I have a Deep Blue 57 gallon Rimless tank. It’s a well established tank. I have blue bubble algae growing around my overflow. It’s not taking over, but it’s an eye sore. I heard that shutting the lights off for 2 or 3 days will kill a lot, if not all of it. Has anyone tried that or is there a better way?
Killing bubble algae
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sfin52
So many pedestrians so little time
I installed a couple of emerald crabs. Manual removal and tried not to pop any of them. Failed at that ;Facepalm . That’s when I installed the crabs. None since.
That’s been 2 yrs ago. stefan, now you‘ll go home and find some;Nailbiting. Naw sfin I still have the emeralds
That’s been 2 yrs ago. stefan, now you‘ll go home and find some;Nailbiting. Naw sfin I still have the emeralds
Pauley
Community Member
About a year ago I had a horrible infestation of the small bubble algae. It grew like a carpet and quickly covered all available rock work, power heads, etc. My nitrates were <1ppm and phosphates were undetectable with an ultra low test kit. Still, it spread like a weed. Hand removal and green/red Mithrax crabs had no real impact. After months of fighting, I was ready to break down the tank and start over. Then, I tried Vibrance. After 1 month it was 80% gone. 2 months, and not a bubble left. No other changes to the tank were made. I don’t normally trust the many magic potions in this hobby, but in this case, Vibrance seems to have lived up to its promises.
USMC 4 LIFE
Valuable Member
I’m currently using Vibrant and have noticed a 50% reduction of bubble algae after two weeks. I dose twice the recommended amount.
I tried removing the rock and scrubbing the bubbles off in a 5 gallon bucket but they came back very quickly. I feel people who say that regurgitate without first hand experience.
I tried removing the rock and scrubbing the bubbles off in a 5 gallon bucket but they came back very quickly. I feel people who say that regurgitate without first hand experience.
Blue Spot Octopus
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I used AlgaeFIx from API and all of my little bubble algae dislodged from everything and free floated into my tunze power heads, I would have to rotate them on a weekly basis so I could clean them out.
jd371
Valuable Member
Releasing spores is a myth. That's not how it reproduces. Do you think Emerald crabs or what ever else eats the algae does so with out popping it? If you try to remove it but leave a little piece behind it grows from that.
From Wikipedia:
Physiology and reproduction[edit]
The single-cell organism has forms ranging from spherical to ovoid, and the color varies from grass green to dark green, although in water they may appear to be silver, teal, or even blackish.[2] This is determined by the quantity of chloroplasts of the specimen.[5] The surface of the cell shines like glass. The thallus consists of a thin-walled, tough, multinucleate cell with a diameter that ranges typically from 1 to 4 centimetres (0.4 to 1.6 in) although it may achieve a diameter of up to 5.1 centimetres (2.0 in) in rarer cases. The "bubble" alga is attached by rhizoids to the substrate fibers.[2]
Reproduction occurs by segregative cell division, where the multinucleate mother cell makes daughter cells, and individual rhizoids form new bubbles, which become separate from the mother cell.
From Wikipedia:
Physiology and reproduction[edit]
The single-cell organism has forms ranging from spherical to ovoid, and the color varies from grass green to dark green, although in water they may appear to be silver, teal, or even blackish.[2] This is determined by the quantity of chloroplasts of the specimen.[5] The surface of the cell shines like glass. The thallus consists of a thin-walled, tough, multinucleate cell with a diameter that ranges typically from 1 to 4 centimetres (0.4 to 1.6 in) although it may achieve a diameter of up to 5.1 centimetres (2.0 in) in rarer cases. The "bubble" alga is attached by rhizoids to the substrate fibers.[2]
Reproduction occurs by segregative cell division, where the multinucleate mother cell makes daughter cells, and individual rhizoids form new bubbles, which become separate from the mother cell.
I used thermal plastic pellets this last time to cover the bubble algae. Then after a week I just removed the plastic and algae as one piece.
creas
Active Member
I had a similar issue a couple years ago and got myself a Magnificent Foxface and he decimated any visible bubble algae leaving it only growing in rock crevices that he couldn't reach. I tried using Vibrant aquarium cleaner a few months ago and that got rid of the rest of it. Not a single bubble algae anywhere in the tank. It only took a few days and I could see them fading and melting away.
dodgerblew
2500 Club Member
Will Vibrant also kill the cheato I don't want to lose?
Slicktop
Active Member
Yes it will, Vibrant is a great product but if you use Cheato to help with nutrient removal be aware.. My nitrates shot way up while using vibrant due to cheato dying in sump. I am still fighting the bubble .. I recently just started removing all i see when i do water changes..
dbp99
Active Member
I have had a lot and I tried to put in a couple emeralds and they did ok. Then I learned you need to add an onslaught of them and bingo! Bubble Algae gone. Then pull out extra ones and back to fish store. I have a 150 and I went with 30 to start the onslaught. Worked for me.
JMM744
Valuable Member
Peroxide, it will kill it dead. Had it in a 30 and used Vibrant but also started putting peroxide in a syringe and slowly releasing it over the bubbles. In a day or so you will see it start to fade and get translucent. If you notice a spot staying green hit it again. My 70 had some as well that I probably introduced from the 30 and I used peroxide only and it did a great job on it. Been well over a year since last I saw any.
I actually like the looks of the stuff just too invasive.
I actually like the looks of the stuff just too invasive.
GoVols
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My Tank Thread
Pauley,
I've never tried Vibrance.
Did you get any cyano from using that product?
Thanks, Freddie
Ezeke1
Well-Known Member
I don’t usually endorse products but I can attest to the effectiveness of Vibrant to battle bubble algae.
I fought the algae for nearly a year in my 225g system. I repeatedly added emerald crabs but it was hard to judge their effectiveness. For half a year I manually siphoned the algae 2-3 times a week and that worked to reduce their spreading however you can never eliminate it because its not possible to siphon every nook and cranny.
With Vibrant I am on treatment 8 by dosing 25ml per week. I didn’t see the need to use strong doses or more frequent ones because I knew these type of things take time. Its been a slow process but I’m at a point where the algae is slowly disappearing. There are some bubbles left here and there but theyre not spreading so it’s only a matter of time before they’re completely gone.
I fought the algae for nearly a year in my 225g system. I repeatedly added emerald crabs but it was hard to judge their effectiveness. For half a year I manually siphoned the algae 2-3 times a week and that worked to reduce their spreading however you can never eliminate it because its not possible to siphon every nook and cranny.
With Vibrant I am on treatment 8 by dosing 25ml per week. I didn’t see the need to use strong doses or more frequent ones because I knew these type of things take time. Its been a slow process but I’m at a point where the algae is slowly disappearing. There are some bubbles left here and there but theyre not spreading so it’s only a matter of time before they’re completely gone.
