My ReefHD Reef Flux Cleanup Attempt

dbraun15 · Jan 29, 2019

My tank has a semi-crash last June when I was on vacation as my S. mertensii anemone decided to walk into a Vortech killing 16 fish, all except my clownfish. I was devastated and have done virtually nothing to the tank since. Bubble Algae, Green Cyano, Green Hair Algae, Bryopsis, Aiptasia, and some unknown algae have taken hold without any maintenance. I have looked into Vibrant and the thread on Reef Flux caught my attention—so I ordered a couple bottles on Amazon to give a try and see if I can make this tank a comeback story. I am attaching pictures that I took today before adding the Reef Flux and will document my findings. Pics are not pretty...but hoping this is the first step to me enjoying my tank again. Amazingly, most of the soft corals and anemones have been unaffected, just don’t like all the pests. Wish me luck and Enjoy the ride!

virtual reality · Jan 29, 2019

I will follow along just to see what happens. Good Luck to you.

Sir Chris · Feb 16, 2019

This is a good test subject. Having bubble and bruopsis but killed the bryopsis this will be the worst pain until you decide to break it down.
I feel stress will be to large thinking you’ll win just from my personal experience.

The upside is no life so feed to rise the PO4.
I’m following to see this and should be a nice result. Try vibrant also but fluco should kill a lot of that green surprisingly well but not ALL bubble causing it to come back unless PO4 is delt with to stop them feeding to grow.

With no life to feeding this should be interesting.

Sir Chris · Feb 16, 2019

Idk how I missed the leathers and nem..
well then a low feed test so scratch the no feed....

Green turf algae is one unknown and a new parasitical algae that grows in the substrate so can’t be pulled. You have a lot of variations
was like it wasn’t imbedded in the plugs and had to change the plugs to remove it and feel good.

ReefguyEric · Feb 16, 2019

Any updates curious to see how it’s going

dbraun15 · Feb 17, 2019

Thanks for following along...I’m sorry I haven’t updated...I got in the tank a good bit today—did the same last weekend as well. The bubble algae has started to turn white and the holdfast have gotten easier to remove. I recommend the product for what’s it’s done to this point. My snails have seemed to make a dent as the algae is dying. I removed 10 gallons of water today(sucking out the dislodged bubble algae) and returned the water back thru a net to remove the algae. I’ll let the pics speak for themselves...the product hasn’t done all the work, as I’ve put some elbow grease in to make the transition. I will follow the directions and do a large(approx 60 gallon) water change next week as it will be the 3 week mark. Let me know what you think! The first pic is all bubble algae!! Corals/nems have been unaffected.

Sir Chris · Feb 18, 2019

That’s some dedicated bubble pulling!! I would get through my frags and get aggravated.

Is that a legit over an inch thick 4 inch bowl of bubbles? How long was that session?

I did a water change but medicated the water. It also destroyed my refuge algae adding nitrates to fuel after meds were removed. I feel it’s ment for what your doing. Injuries the plants ability to grow so a 2nd source can do work. Sailfin tang and hands. Maybe... some emeralds to polish the hard to get but never do but sailfins love it oddly.

dbraun15 · Feb 18, 2019

Lord Chris said:
That’s some dedicated bubble pulling!! I would get through my frags and get aggravated.

Is that a legit over an inch thick 4 inch bowl of bubbles? How long was that session?

I did a water change but medicated the water. It also destroyed my refuge algae adding nitrates to fuel after meds were removed. I feel it’s ment for what your doing. Injuries the plants ability to grow so a 2nd source can do work. Sailfin tang and hands. Maybe... some emeralds to polish the hard to get but never do but sailfins love it oddly.

Yep...that's not all of it either. This took about an hour. I did find a dead spot in the back of the tank that the bubble algae seems to be settling in...makes it easier for now, but will need to address that issue once the algae is removed. I only have some Mexican turbos, astreas, and a few hermits...stocking up on the clean up crew will be next. Also, I have heard many state that their Naso Tang has a field day with bubble algae, so that could also be a possibility.