Urchin for bubble algae
- Thread starter mamedina
- Start date
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I think i remember at one point an urchin ate one. Lol. The problem is bubble algae can grow tall and i dont think they would climb on top. Curious what others have seen. Dosing lots of vinegar got rid of my algae/ bubble algae. In fact i put a rock with bubble algae in a fresh batch of saltwater. The next day the bubble algae was white. I believe its a survival mechanism, to float to another high nutrient area when in the presence of low nutrients.
GunnarH
Active Member
Following up on this thread years later, but here is one more data point: I just saw my blue Tuxedo urchin munching down on bubble algae. He was walking on the glass after picking up some bubbles from the sand, so I had a clear view of him inserting the bubbles into his mouth one by one.
He also scoots around the tank with a bunch of soft corals on his back (not frags/plugs, but the actual corals), but that's a different story. Tons of personality in this invert!
He also scoots around the tank with a bunch of soft corals on his back (not frags/plugs, but the actual corals), but that's a different story. Tons of personality in this invert!
How does he get the corals on his back? I am thinking of trying one but dont want him pulling of my corals! So many arent mounting but on frag pasts and many mushroom attached to tiny rocks on sand bed! Expensive one too!Following up on this thread years later, but here is one more data point: I just saw my blue Tuxedo urchin munching down on bubble algae. He was walking on the glass after picking up some bubbles from the sand, so I had a clear view of him inserting the bubbles into his mouth one by one.
He also scoots around the tank with a bunch of soft corals on his back (not frags/plugs, but the actual corals), but that's a different story. Tons of personality in this invert!
Narideth
Fishaholic
If you scrub rock for an algae problem because it's seriously invasive like bubble algae, you sometimes have to take some additional steps to kill the algae spores and roots that are spread by the brush grinding them down into the rock. Peroxide can help - it kills algae pretty quickly on contact but it may or may not work for you depending on the size of your rock.
Also, talk about a necro'd thread, didn't realize it was so old.
Also, talk about a necro'd thread, didn't realize it was so old.
yeah, I just read somewhere that peroxide kills bubble alage! I know it supposly kills other algae but for me it usually comes back again. It might be cyano thought that i am trying to get rid of with the perooxide but It dosnt respond to chemi clean!
Its a film that is on my new acrylic frag racks or the ones that havt covered in coraline but its killing my zoas.
I think I will try again with the scrubbing but this time add the peroxide BUT once I remove the bubbles I have to remember where they were and only treat those areas. I am afraid it may kill may kill beneficial bacteria with the scrubbing and peroxide!
Thanks for advice
Its a film that is on my new acrylic frag racks or the ones that havt covered in coraline but its killing my zoas.
I think I will try again with the scrubbing but this time add the peroxide BUT once I remove the bubbles I have to remember where they were and only treat those areas. I am afraid it may kill may kill beneficial bacteria with the scrubbing and peroxide!
Thanks for advice
kevgib67
10K Club member
Emerald crabs have eradicated them from my tank about two decades ago. They are very interesting to watch picking at the rocks constantly. I haven’t had any bubble algae in my current tank, perhaps they were eaten before I could notice. I’ve read multiple times pitho crabs are even better at eradicating bubble algae.
GunnarH
Active Member
His spines are actually flexible. He uses them to grab things, including shells and frags, and moves them up onto his back. It’s fun to watch, but maybe not so much fun for the corals and other critters he grabs.
