Corals from a bubble-algae infested tank?

[Jon Fishman]

Long story short, I get a message saying someone is tearing down their tank because it is overrun with bubble algae and all the coral is up for grabs.

I don’t have a quarantine setup, so is there any way I can dip/treat them to make them safe yo place in my tank, or is it not worth the risk?

If the corals don’t make it, as long as they don’t affect what is already in my tank, I’m fine with that, but the last thing I want is a wreck of a tank since my tank, although newer, is pest free right now.

 

[Dom]

IMO I would never take anything without QT.

 

[Jon Fishman]

IMO I would never take anything without QT.

How long do you qt coral?

 

[1MCp]

Might not be the same situation, but I had some emerald crabs in my frag tank, they would eat any bubble algae that I brought home from frag buys and swaps. If you had maybe a separate tank or even try to place some emeral crabs with the bunch of corals in a bucket they may naturally solve the problem for you.

The person shutting down the tank might not have had luck with his tank even if he had emeral crabs because they had other sources of food.

Just my two cents. I wouldn't call bubble algae a huge risk though if it was a really nice coral like some gold hammer or torches, I would also imagine there are dips for those types of pests.

 

[lapin]

You will get the bubbles if you place them in your tank without first getting rid of the bubbles.
Next question
How to get rid of bubble algae on corals?
Qt tank and Vibrant might work or remove from what its attached to. Peroxide will work but you must be sure the coal can survive it.

 

[Dom]

How long do you qt coral?

Check out this post:
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/coral-invert-quarantine-time-frames.334584/

I typically will do 30 days.

 

[Jon Fishman]

That’s what I’m hoping...... some type of dip etc. He’s a friend of my girlfriend’s father.... he just reached out to him to see if anyone wanted it, as it was his only salty tank and he is sticking to fresh now, so he’s not a random craigslist guy selling everything off.

I was told “leathers, zoas, a couple torches, a candy cane colony with >12 heads and ‘a bunch more’ “. It’s all free..... I just gotta decide if it’s worth risking algae. I had bubble-algae before and got rid of it, but I had a lot less in the tank at that time

 

[DangerDave]

That’s what I’m hoping...... some type of dip etc. He’s a friend of my girlfriend’s father.... he just reached out to him to see if anyone wanted it, as it was his only salty tank and he is sticking to fresh now, so he’s not a random craigslist guy selling everything off.

I was told “leathers, zoas, a couple torches, a candy cane colony with >12 heads and ‘a bunch more’ “. It’s all free..... I just gotta decide if it’s worth risking algae. I had bubble-algae before and got rid of it, but I had a lot less in the tank at that time

I say take it. Dip, clean them up and you’ll be fine.

 

[Jon Fishman]

I say take it. Dip, clean them up and you’ll be fine.

What dip should I use?

Should I freshwater dip too?

 

[Fourstars]

Bubble algea is not a STD. It’s just a type of algea. Your fiend is infested with an out of balance tank with to much nutrients. Just scrape the plug and swab with H2O2.

 

[DangerDave]

I like coral pro. If possible I would remove from whatever plug/rock they’re on and remount. If there was any bubble algae on their skeletons, I would scrape it off and brush with H2O2.

 

[Jon Fishman]

Ok. Thanks guys. I will scrape, dip H2O2 and drop and observe them. I can always take them back out and re-treat I guess.

I do have 5-6 curious emeralds already

 

[DangerDave]

Careful with dipping in h2o2. Only some corals can stand it. Its safer to brush where you scraped the algae off with h2o2.

 

[Fourstars]

If it’s attached to a rather large piece of liverock, scape the rock, and then dip the entire rock. Run you skimmer wet for a while.