Tiny bubble algae outbreak

powderblue14 · Apr 22, 2023

Does anyone have any suggestions on how to get rid of tiny bubble algae imbedded in rocks? I have a 310gl tank and all of my rock is covered with tiny bubble algae. I have 4 tangs and a majestic fox face that will not touch them. I bought 6 emerald crabs and I don’t think they are doing anything with them. My nitrates are 5-10 and phosphates are .07.

Gtinnel · Apr 22, 2023

Before my foxface finally decided to start eating it I would attach a piece of tubing to a big metal straw that I got on Amazon and would just siphon bubble algae into a filter sock in my sump. The straw made it easy to free the bubbles from the rock so they could be filtered out.

You won’t be able to completely get rid of all bubble algae this way but it makes it easy to keep it from growing out of control.

vlangel · Apr 22, 2023

I also syphon mine out with rigid plastic tubing connected to flex tubing. I never eradicate it but can easily keep it from taking over.

Salty_Northerner · May 9, 2023

Are you saying all of your rock in your tank is covered in that small bubble algae or just a couple pieces of rock?

powderblue14 · May 9, 2023

Unfortunately just about all of my rock is covered in the tiny bubble algae.

Cal · May 11, 2023

some of my rocks got tiny bubble algae too. gonna nuke them in fresh waster and a scrub them if it comes down to it

Salty_Northerner · May 11, 2023

BRS TV say you can just pop them. No worries about it floating around and spawning. I'll see if I can find the video.

Jaxie · May 18, 2023

I'm not sure I am supposed to be posting on someone elses post, but I have the same problem with bubble algae infestation. I am new and i don't have any corals on the rocks yet that I can't move. So could I just take the rock out and wash it? What do I use to remove the bubble algae and return the rock to the tank so that I don't kill my fish or my 4 frags that are waiting for a home on an algae free rock?

c_ronius · May 18, 2023

I find emerald crabs pretty much always work, if you have enough. It's gonna take 6 crabs about 5 years to mow through that though. Get a bunch more.

Borat · May 18, 2023

Dont waste your time, efforts and money (you already did by buying foxface and emerald crabs) - use Flukonazole or Vibrant. Bubble algae is the worst of all other pests..

Run a full treatment length + another 2-3 weeks even as you see that all bubble algae disappeared. And in the future - if you see a bubble somewhere on the rock, take the whole rock out and sterilise it (acid/hot water - whatever is need to kill algae), don't pop bubbles - it's really a bad idea.