How do you get rid of bubble algae?

newlyreefd · Sep 25, 2014

I have some bubble algae on one of my zoa frags. It's only on the frag atm. No where else. I think it came in on the frag. Well how do I get it off the frag w/o it spreading? Thanks.

Dave

Randy Holmes-Farley · Sep 25, 2014

Manual removal would be easiest.

Remove the whole frag to some salt water and pick off the bubbles with some sort of tool, toothpick, etc.

Dan_k · Sep 25, 2014

I have couple on my rocks maybe 2-3 in the whole tank what causes this and if the cause was to be changed or fixed would they go away on there own?
I would hate to pop them and end up with more

NanaReefer · Sep 25, 2014

Agree with Randy. If you can't remove the rock, during a WC, use the siphon hose to scrape them off. This will remove the bubbles and any spores if they should break. Make sure all other flow is turned off before hand.
Good luck and remember, persistence is key

Randy Holmes-Farley · Sep 25, 2014

Dan_k said:
I have couple on my rocks maybe 2-3 in the whole tank what causes this and if the cause was to be changed or fixed would they go away on there own?
I would hate to pop them and end up with more

It is very hard to defeat valonia (bubble algae) by reducing nutrients or in any other way that does not involve physical removal by you or another organism that eats them.

fishroomlady · Sep 25, 2014

the only way I can think of to prevent is to try and not introduce it - however, I think that is a very hard task to prevent having some here and there. It's really pretty easy to manually remove it. They usually scrape off as a group.

cope413 · Sep 25, 2014

Emerald crabs are generally pretty helpful when it comes to bubble algae. I had an issue about 6 months ago. Picked up 2 emeralds and it was all gone in about a week. Haven't seen it since

newlyreefd · Sep 26, 2014

cope413 said:
Emerald crabs are generally pretty helpful when it comes to bubble algae. I had an issue about 6 months ago. Picked up 2 emeralds and it was all gone in about a week. Haven't seen it since

Well mine are on my Fruit loop zoa frag. I would hate for the emerald crab to get a taste of zoa and go all crazy on my garden. lol

Dan_k · Sep 26, 2014

cope413 said:
Emerald crabs are generally pretty helpful when it comes to bubble algae. I had an issue about 6 months ago. Picked up 2 emeralds and it was all gone in about a week. Haven't seen it since

I thought I saw somewhere that crabs will break the bubble allowing spores to go all over creating more bubble alge
If crabs work I'm all for it

Reefing Madness · Sep 26, 2014

[video=youtube;MeqtPe3XukM]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MeqtPe3XukM[/video]

cope413 · Sep 26, 2014

Crabs turn on coral if they don't have enough food. I have a pretty clean tank and my two crabs haven't touch any of my zoas or other softies.

moulton712 · Sep 26, 2014

Once you have it, you are stuck. Sometimes frags will have a spore and spread from there. Once you have it you must stay on top of removal, it will spread like wild fire if not kept in check.

erk · Sep 27, 2014

I have valonia in places around my tank. It has slowly spread around, but for the most part isn't out of control. The first emerald crab I got turned on my coral, could have been a different type of crab though. The second one started eating valonia then fell over dead after a couple days. I will probably give another crab a chance but if it doesn't work I'll go back to manual removal of what I can reach.

McolonReefAddict · Sep 27, 2014

Oddly enough I was lucky with removing about 95% of mine. Now is just a matter of controlling is population. Persistence is key. The crazy thing for me is that my yellow tang eats the bubbles. Not sure if its a natural thing for the tang but I'm not complaining. He picks at the small bubbles and I manually remove the larger ones. I'm pretty sure he's the reason it keeps coming back lol. But its free food for him so it's all good.

ethridge78 · Sep 27, 2014

Same as above manual removal and control from now on.

MadCityReefer · Sep 28, 2014

A proven method of eliminating and controlling bubble algae. UV sterilizer, emerald crabs and manual removal has always worked for me.

mfinn · Sep 28, 2014

MadCityReefer said:
A proven method of eliminating and controlling bubble algae. UV sterilizer, emerald crabs and manual removal has always worked for me.

I have not heard of using a UV sterilizer before.
Where did you hear about this method?

NanaReefer · Sep 28, 2014

mfinn said:
I have not heard of using a UV sterilizer before.
Where did you hear about this method?

Me either. The bubbles would have to be free floating. Unless something is in the tank going around popping them, a UV would be useless against BA, right?

slowtoken77 · Sep 28, 2014

I've heard emerald crabs do a good job. But there's something wrong with your system if you have it. Crabs will help control it. But you got to fix the problem also.

MadCityReefer · Sep 29, 2014

mfinn said:
I have not heard of using a UV sterilizer before.
Where did you hear about this method?

I did not hear from anyone, I've kept saltwater tanks for 20+ years so I learned it from experience. It only makes sense, say you manually pop the bubble algae or an Emerald crab pops the bubble algae what have you either way what do you get? free floating spores. So you need to kill the spores...BOOM! UV sterilizer. I have personally eradicated 3 tanks of bubble algae. Give it a shot it works!!! :thumb: