Qasimja
Valuable Member
whats a good method to get rid of bubble algae? i neglected the maintenance on my nano tank and now its being overrun by it gonna do some water changes and suck some up as best i can but any other tips will be appreciated
bubble algae
- Thread starter Qasimja
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AydenLincoln
Pufferfish lover!
Hydrogen Peroxide dip and Vibrant!
I wouldn't recommend vibrant. I had bubble algae and after I got some caulerpa prolifera it sucked the nutrients from it. Caulerpa will help prevent all kinds of algae. As to critters you can try emerald crabs and urchins.
I have a really small pincushion urchin, he's about a dollar coin size and I have him in a five gallon. He's chomped a good bit of bubble algae
before you get one just know urchins do like to move stuff including frags and rubble
907_Reefer
2500 Club Member
Following, have bubble algea in my tank as well. My research so far here shows mixed reviews on Vibrant, no experience myself but have seen some say "it worked great but took the tank a year to recover".
I'm OTW to the LFS for some Emerald Crabs, Foxface Rabbitfish are supposedly good also but won't help in your nano of course.
One other tip I've seen is to have the LFS sex the emerald crabs and take females only.
I'm OTW to the LFS for some Emerald Crabs, Foxface Rabbitfish are supposedly good also but won't help in your nano of course.
One other tip I've seen is to have the LFS sex the emerald crabs and take females only.
AydenLincoln
Pufferfish lover!
I’ve definitely heard mixed things. Dosing any type of strong chemical or additives does come with some risk.
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Have you ever used vibrant in your reef?
Pic of tank, tank size?
May just be as easy as cleaning it off out of the tank with some old tank water and a tooth brush. Then a little directed h2o2 via a makeup brush, rinse and put back in the tank.
BA is one of the easiest algae to deal with IMO. Busting and spreading spores is a myth, it’s the pieces that do not get removed that spread it.
Yeah bro I wouldn't use Vibrant
Sweet! keep an eye on the emeralds if you get them, sometimes emeralds can be weird
Urchins have their pros and cons but I got one and am very happy with the little guy
I was scared he'd move too much stuff but I give him shells to hide under and he's been happy with them
EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal
Just another girl who likes fish
Thank you for saying this! Was about to post it myself
907_Reefer
2500 Club Member
Yeah bro I wouldn't use Vibrant
Sweet! keep an eye on the emeralds if you get them, sometimes emeralds can be weird
Urchins have their pros and cons but I got one and am very happy with the little guy
Definitely not using Vibrant here. Will pick/siphon it out first. I did find this cool tool (courtesy of another thread here) to help with siphoning, if the crabs dont do the job!
Bubble Algae Removal Tool V2
My personal 3D printed bubble algae removal tool V2: New Handle, bigger opening for larger bubble algae, stronger tip to prevent breaking off while digging into rocks and new barb fitting inside the tool Tool: One bubble algae removal tool 1/2" Barb fitting Tube Holder: Tube Holder V2 Full...
fishofhex.com
Otherwise not opposed to an Urchin. In our last tank, it was pretty hilarious to watch our Halloween urchin redecorate hehe
AydenLincoln
Pufferfish lover!
I have not and I wouldn’t because I have a starfish and it would make me nervous. I have used Microbacter which is less aggressive. I just use hydrogen peroxide to get rid of it. There’s been mixed things released and said about the actual ingredients.
Lavey29
10K Club member
Little pitho crabs huh? Have you tried them with success?
A Yeti cup stainless steel straw, some small hose and a bucket is also a nice cheap DIY was to make a rock scraper. It siphons as you scrape. This can also be used to remove tons of other things, like zoas, xenia and cloves. Of course, start a siphon before scraping and if you break the siphon, do not use your mouth to start it again after scraping the rocks.Definitely not using Vibrant here. Will pick/siphon it out first. I did find this cool tool (courtesy of another thread here) to help with siphoning, if the crabs dont do the job!
Bubble Algae Removal Tool V2
My personal 3D printed bubble algae removal tool V2: New Handle, bigger opening for larger bubble algae, stronger tip to prevent breaking off while digging into rocks and new barb fitting inside the tool Tool: One bubble algae removal tool 1/2" Barb fitting Tube Holder: Tube Holder V2 Full...
Otherwise not opposed to an Urchin. In our last tank, it was pretty hilarious to watch our Halloween urchin redecorate hehe
907_Reefer
2500 Club Member
That's probably a good point to emphasize lol.
CoralB
5000 Club Member
Did you say va va va vibrant ??? Must have been auto correct that printed that when you were really saying “borrow a foxface rabbit fish “ auto incorrect does that to me all the time lol!!! 
CoralB
5000 Club Member
Every creature that eats it can be hit or miss .
AydenLincoln
Pufferfish lover!
I mean I definitely went with additives but animals work too but I’m not sure how big the tank is! For me I couldn’t/wouldn’t want to add a big fish to my nano.
