeCaulerpa.jpg

I trim it back as much as possible but this stuff literally grows like a lawn and is back in full force within a few days. Does anyone know what might eat it. My snails and hermits do not seem to touch it. I heard that tangs may eat it but was not sure. As of now my tank only has two clowns in it so my options to add fish are pretty open. Any info would be great. Thank you.

 

[TypicalWhiteAZN]

The top one looks like taxifolia.. super invasive in cali coastline...Poinsonous to consume.. and illegal to sell.. just dont flush it... i got those too... hand pick em off

 

[doc585]

great thanks for the heads up

 

[BeanMachine]

How big is the tank? A tang would eat that up I'd think. Or a foxface but they aren't always reef safe.

 

[562Reefer]

The second one can be consumed by Yellow Tangs.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[TypicalWhiteAZN]

I remember seeing on NatGeo that the only thing that eats taxifolia is a tiny black nudibranch... it neutralizes the toxin to make the plant edible ..

 

[gonumber24]

I have grape calerpa in my sumps for nutrient control. Every once in a while I take a clump out and put it into my 2 dts. All my tangs love it. I have 3 yellows, a blue, a sohal, a tomini, desjardini, and a scopas. My Blueface, Koran, and Coral Beauty also chow down.

 

[turbonut]

Over the last couple of weeks some macroalge popped up on one of my rocks. It was not bad at first but now it is getting out of control. After doing some research I figure out that it is a Caulerpa species. Specifically the feather and grape variety.

http://www.reefcorner.com/images/FeatherCaulerpa.jpg
http://www.reefcorner.com/images/GrapeCaulerpa.jpg

I trim it back as much as possible but this stuff literally grows like a lawn and is back in full force within a few days. Does anyone know what might eat it. My snails and hermits do not seem to touch it. I heard that tangs may eat it but was not sure. As of now my tank only has two clowns in it so my options to add fish are pretty open. Any info would be great. Thank you.

if you want i'll take as much as you can clip off your hands

 

[doc585]

i did some more research at it is actually Bryopsis pennata and B. plumosa so I guess I will be raising my Mg+ and hope that it works as reef cleaners suggest

 

[happaman]

I've been battling bryopsis. I placed some rocks in quarantine, raised the mag with Seachem in one and with Epsom salts in the other to 2000; using Elos test kit. I left it for 4 weeks and saw no visible change. Apparently Kent Mag has something that is killing the bryopsis cuz I had no luck using other magnesium salts.

 

[doc585]

alright I have BRS mag so I will have to get my hands on some Kent and see if that helps

 

[TypicalWhiteAZN]

Daniel (nvte) doses brs mg+ and ive personally seen that algea slowly whitter n die... it just takes a few weeks... during that time, just groom it with tweezers..

alright I have BRS mag so I will have to get my hands on some Kent and see if that helps

 

[fishboi]

what i did accidentally was pouring ro water direct to in the sump where it was at and it died off

 

[danagui]

bryopsis builds up immunity to MG treatments...ur better off saving the trouble and just ridding urself of those rocks

Daniel (nvte) doses brs mg+ and ive personally seen that algea slowly whitter n die... it just takes a few weeks... during that time, just groom it with tweezers..

 

[doc585]

bryopsis builds up immunity to MG treatments...ur better off saving the trouble and just ridding urself of those rocks

i was afraid someone would say that. It is one of my larger base rocks that has zoa colonies, ricordia and a chalice encrusting on it. The algae started popping up in the spaces between the coral and now is starting to crowd them out. I guess damage control for now until I can figure out the best way of replacing the rock without breaking down my entire rock scape to get to it.

 

[kdtran]

I hate Bryopsis