Bubble Algae Outbreak

[Terry Mattson]

I have a bubble algea out break. It came on a snail. Been using vibrant but is not working. Tank is a red sea 350. About 91 total gallions. The reef is doing extremely well. LPS, mushrooms, clam, goniopora, and zoas. Fish are 2 fire fish, 2 pajama cardinals, 2 pairs of clowns, diamond goby, mandarin, and purple dotty back. SG 1.026, ph 8.1, p04 .03 to .05, nitrates 2ppm, iodine .06, Calcium 420, dkh 8 to 8.5, and magnesium 1350. Equipment: heater, protein skimmer, refugium what the heck a h380 light, reactor with gfo and run a little carbon. Water is clear. Lights are 2 hd26 LEDs. My reef is very much glued together making rock removal a desaster. All coral is growing. The bubble algae is not impacting any coals yet but is spreading. What are my options? Thanks reading community....

 

[TexasReefer82]

How long have you been using Vibrant? It works but it's slow. I'd continue with vibrant - it'll take several doses and a couple months.

Also, urchins (tuxedo, Halloween) are great at destroying and eating bubble algae on any surface accessible to them. could also get a handful of mithrax crabs from reef cleaners.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Will take 3-4 weeks but Vibrant will do the job !!

 

[Terry Mattson]

Thanks, been using vibrant once a week for about 4 weeks. I dose 8ml. Figured after all the rocks and sand volume is 80 gallons from 91. Was thinking of tuxedo. Are they reef safe?

 

[Jeff Jarry reef]

My emerald crab had cleaned my bubble algea out
But I heard it was hit or miss.

 

[TexasReefer82]

Thanks, been using vibrant once a week for about 4 weeks. I dose 8ml. Figured after all the rocks and sand volume is 80 gallons from 91. Was thinking of tuxedo. Are they reef safe?

Yes those urchins that I mentioned are completely reef safe - they algae eaters.

Emerald crabs are indeed hit or miss. Honestly the couple of crabs that I have don't appear to eat it. I've heard that the emerald crabs that come from certain locales are good at eating it, and others are not. Those sold by Reef Cleaners are "guaranteed" to eat bubble algae so perhaps theirs are harvested from the right place.

 

[Jeff Jarry reef]

Yes those urchins that I mentioned are completely reef safe - they algae eaters.

Emerald crabs are indeed hit or miss. Honestly the couple of crabs that I have don't appear to eat it. I've heard that the emerald crabs that come from certain locales are good at eating it, and others are not. Those sold by Reef Cleaners are "guaranteed" to eat bubble algae so perhaps theirs are harvested from the right place.

I got mine from LA

 

[ruskimax]

Get yourself some Fluconazole son, best money you'll ever spend. Keep the lights bright, this definitely helps the Fluc work as its tied to metabolic rate. And just an observational suggestion, whenever my nitrates get below 10 or so seems like theres always a strange algae waiting to pop up.

 

[720 Reefer]

Thanks, been using vibrant once a week for about 4 weeks. I dose 8ml. Figured after all the rocks and sand volume is 80 gallons from 91. Was thinking of tuxedo. Are they reef safe?

Yes the tuxedo is reef safe. I have always heard emerald crabs are the best for bubble algae. Maybe try a couple emeralds and a tuxedo.

 

[Hallowhead]

I have an outbreak as well and I am going to start with an emerald crab and see what happens.

 

[Terry Mattson]

Thanks everyone.

 

[Carter's Reef]

I take a huge siphon cleaner and pry/pop them off the rocks. It usually sucks up anyhting it releases into the siphon and out of the tank.

 

[Vinman]

A good-sized Foxface will devour bubble algae plus they're a great addition to the tank seems like you have no grazers anyway every tank needs grazers

 

[Terry Mattson]

A good-sized Foxface will devour bubble algae plus they're a great addition to the tank seems like you have no grazers anyway every tank needs grazers

Are foxface safe with shrimp? I have 2. Blood and cleaner.

 

[JCOLE]

Following as I have bad bubble algae as well. How can I get some Fluconazole? I am going to try it natural with manual removal but if all else fails in a couple months then I might try Fluconazole.

Also, I have a foxface and emerald crabs but they do not touch it.

 

[sfin52]

Holy bubble batman. How about an urchin

 

[JCOLE]

Holy bubble batman. How about an urchin

Are Urchins a guaranteed thing for bubble algae? I have always steered clear because I heard they can be a bulldozer to corals.

 

[sfin52]

Yup they can and eat coraline as well.

 

[sfin52]

Pincushion would be a good one to look into.

 

[ruskimax]

Following as I have bad bubble algae as well. How can I get some Fluconazole? I am going to try it natural with manual removal but if all else fails in a couple months then I might try Fluconazole.

Also, I have a foxface and emerald crabs but they do not touch it.

Get some Reef Flux from BRS or Amazon. You won't regret it.