Losing my battle against bubble algae...

[Wunderpus]

All,

I've been fighting with a bad bubble algae infestation for a few months now... And I'm really not making a dent in the issue...

60 gallon mixed reef, more SPS in this tank. Nitrates are around 2ppm and Po4 is about 0.03 according to two ICPs and Hanna ULR. Tank has a thriving refugium with chaeto.

First, I tried emerald crabs from Reef Cleaners (guaranteed to eat bubble algae). They are seen eating it at night, however, I've had multiple specimens die (always found in the acro colonies, odd?). Also, the survivors aren't making much of a dent. I believe there are 3 left, started with 6 or 7.

Secondly, tried fluconazole. That was a disaster.... It nuked about 50% of my SPS in a matter of hours and caused all sorts of issues (different thread on this whole issue).

Third, I added a small foxface. He can be seen eating small nibbles here and there, no major dents in the issue.

The bubble algae is mostly in lower flow areas and around LPS (mostly euphyllia). I'm assuming the stinging tentacles are preventing the predators from going near the BA in these areas?

I've been doing regular 15% water changes weekly with clean RODI and salt (other tanks use same water, no issues).

I'm about to pull the trigger on vibrant, but I am terrified of doing this... I know it will likely nuke the chaeto (should I remove it first to prevent the nutrient spike?) and also bottoming out other levels... It seems like vibrant is a real roll of the dice, but I just cant take having to pull out handfuls of BA every other day...

Anyone have any other ideas before trying Vibrant? If I do use Vibrant, should I just remove the chaeto? Do the lowest dose for Vibrant? Any other tips for using it to help avoid major issues?

Thanks so much guys!

 

[ruegaroo]

I don't have any chaeto but I can confirm that vibrant will wipe out your bubble algae completely.

 

[kriskk]

Vibrant will destroy bubble algae. I had a pretty bad infestation of green valonia. It did take 6months of twice weekly dosing @10cc/dose for my 75 gallon. Months later and still no bubble. The cyano however is proving difficult. It’s a brown, snotty mat cyano. I think my 15 year old shallow sand bed is feeding it, but that’s a topic for another thread. I had cyano before vibrant, so the vibrant didn’t cause it.

Definately remove any macro algae. Vibrant doesn’t discriminate, it will kill the good stuff too.

 

[rwreef]

I had bubble algea (a lot!!) After a few months of vibrant 100% gone! It melted my chaeto... but don't miss it. Sooo happy bubble algea is gone.

 

[Fishresponse]

Desjardini tangs eat bubble algae as well

 

[Wunderpus]

May give it a try, my foxface isn't doing squat....

However, I think I may just roll the dice with vibrant at this point...

 

[lavoisier]

How long have you had the foxface? I was able to eliminate and control further outbreaks with an emerald crab and a foxface. Results vary with individuals!

 

[Wunderpus]

Maybe 3 or so weeks now, give or take? He has no noticeable interest in it.... He did initially, but I think being fed has turned off that desire.

 

[Wunderpus]

As an update here, I've been dosing 2x the Vibrant dose (1ml/10 gallons 2x weekly) since 1/25/20... No real impact on the bubble algae yet... Any suggestions guys? The tank is getting a 20% auto-water change weekly, running Brightwell's Purit (is this impeding the vibrant) and a skimmer.

Also, to note, the Chaeto has been completely unharmed, so maybe the water changes or the Purit is somehow pulling out an important ingredient in Vibrant? I know it's allegedly just bacteria and a carbon source, but, I've heard rumors it has an algaecide too...

With that, thoughts on this? Losing my mind over this algae... Thanks everyone! I'd love to fix this darn algae problem.

 

[ruegaroo]

Be patient. It does not work quickly. Mine took about 8 weeks or so to finally see results. If you want a quick fix you can try an emerald crab but be careful as they can pick at corals as well.

 

[LegendaryCG]

vibrant did work for me but it took several weeks of use. It started looking damaged after a while and then died off.

 

[rwreef]

It takes several weeks, be patient. I used water changes and manual removal. It still took a few months.

 

[Scdell]

Manual removal. Use a screwdriver to get at it. With good flow and filter socks. A little bit a day cause the filter socks will get full of it.

 

[Double monti 61]

Hi I have had some in my 15 gallon tank and I removed as many as I could during water charges using a 1/4 inch tube to remove smaller bubbles and a 3/8 inch tube to remove larger ones and sometimes when I see them in the sand I remove them with long tweezers you may have to get down and dirty and remove them from all areas you can reach even if it is directly from your coral if they are doing well and can handle some disturbance they may recover from any injuries they experience.

 

[Wunderpus]

Sounds like patience is my best friend here... I was running a half-dose for about a month before January, then doubled it up. So, we're at about 2 months here...

 

[Semper.Reefing]

Any update on your battle? I’m looking into dosing vibrant for bubble algae

 

[ceaver]

Sounds like patience is my best friend here... I was running a half-dose for about a month before January, then doubled it up. So, we're at about 2 months here...

Any updates on your bubble algae situation?

 

[GHOSTLY]

More emerald crabs, more fish, more manual removal, then come to the realization that it’s a lot of money. After that realization buy a bottle of vibrant and call it a day

 

[HB AL]

My Clown trigger and Naso ate all of mine, I would turn over and hold the rocks and they would polish off all the rocks from the bubble algae, havnt seen it since in a couple years, this is in a mixed reef.

 

[ceaver]

More emerald crabs, more fish, more manual removal, then come to the realization that it’s a lot of money. After that realization buy a bottle of vibrant and call it a day

Ha, yep, it's already on the way...