Hair algae? Type? Pics included...

[boobookitty]

Hi, all...

I've been fighting this stuff for over a year. Finally took down the tank 2 months ago, took out the DSB, replaced 80% of the R, and restarted...and now it's starting to show up again. Aargh!

Thinking of trying the magnesium method...would it work on this stuff? It's not feathery like caulerpa...just grows long and straight, and in clumps...I would suspect Derbesia/GHA, but my 4 tangs won't touch this stuff...

Old pic of the original incarnation, pre-tank breakdown
http://www.kgbird.com/boobookitty/photo-data//OldPics/Specials/640/Algae1.JPG


New pics of the stuff growing back:
http://www.kgbird.com/boobookitty/photo-data//OldPics/Specials/640/Algae1.jpg

http://www.kgbird.com/boobookitty/photo-data//OldPics/Specials/640/Algae2.jpg

http://www.kgbird.com/boobookitty/photo-data//OldPics/Specials/640/Algae4.jpg

[nmywrx]

Could be bryopsis. I would try magnesium. Most poeple use Kent Tech M. Raise it to about 1750 ppm and see if it helps.

[boobookitty]

I realized my earlier pictures were ambiguous...hopefully these are better. Is this a candidate for the Magnesium method?

http://www.kgbird.com/boobookitty/photo-data//OldPics/Specials/640/Algae5.jpg

http://www.kgbird.com/boobookitty/photo-data//OldPics/Specials/640/Algae6.jpg

[Shnabbles]

I didnt know low magnesium will cause algae to grow?:confused:

[boobookitty]

Nah, but empirical results have shown that raising Mg to a higher-than-normal level (e.g. 1550+) using certain Mg supplements can kill off bryopsis without a severe impact on the rest of the tank. For those of us fighting hair algae it's definitely something of interest...

[boobookitty]

So, it's bryopsis. I know because after starting the Mg method, it's now gone. :) Pretty amazing...2 days and it's melted away, basically.

Check out the thread:

http://archive.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=11395476#post11395476