Bad Bubble Algae

[nuggetsgotmilk]

I currently have two tanks running and have one major problem. Lots and lots of bubble algae. I made the mistake of moving some live rock between the two tanks and now I have it in both tanks. From what I have read their is no true solution but does anyone have some ideas? Btw its a 65 Red Sea and a 28 Nano cube. Thanks, Ben

 

[donniea1800]

I have it pretty bad in my 50 gallon as well. Sometimes emerald crabs will eat it but sometimes they won't. The best way I have dealt with it is manual removal. Yes it's hard work but I do as much as I can every week during my water changes and I am starting to make a dent. Get a length of rigid airline tubing and cut one end to make a point or sharp end. Attach soft airline tubing to the rigid and now you have a small siphon. Start the siphon and start picking away at it. The siphon should pick up any spores if any gets popped, and will suck up the smaller pieces. The bigger peices will stick to the siphon and you can grab them off. Plus you can work for a long time without pulling too much water. Hope this helps.

 

[gregoryleonard]

Naso Tang did it for me-4" or larger. IMHO.

nuggetsgotmilk;901461 wrote: I currently have two tanks running and have one major problem. Lots and lots of bubble algae. I made the mistake of moving some live rock between the two tanks and now I have it in both tanks. From what I have read their is no true solution but does anyone have some ideas? Btw its a 65 Red Sea and a 28 Nano cube. Thanks, Ben

 

[stacy22]

gregoryleonard;901512 wrote: Naso Tang did it for me-4" or larger. IMHO.

Not a good idea for a Red Sea 65 or a 38g Biocube.

Manual removal is your best bet. Some Mithrix</em> crabs will eat it.

 

[mcphock]

I have a few emeralds to keep my small population under control. Be aware that just like any other biological solution, some individuals will eat it, some will pick at it, some will ignore it. Unless you get a particularly ambitious crab, it is by no means a solution.

I second the airline tubing idea. Although, it is about impossible to rid it from your system. There will always be some on the underside or back of your rocks that you don't see. Diligence should substantially reduce it though.

 

[kirkwood]

I stumbled across a very unique natural way to get rid of bubble algae, but it takes patience.

To preface, this is for a 120gal. Anyway, I feed Elos pellets only NO frozen food in order to keep PO4 at a minimum. I started adding 2 emeralds a week until I had a total of 8. All the while I began dosing Seachem Fuel at 20% the recommended dosage and then bumped it up to 50% the recommended dosage after 2-3 weeks. Well the Fuel led to an outbreak of Cyano and the cyano covered over many areas of Bubble Algae. AFter a couple weeks of the bubble being covered by the cyano I could peel the cyano away and the bubble would literally fall off.. Basically not only was the Cyano outcompeting the bubble for nutrients, but the cyano also seemed to block out all light from the bubble. As I continued to remove the bubble, the emeralds were also doing their job by removing it in hard to reach crack and crevices... After about 3 months I have minimal visible bubble and the cyano is disappearing as my corals have become more proficient at taking up the aminos in the Fuel. I will continue using the Fuel as I have seen benefits with my z/ps and SPS.

PM me if you want any more details..

 

[nickh06]

Fight algae with algae? That's using your head! I would much rather deal with cyano than bubble. Nice!

I had one bubble in my 55 and I got it out asap. Haven't seen one since.

 

[w_hartyjr]

I would agree with the emerald crab idea,but it would several to clean a whole tank. Then they would starve afterwards. Also if you have any snails,be very careful the emeralds will also eat them. I have also heard of several people "choking" it out with other types of algae. I would vote for a combo of all of the above and keep a close eye on all levels and populations of all crabs and snails. Be ready to pull them out if levels spike and do lots of water changes

 

[snowmansnow]

nah those emerald crabs will eat anything. they won't starve after the bubble algae is gone

 

[nuggetsgotmilk]

Thanks for the input everybody! I picked up a few emerald crabs and have mostly done manuel work to decrease the amount. It has made a large difference but i'm sure I will have this problem for a while.

 

[shanepike]

Talking with Jef4y one day, he made a great point: He has never seen a real reef without very noticeable algae. For the most part, the things we do to feed our corals also feed algae. The best we can do is keep it under control. Even Jorge's gorgeous 400g at Pure Reef has had some super size patches of bubble algae.

Obviously you don't want it taking over as it sounds like it might have been doing in your tank, but it's okay if you don't completely wipe it out either.

 

[racinrevo0818]

Just don't let the emerald crap eat any high dollar chalices!!!