Noticed a few beads on a rock and then a bunch on the back of a trochus snail I have...Nowhere else. I removed the ones on the rock but I was thinking about letting the trochus just keep the new bling. I read it is pretty slow growing and can't outcompete corraline algae. Any problem with just keeping it? I don't think it's bothering anything.
Is Bubble Algae worth worrying about?
- Thread starter Budman93
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BanZI29
Still just a reefer noob!
Bubble algae can spread quickly and snuff out corals, especially if its on your snail. that will spreadit (if it hasn't already) REALLY fast and it will take over your rocks.
EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal
Just another girl who likes fish
I would remove what you can (unless you have a foxface that will eat it) but don't stress out about it in general. And contrary to the old wives tale that it will spread if you pop it in the tank, it won't, lol.
Fwiw, I have never seen coralline algae outcompete anything... maybe for nutrients but not for space in the tank.
EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal
Just another girl who likes fish
I have not found this to be the case. IME, bubble algae is by far the easiest "nuisance" algae to deal with (nuisance on quotes b/c some places sell it as a decorative macro).
Everyone's experience is different and there is certainly more than one variety of bubble algae in the hobby, but I'd still recommend against any drastic measures.
EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal
Just another girl who likes fish
Not true. Bubble algae is not affected significantly by flow. It can also grow in low nutrient environments... again, there is more than one variety in the hobby so that may account for the vastly differing experiences.
Give it to my GF she loves the stuff. We were in a lfs once that had some really large ones. She's says "hey that's pretty, you should some of that. I told her it was too expensive that's why the price wasn't marked 
I had some in one of my tanks and manual removal and a couple of emerald crabs that actually eat it did a good job of eliminating it. Mine really seem to thrive in nooks and crannies where waste would settle. Blowing rocks of more often has helped also.
I had some in one of my tanks and manual removal and a couple of emerald crabs that actually eat it did a good job of eliminating it. Mine really seem to thrive in nooks and crannies where waste would settle. Blowing rocks of more often has helped also.
mfinn
likes zoanthids
The problem I had with bubble algae was you can remove it where you see it, but it will grow on the backs and undersides of rocks.
I had an outbreak in one tank that the bubble algae would show up on euphyllia heads and force the polyp to bail.
I had an outbreak in one tank that the bubble algae would show up on euphyllia heads and force the polyp to bail.
