Bubble algae issues (for a while now)

[Hats_]

I have been dealing with a bubble algae problem for nearly half a year now. It started slowly when i noticed it on a frag (pulled it and cleaned with h2o2). After cleaning it kept coming back eventually and at one point it was suddenly on all rocks and growing like mad. So i did a couple of manual removal sessions, removing up to 200ml of pure bubble algae about every month... I tried mithrax crabs but they didnt do much and eventually started to eat at my lps so i pulled them out and got a foxface. within 3 days he had eaten all of the bubble algae that i could see and i was overjoyed. then the foxface started eating lps too, killing my hydnophora overnight, so i pulled and sold him. Now the algae is starting to come back again and i have a feeling that my purple tang is eating some of it since it isnt growing as fast as it did before but it is still there.

what would you do in my position, i am very hesitant on buying new animals to take care of it because of the issue of them eventually eating my corals again. also every time you add a fish there is the chance of introduction of diseases and parasites.

 

[Quietman]

I used Vibrant very successfully for BA. It got a bad rap for claiming excessively broad success but a lot folks reported a lot of success...excessively. Anyways, it worked great for my BA at about 1/2 dose. Didn't do anything for anything else, but for BA I was very happy. Took maybe a week or so (been a while), and never came back until I brought in new frag with some on it. Another quick 1/2 dose and gone again and haven't seen any since.

I've heard that Vibrant is similar to other products, wouldn't know about them, but suspect others will work similar.

If you're not into the whole algaecide/chemical treatment issue and don't want anymore livestock then I'd start learning to appreciate the beauty of bubble algae.

 

[Hats_]

I used Vibrant very successfully for BA. It got a bad rap for claiming excessively broad success but a lot folks reported a lot of success...excessively. Anyways, it worked great for my BA at about 1/2 dose. Didn't do anything for anything else, but for BA I was very happy. Took maybe a week or so (been a while), and never came back until I brought in new frag with some on it. Another quick 1/2 dose and gone again and haven't seen any since.

I've heard that Vibrant is similar to other products, wouldn't know about them, but suspect others will work similar.

If you're not into the whole algaecide/chemical treatment issue and don't want anymore livestock then I'd start learning to appreciate the beauty of bubble algae.

i was at that point to just let it be haha but now its growing on my acans and in between zoas, causing stress so i do want to get rid of it. I have read a lot about Vibrant, can i ask what you keep in your tank?

 

[Quietman]

i was at that point to just let it be haha but now its growing on my acans and in between zoas, causing stress so i do want to get rid of it. I have read a lot about Vibrant, can i ask what you keep in your tank?

Back when I used it? Mixed - SPS/LPS. Now I'm all Softie (mostly) with some LPS.

 

[Hats_]

Back when I used it? Mixed - SPS/LPS. Now I'm all Softie (mostly) with some LPS.

thx, might as well give it a go i guess, whats the worst that can happen?

 

[Rick's Reviews]

I think my 9watt £30 uv filter sorted mine out but my aquarium and filters was cleaned weekly , I did not add cuc

 

[Hats_]

I think my 9watt £30 uv filter sorted mine out but my aquarium and filters was cleaned weekly , I did not add cuc

really? uvc works against bubble algae? so just manual removal and uvc?

 

[Rick's Reviews]

really? uvc works against bubble algae? so just manual removal and uvc?

thats what helped my aquriam during my cycle, not a cuc, these guys have to small of stomachs to be able to eat it all

 

[Rick's Reviews]

really? uvc works against bubble algae? so just manual removal and uvc?

Share some pictures and maybe others will help

 

[Hats_]

there's a lot... i sincerely doubt uvc can dent this one

 

[Rick's Reviews]

Not really, I've seen worst, just for basics turn down your white lighting, just scrub your rocks from left to right or furthest away from your filters, general maintenance is key, your cuc can only do so much

 

[JoJosReef]

That stuff is the worst.

So are you saying running UV works while manually removing? Is this by killing off whatever gametes/spores/whatever is released when they pop? I know there is debate about what happens when they pop.

 

[Hats_]

Not really, I've seen worst, just for basics turn down your white lighting, just scrub your rocks from left to right or furthest away from your filters, general maintenance is key, your cuc can only do so much

i mean, i did that in the beginning and like i said within 2 or 3 weeks its back in full force. i wanna get rid of it permanently

 

[Jason boles]

my experience:

I just let the Bubble algae grow where it is. If it bothers a coral I remove it. For me they will grow really large “colonies” and if I’m bothered I will remove them from time to time.

I also like my chalices to grow over them. They slightly compete but the chalice inevitably wins. Makes them more colorful.

if your algae is growing back so fast then it could be a nutrient input / removal issue. Takes my bubble algae months to get back to a sizeable amount, and it’s never bothered a coral.

I personally believe it to be impossible to remove most of these things, and from my experience my I do more harm attempting to remove them than if I were to just leave them be.

I’m also betting as my coralline takes off it will also kick it down a notch.

my 2 cents.

 

[Rick's Reviews]

i mean, i did that in the beginning and like i said within 2 or 3 weeks its back in full force. i wanna get rid of it permanently

Just like this conversation, you have to persevere, only way to manage algae is by manual removed, thousands of reef keepers could advise Thier hints/ tips and tricks but honestly if you don't master the basics, not many can help as it's 'your aquriam '

 

[Hats_]

Right, so thinking no harm no foul, i turned on the uvc and did a run through the aquarium again, peeling off and sucking out all the bubble algae i could find. fingers crossed. if it just keeps on growing i may give vibrant a go.
would you all recommend running the uv 24/7 or? its currently flowing at about 10% total water volume per hour

 

[Hats_]

right, uvc made no difference... i want to eradicate it completely now, any suggestions on what products and treatments are welcome... its either that or another fox face but those are like 70 euros over here which is a lot for a fish that i dont even like the look of

 

[doubleshot00]

right, uvc made no difference... i want to eradicate it completely now, any suggestions on what products and treatments are welcome... its either that or another fox face but those are like 70 euros over here which is a lot for a fish that i dont even like the look of

My FF doesn’t touch BA. Emerald crabs di work but you will need a lot maybe 10-20 as you have a lot.

 

[AZReef13]

When I had an out break with Bubble Algae, I Used Vibrant, along with Manual removal, and adding PODs.

It took some time but eventually I was able to remove it. It was a Mixed LPS/SPS tank

 

[Hats_]

My FF doesn’t touch BA. Emerald crabs di work but you will need a lot maybe 10-20 as you have a lot.

i dont have that kind of money laying around unfortunately, that would total up to 400 bucks for crabs...