CoralsAddiction
Well-Known Member
I have some coral with bubble algae growth. Also there’s bubble algae growing on return bulkhead and lock line. What’s the best way to remove it? Thanks.
Removing Bubble Algae
- Thread starter CoralsAddiction
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try to just grab it and yank as much out as you can. There are some species of fish/inverts that can eat it but it's hit or miss
Mike N
Valuable Member
I would avoid grabbing and yanking as that can pop the bubbles and help them spread.
You want to gently nudge the bubbles or clusters from the side, slowly applying more force until the bubble or cluster is disloged intact.
I have been fighting bubble algae for years. Emerald crabs are my best friend for keeping it in check. (I keep about 10 a time in my 40 breeder)
If my tank was bigger, I'd go with one of the fish that eats it instead.
You want to gently nudge the bubbles or clusters from the side, slowly applying more force until the bubble or cluster is disloged intact.
I have been fighting bubble algae for years. Emerald crabs are my best friend for keeping it in check. (I keep about 10 a time in my 40 breeder)
If my tank was bigger, I'd go with one of the fish that eats it instead.
I respectfully disagree. There isn't really any evidence that popping them will spread them. Most species must be a certain size in order to reproduce via "spores" and will be actively doing so if they are able to anyway. If tearing them were to spread them more than their regular rate then animals we use to consume them would be spreading them more than eradicating them while they eat, so manual removal shouldn't be any more of a problem.
Axem_Black
New Member
I've been told using Vibrant reef cleaner gets rid of bubble algae but I haven't tried it myself.
Chrille26
Active Member
If its local to a few spots then I would go with manual removal. Just grab the bubbles by the base and pull them off, they usually come off easily.
I have bubble algae spread throughout my whole tank and I still go with manual removal as my main attack. I added two Emerald crabs and havent seen them touch bubble algae once so its a hit or miss with them.
Just stay on top of removing and keep an eye on nutrients and they wont completely take over, but probobly wont disapear either.
I have bubble algae spread throughout my whole tank and I still go with manual removal as my main attack. I added two Emerald crabs and havent seen them touch bubble algae once so its a hit or miss with them.
Just stay on top of removing and keep an eye on nutrients and they wont completely take over, but probobly wont disapear either.
New&no clue
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I see it differently. This is just my thoughts, no proof, but the popping of the bubble does spread spores out and create more, which is why we have emerald crabs or other fish in the tank. The crabs and fish find the new bubble algae before we see it and eat it so we don't notice the spread.
I have been doing manual removal for about 4 months and it always comes back. What I do is pull what I can, careful not to pop any... but I always do. So to help with this while I am pulling I have a siphon hose right next to where I am working, hopefully siphoning out the spores. I also turn off all fans and pump in the tank and sump. Then I do a big water change. As I've said it keeps coming back, but only in the one spot it's at, I've haven't noticed it anywhere else in the tank. So A. my siphoning is working, or B. they don't actual spread spores when popped.
I did just add 2 emerald crabs because I'm over the manual removal
Mike N
Valuable Member
Fair enough.
When I first encountered bubble algae, my ignorant attempts at removing it was basically to smash all the bubbles and pull out as much as I could. That resulted in a massive outbreak, so I'm only going off my own experience.
I had best results with a Vibrant routine but know the potential risks. What we can't always see are the bubbles in crevices and cracks that keep growing/supporting the algae population and Vibrant helps out big time with those. You can potentially hit a burst of cyano while dosing, and you need to watch KN03 and PO4 when dosing as it can cause some interesting behavior with nutrients. I did not mind the cyano as I kept to a weekly waterchange routine before dosing Vibrant to suck it out anyway as well as any excess organics in the water column from Vibrant doing its thing. I have two tangs and they won't go near it but have heard of success with foxfaces and algae as a whole.
I did emerald crabs before as well but they are hit or miss and can be difficult to remove if you get a troublesome one.
I did emerald crabs before as well but they are hit or miss and can be difficult to remove if you get a troublesome one.
jeffrey750750
Reefin in the slow lane
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My last tank had a nice amount, I got a foxface rabbit fish and never had bubble algae again
Just my experience, but originally I tried popping them with a hypodermic needle years ago. It caused a massive spread in what was a "stable" population on a rock. Now if I see any on a frag I gently nudge them off. If that's not possible, I would go with a tang if the tank allows before I go the emerald crab route.
jd371
Valuable Member
Popping Bubble Algae: Let's settle this once and for all!
Not pooping but popping bubble algae! :D We all at some point or another get green bubble algae. When we're new to the hobby we think it's pretty. Heck some stores have been known to prey, I mean sell it to their new customers. Once it gets out of control it can cover everything including rock...
www.reef2reef.com
Same here, luckily all my Tangs eat it. Aggressively.
I've also had a few friends use Vibrant and claim it works well.
Mike N
Valuable Member
What phosphate and nitrate levels did you typically run before you started with vibrant?
OP
OP
CoralsAddiction
Well-Known Member
Thank you everyone. I had an emerald crab and it wouldn’t touch any bubble algae within its reach. My small purple tang doesn’t touch it either. I had never heard of Vibrant before and will look into it.
