What are these green mucus bubbles?

Hallowhead · Jul 15, 2019

Howdy,

I've noticed that these little green mucus bubbles are appearing here and there and I am not sure what they are. The picture isn't super helpful and I will try to get a better shot later but my best description is tiny snot bubbles.

Reefer1978 · Jul 15, 2019

Hard to tell from the picture, but looks like bubble algae to me.

Hallowhead · Jul 15, 2019

Reefer1978 said:
Hard to tell from the picture, but looks like bubble algae to me.

is that harmful ?

Reefer1978 · Jul 15, 2019

Hallowhead said:
is that harmful ?

It's not harmful, but it's an invasive species that will keep on spreading in the tank if left untreated. If it's a small area on a single rock, take it out and treat with peroxide. If it's in many areas of the tank, Vibrant Aquarium Cleaner has shown to get rid of it.

Reefers also expressed success with emerald crabs, but in my experience it only spreads it more. When bubbles are popped they release the spores.

Hallowhead · Jul 15, 2019

Reefer1978 said:
It's not harmful, but it's an invasive species that will keep on spreading in the tank if left untreated. If it's a small area on a single rock, take it out and treat with peroxide. If it's in many areas of the tank, Vibrant Aquarium Cleaner has shown to get rid of it.

Reefers also expressed success with emerald crabs, but in my experience it only spreads it more. When bubbles are popped they release the spores.

I was reading a lot about the spores spreading and found that they only release spores when they're fully matured. If I get them at a young age I wonder if it will prevent them spread.

ScottR · Jul 15, 2019

Reefer1978 said:
Hard to tell from the picture, but looks like bubble algae to me.

+1

siggy · Jul 15, 2019

Emerald crabs will help

Reefer1978 · Jul 15, 2019

Hallowhead said:
I was reading a lot about the spores spreading and found that they only release spores when they're fully matured. If I get them at a young age I wonder if it will prevent them spread.

You can try an emerald crab. Worst case if it doesn't work you can always go back to Vibrant after.

Hallowhead · Jul 15, 2019

siggy said:
Emerald crabs will help

Emerald crabs scare me as I've heard of them killing corals

Reefer1978 · Jul 15, 2019

Hallowhead said:
Emerald crabs scare me as I've heard of them killing corals

Just go with vibrant. Cheap and proven fix, and a small bottle will last you more than a year.

Hallowhead · Jul 15, 2019

Reefer1978 said:
Just go with vibrant. Cheap and proven fix, and a small bottle will last you more than a year.

Have you had good success with it?

Blutspitze · Jul 15, 2019

Agreed it looks like bubble algae. I had similar issues and got a couple emeralds, but one of them ended up killing the other along with some of my other inverts. A friend of mine lost a coral beauty to one after the crab got a lucky shot on the fish's gill. More trouble than not, IMO. Vibrant is much better.

Reefer1978 · Jul 15, 2019

Hallowhead said:
Have you had good success with it?

I am on my 4th large bottle now, been using it for 3 years in my 4 tanks. Took care of bubble algae twice. Just follow direction and full course, don't stop early if you don't see it working right away. It takes care of the entire tank, one algae at a time.

Hallowhead · Jul 15, 2019

Reefer1978 said:
I am on my 4th large bottle now, been using it for 3 years in my 4 tanks. Took care of bubble algae twice. Just follow direction and full course, don't stop early if you don't see it working right away. It takes care of the entire tank, one algae at a time.

Do you continue to do WC throughout treatment? It looks really good from what I've researched.

Reefer1978 · Jul 15, 2019

Hallowhead said:
Do you continue to do WC throughout treatment? It looks really good from what I've researched.

Yes, I continued to do water changes, and added vibrant after the change not before.

Hallowhead · Jul 15, 2019

Reefer1978 said:
Yes, I continued to do water changes, and added vibrant after the change not before.

Thank you so much! I will be picking up a bottle soon.

Reefer1978 · Jul 15, 2019

Hallowhead said:
Thank you so much! I will be picking up a bottle soon.

Make sure to order it online. Local store in NJ (absolutely fish) was charging 40% over MAP pricing and lied -- telling me they pay to get it shipping, when the manufacturer covers shipping to the store.

Jay Z · Jul 15, 2019

You can manually remove it also. Lots of YouTube vids on it. Pretty much gently scrape it off and suck it out or pull rock out, gently scrape off and rinse. Bubble algae is pretty darn durable. Takes some force to break it open.

Hallowhead · Jul 15, 2019

Reefer1978 said:
Make sure to order it online. Local store in NJ (absolutely fish) was charging 40% over MAP pricing and lied -- telling me they pay to get it shipping, when the manufacturer covers shipping to the store.

I am planning to go to absolutely fish tonight but note taken.