How do you get rid of bubble algae?

[MadCityReefer]

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.

There isn't anything wrong with your system, if you have bubble algae it's because it got accidently introduced into your tank.

 

[NanaReefer]

There isn't anything wrong with your system, if you have bubble algae it's because it got accidently introduced into your tank.

Agreed! Definitely nothing wrong with your tank if BA is present. One of the few algae that don't depend on high nutrients to thrive

 

[mfinn]

Yeah, but it's a eyesore

 

[NanaReefer]

Yeah, but it's a eyesore

That it is!

 

[Watkinsdan]

I have 4 emerald crabs that haven't touched the bubble alge. I got it free on my live rock from a lfs. I thought it would turn into something cool when I saw it. When it started spreading I asked the guy at the lfs what it was. He said get a emerald crab and it will be gone but its still spreading and the bubbles are getting bigger. Now he says to pull the rock out and scrape it with a screwdriver. Is this a good idea or not?

 

[redfishbluefish]

Unfortunately I can't remember where I saw this (to give credit to that person), but make a simple bubble algae wand to remove the miscreant algae.

The wand is simply a piece of rigid tubing (say 1/4 inch ID) to a length to reach the bottom of your tank, and attached this to a piece of vinyl tubing. When doing a water change (or having extra saltwater at the ready), start a siphon with this wand and start popping and sucking out the algae. The thought is that the siphon will take the algae along with the spores. Makes sense on paper anyway. You can cut the end of the rigid tubing at an angle to give it a point to help dislodge or pop the algae.

 

[Watkinsdan]

Unfortunately I can't remember where I saw this (to give credit to that person), but make a simple bubble algae wand to remove the miscreant algae.

The wand is simply a piece of rigid tubing (say 1/4 inch ID) to a length to reach the bottom of your tank, and attached this to a piece of vinyl tubing. When doing a water change (or having extra saltwater at the ready), start a siphon with this wand and start popping and sucking out the algae. The thought is that the siphon will take the algae along with the spores. Makes sense on paper anyway. You can cut the end of the rigid tubing at an angle to give it a point to help dislodge or pop the algae.

Doing a water change in a couple days. I will give that a shot thanks for the tip.

 

[SantaMonicaHelp]

It's an eyesore all right but it can definitely be removed!

~CI

 

[darron863]

+1 on the rigid tubing have to be meticulous on getting every bubble. Bubble algae can grow in very low light. Just got done with a three month battle. GFO to keep phosphates low, lower red LEDs or change bulbs, weekly water changes with a siphon hose. Stay on top of it and good luck.

 

[Longnose Hawkfish]

If your tanks big enough, a foxface will do the trick.

 

[N1Husker]

I have had many emerald crabs and not one has touched any of my zoas. I had one that mowed down my green hair algae, but I have never seen them go after bubble algae or my corals.

 

[JasPR]

Mad City has it right and is thinking outside the box -- literally--- the remedy is one of 'wearing down' the undesirable. the UV is a limited tool in aquariums and is certainly marketed WRONG! its sold as an effective way to kill parasites and bacteria. Good luck on that! but as a control of algae it is a great tool! in the case of bubble, the spore are the NEXT generation and the source for numbers. spore traveling thru UV will be killed to their cellular wall will be so disrupted that it will die after passing. Then the Protein skimmer will remove the damaged cells.

 

[lisawolk]

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

The emerald crab more than likely will eat the algae surrounding the zoa but if there is ample food they shouldn't eat the polyps.

 

[lisawolk]

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

It's hit or miss with the crabs. I just picked one up and I haven't seen him since I put him in the tank & I still have the bubble algae.

 

[JasPR]

its a very nice idea to believe all closed system problems can be solved using beneficial species. and sometimes it works-- but in isolated cases and only under certain circumstances. in truth, most clean up crews, tangs and others are at best, opportunistic species that will happily feed on fish food and left over frozen food bits fed to the rest of the population. In these cases you really need to starve them so that they will do the wishful grazing you hope for.. and that-- is not possible with other species in the talk that need to also be fed the 'good stuff'

 

[Dr.Pat]

RED SEA Desjardini tangs have been reported to eat bubble algae

 

[Dr.Pat]

see below

 

[Dr.Pat]

s a very nice idea to believe all closed system problems can be solved using beneficial species. and sometimes it works-- but in isolated cases and only under certain circumstances. in truth, most clean up crews, tangs and others are at best, opportunistic species that will happily feed on fish food a

while that statement is true, tangs in particularly have a higher metabolic rate that other fish and tend to graze all day.Mithrax seem to be less predictable for controling val. but are often more active at night

 

[cloak]

I got rid of mine by removing as much as I could right before a water change. Popping them was of no concern. What I can remove in 5 minutes and what an emerald crab can do in a month are two different stories. (fish might not apply) The only reason why bubble algae is a problem is because the owner let it become that way IMO.. Stay ahead of it... GL.

 

[mfinn]

RED SEA Desjardini tangs have been reported to eat bubble algae

where did you see this?