Bubble Algae Remedies

john.m.cole3 · Nov 28, 2016

I've heard that emerald crabs will eat this stuff but I don't like crabs. They ate most of my snails before, so no crabs.

Manual removal is a partial option that I have been using for a week now. I can't get to all the little crevices this algae forms on. Most of the time I accidentally break a bubble and don't actually remove it.

Vibrant???

Any fish that would help rid me of this algae?

Or stay patient, control nutrients, and stay patient?

Psiber_Syn · Nov 28, 2016

Following

tautog83 · Nov 28, 2016

well before all this vibrant thing , i had bubble algae(and still do) and to be honest it got me real mad . so i bought 9 emerald crabs for 2.50 each and within a month or 2 they cleared my whole tank of it. i say i still have it because it grows on my overflow and on my pumps but i can guarantee you wont find one piece on any rock . Some people have massive infestations but i didnt have anything crazy but just the small green guys that were in tight clumps scattered about the tank . as far as negative effects with the crabs , i dont really have any besides them knocking stuff over on occasion . As far as the snails, im pretty sure you would have more snail deaths with hermit crabs(useless) than emerald crabs thats for sure . I only have 2 big turbo snails in my whole 80 gallon with about 4-5 astreas and 6-8 ceriths and 5 big nassarius that are all almost 2 years old . i didnt even think they live that long but they are still trucking . so as far getting worried about the emeralds eating them i really dont think you have much to worry about . I mean thats just my story i dont have a heavily stocked tank and now with people having success with vibrant it might be the easier route for you .

BigKid4788 · Nov 28, 2016

My suggestion would be crabs. If you are opposed to crabs I would remove them manually. How large is your aquarium? I have filled a Rubbermaid garbage container full of saltwater so I could pull the rock out and manually pull the remaining bubble algae off the rock. You can pop the other algae and rinse off in the Rubbermaid container. That will make sure you don't release all the spires back into your display tank. I have done This and it seems to have done the job.
My .02