Bubble algae starting to show up a bit

[stlouisguy]

Going to go one of these directions

1. Increase emerald craps
2. Pull out carefully the bubbles.
3. Tear out the rock (huge pieces) and scrub the areas and rinse outside of tank

I am leaning toward #3 but this will require the most work, but I think its worth it. Its only about 3-4 rocks with 10 bubbles total but I want to nip it in the bud

Opinions or other ideas?

 

[capncapo]

Bubble algae reproduces by spores. Just because you have a "bubble" does'nt mean that if you pop it that the spores are mature enough to reproduce.

Next time you do a water change you can siphon water from your display while trying to dislodge the bubbles. If one happens to pop the siphon will draw the spores out with the water.

 

[stlouisguy]

Gotta remember this rock was covered in the stuff when I got it and cooked it.

Cap do you think having a uv sterilizer assists in keeping the stuff down?

 

[capncapo]

I can't say for sure Clark but Scbadiver tried one with his infestation and it did'nt seem to do him much good. It also reproduced by spores.

 

[stlouisguy]

Yeah, thats what I am worried about. I am going to pull the rock this saturday and scrub it out. Of course the rock pieces are like 50 lbs each and the base of my rockwork.

Damn

 

[sirreal63]

I have it...I keep it bay by carefully pulling it off the rock when they get marble size.

 

[frenchie]

i pull em carefully a little twisting helps out when pulling

 

[Nanook]

Manual removal and then get a Red Sea Sailfin Tang...they love the stuff.

 

[beapeams]

I had it and went with a bunch of emrald crabs. Have not seen it since.

 

[StupidsReef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9119506#post9119506 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by d.french
i pull em carefully a little twisting helps out when pulling

:lol: :lol: :lol: I can't say what I'm thinking on this site, But I'm sure you get it.:lol:

 

[tylorarm]

My new philosophy is to treat them as phosphate removal aide. Macroalgea that I harvest from my display instead of refugium. Now I feel better. For some reason they don't even grow in my refugium. Rabbit fish used to eat them but decided he liked nori better. Emerald preferred my tort to bubbles. These things are insidious once they show up. They seem to even grow in pure shade. Can't beat them, join them.

 

[mpcart]

Here's a good article on bubble algae. Notice the section where he talks about manual removal and the likelihood that spores will spread the algae. The few times I've seen bubble algae in my tank I've carefully removed it with tweezers.

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2002-02/hcj/feature/index.php

-Mike

 

[DrBDC]

I stick a salifert measuing spoon under them and pop them off whole. Trick is to catch them then. My foxface loves them too. Now I only have a problem in the sump but it's the red kind.

 

[frenchie]

we don't want to know what your doing while reading post at rc keep your twisting and pulling to yourself and no we don't want to know what your think while your doin it either keep capn out of this.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9120597#post9120597 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by StupidsReef
:lol: :lol: :lol: I can't say what I'm thinking on this site, But I'm sure you get it.:lol:

 

[frenchie]

do emerald crabs really work or is it just hit and miss with them they dont touch it in my tank

 

[latazyo]

I put one inmy tank and havent seen him since the first day...I dont know if he's dead or what, but I still have bubbles

 

[capncapo]

They seem to be more hit and miss than a sure thing but it could be that they prefer other foods and eat bubble algae as a last resort.