So, way back when, when I began this hobby, bout 18 months ago, round about tea time, I had a bryopsis and hair algae breakout. Three days of total blackout while force starving the fish and running GFO did nada. Uncovered for a day, fed fish, and repeated the Alaskan winter. Nada. Ended up pulling a lot of rock, spot scrubbing and peroxiding.
A few months later it returned, not unexpectedly. Repeated above, though I was a bit more aggressive on the blackout. Again, ended up doing manual cleaning.
Recently, as posted, had another outbreak along with very high phosphates caused by a dying anem which also took out 2 fish and a couple of inverts. Bryopsis began on 1 rock and within a week, with .20ppm+ phosphates, was on at least 6 rocks and spreading.
Took a different attack angle this time. It worked great, though it's taken about 5 weeks.
I began vodka dosing every morning. The first week I dosed 0.2ml per day. Second week 0.4ml per day. Third week 0.9ml, and fourth week at 1.5ml daily.
At the same time, every evening I've added 5ml of peroxide (65g tank).
Note I did not alter lighting or feeding schedule. As previously I was running GFO.
During week 1 and 2 the algae continued to spread and frustration and worry set in, but decided to continue.
Tomorrow will be week 5. All hair algae is gone. Phosphates at 0.01ppm. There is 1 small and very dying patch of bryopsis left. Corals are looking fantastic, especially zoas and palys. Skimmer is not filling as much but is filling with a dark oily ichor that smells as good as it looks. Water is crystal clear. And I've actually seem to have maintained growth throughout.
Plan on continuing GFO, dosing 1ml morning vodka, and 5ml peroxide with each water change.
Figured I'd share for anyone interested.
A few months later it returned, not unexpectedly. Repeated above, though I was a bit more aggressive on the blackout. Again, ended up doing manual cleaning.
Recently, as posted, had another outbreak along with very high phosphates caused by a dying anem which also took out 2 fish and a couple of inverts. Bryopsis began on 1 rock and within a week, with .20ppm+ phosphates, was on at least 6 rocks and spreading.
Took a different attack angle this time. It worked great, though it's taken about 5 weeks.
I began vodka dosing every morning. The first week I dosed 0.2ml per day. Second week 0.4ml per day. Third week 0.9ml, and fourth week at 1.5ml daily.
At the same time, every evening I've added 5ml of peroxide (65g tank).
Note I did not alter lighting or feeding schedule. As previously I was running GFO.
During week 1 and 2 the algae continued to spread and frustration and worry set in, but decided to continue.
Tomorrow will be week 5. All hair algae is gone. Phosphates at 0.01ppm. There is 1 small and very dying patch of bryopsis left. Corals are looking fantastic, especially zoas and palys. Skimmer is not filling as much but is filling with a dark oily ichor that smells as good as it looks. Water is crystal clear. And I've actually seem to have maintained growth throughout.
Plan on continuing GFO, dosing 1ml morning vodka, and 5ml peroxide with each water change.
Figured I'd share for anyone interested.
