Help With Bubble Algae

[sundog101]

I've been dealing with bubble algae in my biocube for a while and cant seem to figure it out. It's really the only algae in my tank. Im trying to starve it out and with an algae scrubber my nitrate and phosphate are 0. It just won't go away. I read that manual removal is best, but I'm kinda past that point (it's pretty bad). I'll remove as much as I can and it comes right back. I don't know what else to try so any advice would be appreciated. Thanks!

 

[DamianOZ]

Are you referring to Cyanobacteria? bubble algae is much slower growing, your comments make me think your referring to bacteria

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Bubble algae (valonia) is one of the pest species of algae that is not readily inhibited by low nutrients before corals and other organisms we want to keep.

Consequently, manual removal and consumption by organisms are the main ways to deal with it.

 

[rcreef7]

Get some emerald crabs they will eat the bubbles

 

[Lilly45nano]

If you break them when removing them that would explain the inability to get rid of them I had to take the rocks out to remove them!
Most tanks have at least a small measurable amount of both nitrate and Phos. Make sure the tests are not out of date and that you are performing them exactly as instructed . Can you post a pic of the tank? If I see any now in my tank I will wait until they are large enough to pop off ,albeit VERY carefully

 

[sundog101]

Here's a photo. It's really hard to see with the actinic light though. I'll get a better picture this evening.

I've tried emerald crabs but they started to eat my toadstool coral. Also they got aggressive towards my fish. Are the red minthrax crabs about the same?

 

[sundog101]

Are you referring to Cyanobacteria? bubble algae is much slower growing, your comments make me think your referring to bacteria

Yes it's bubble algae, but it grows like cyano. The large ones are easy to remove but it's hard to get the clusters without popping some. I'll just have to be really careful.

 

[DamianOZ]

Yes, they are a bugger to get rid of, removal is the only method I know of.

 

[Lilly45nano]

I wouldn't get a emerald crab ....they tend to eat bubble algae only when VERY hungry and they knock things over all the time looking for food. :mad: Just need to continue picking them out....be very careful not to Pop them.
Have to try and lower phosphates....I really like Chem Pure Blue...works really well...do you run a skimmer?

Very nice tank BTW

 

[sundog101]

Very nice tank BTW

Thanks!

Has anyone tried lights out?

 

[Lilly45nano]

I've done lights out tank covered for 3 days....works good on hair algae