What the heck is this?

wonderphil-reef · Apr 30, 2022

Hi guys,

Need some help, found this in the sump and not sure what it is? looks metallic-looking bubbles:

ISpeakForTheSeas · Apr 30, 2022

Bubble algae - it’s invasive and not much eats it.

Edit: you can try emerald crabs, but manual removal is probably the best option. You need to make sure you remove all of it though.

sfin52 · Apr 30, 2022

Foxface will eat it.

Nanojoe · Apr 30, 2022

Voila Valonia! "bubble algae"

sfin52 · Apr 30, 2022

Nanojoe said:
Voila Valonia! "bubble algae"

Eats just about every algae. They even eat turf

vetteguy53081 · Apr 30, 2022

valonia true name and do not pop them but rather let a female emerald crab make a meal of them OR foxface rabbit will eat them also

Nanojoe · Apr 30, 2022

Im going to throw an anecdotal statement in the ring,

I pop mine when i see it. At the time i had some in my tank i was also doing a Brightwell Razor treatment. Since then i have not seen 1 bubble algae in the rocks. At the same time i was also dosing BW Microbacter clean. So, this potentially killed it off along with me popping them, not 100% sure on it. I do like the MB clean a lot and dose it frequently.

Spare time · Apr 30, 2022

If you remove them, try not to pop them. If you do want to pop them, do it while siphoning water out right next to it

Duncan62 · Apr 30, 2022

wonderphil-reef said:
Hi guys,

Need some help, found this in the sump and not sure what it is? looks metallic-looking bubbles:

Bubble algae

sfin52 · Apr 30, 2022

I do wonder how true this is. I see them in clusetes so I wonder if they have small roots that they Custer on. I think they really spread by breaking free and floating and settling someplace. Thats what I've observed.

Duncan62 · Apr 30, 2022

sfin52 said:
I do wonder how true this is. I see them in clusetes so I wonder if they have small roots that they Custer on. I think they really spread by breaking free and floating and settling someplace. Thats what I've observed.

I has a pretty bad out break years ago. I put 5 female emerald crabs per 30 gallons. Males will steal food from corals. Won't eat the bubbles. Hook an airline tube to a short piece of acrylic tubing. Pry the bubbles and siphon all that burst. Lots will come of intact. All 4 tanks have it but it stays managed pretty well by crabs and manual removal. Good luck.

sfin52 · Apr 30, 2022

Duncan62 said:
I has a pretty bad out break years ago. I put 5 female emerald crabs per 30 gallons. Males will steal food from corals. Won't eat the bubbles. Hook an airline tube to a short piece of acrylic tubing. Pry the bubbles and siphon all that burst. Lots will come of intact. All 4 tanks have it but it stays managed pretty well by crabs and manual removal. Good luck.

My foxface makes short work of it.