Bubble Algae

[Sea Hunter]

Is taking over my tank. is there some way to get rid of it or a fish that will eat it that is reef safe?

Thanks

 

[Andrew]

Emerald crabs eat bubble algae.

 

[Ironman]

I agree with Andrew. my emerald crab did a good job at getting rid of it.

 

[aiko670]

I bought a few emerald crabs and within weeks the majority of the bubble algae was gone. My tank looks great again!

 

[Sea Hunter]

Thanks guys, I guess I'll have to see it the lfs has any in.

 

[Maxxumless]

Scrubbing it off outside of the tank (rock by rock) will speed things along. I did it while the rock was still in the tank using a plankton net as a filter and used a 1" vinal tube to siphon it out as water poored into the sump. Got rid of it for the most part within a month.

 

[irisheyes]

I have been fighting Bubble Algae for months. I have 2 Emerald Crabs that don't do much. I think they knock some loose that gets picked up by the intake of my Power Heads. I bought a Fox Face, but he doesn't seem to like it either. My Yellow Tang will eat it if the Bubbles are very small and floating around in the tank. The only thing that has helped at all is taking the rocks out and using a stiff brush on them. I rinse with Salt or Fresh water and put them back. I also use a Turkey Baster, or Power Head to try and keep the rocks clean. It is a very slow fight.
Just keep at it every day and Good Luck! :rollface: :rollface:

Sally

 

[aiko670]

I have 6 emeralds in a 58 gal. tank. I also lowered my phosphates with the kent phosphate reactor and rowaphos and raised my CA and ALK.

Worked like a charm! My only concern now is that there won't be enough food for my clean up crew, my tank is starting to look a little too clean.....

 

[Sea Hunter]

I been reading that a RO unit will help as well. Keep the phosphates down.

 

[Serioussnaps]

Emerald crabs. Is this in your 220? IF so, you will need probably 7 or 8 of them. Do you have a separate tank up and running. You can put the rocks with bubble algae covering them in a separate tank with the emeralds. This will make it so the only food available to the will be the bubble algae and they will eat it. I found they dont eat it as voraciously if they are getting the foods the fish get too, but they still eat it somewhat it just takes longer.

 

[O'Man]

My foxface will eat the little ones, but not the big ones. I removed the valonia by hand, and the fish has kept up with it since. I only find it in the overflow or the refugium now.

 

[mikenpam]

My foxface wipped it out in less than a week. My emerald crab never touched it.

 

[Sea Hunter]

I serously dont like the looks of the foxface and if I put him in I'll never get him out. lol. But thanks for a another alternative

 

[aiko670]

There are some other species of rabit fish that look similar to the fox face but much cooler. Magnificent Foxface. I've found some pics on line but they don't do it justice.

 

[smcnally]

I don't know what it is, but something in my tank eats bubble algae. Every now and then I will see on ball of it and then a couple days later it is gone. I have no emerald crabs either...

 

[mikenpam]

So what do you have in your tank?

 

[smcnally]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7142186#post7142186 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mikenpam
So what do you have in your tank?

Inverts:
~10 Turbo Snails
~15 Asterina Snails
~15 Nassarius Snails
3 Pepermint Shrimp
1 Skunk Cleaner
5 Porcelain Crabs
1 Pom-Pom Crab
1 Blue Linkia
1 Serpant Star
1 big Conche
Many mini brittle stars

Fish:
Powder Blue Tang
1 Hippo Tang
2 False Perculas
1 Yellow Watchman Goby
1 Spotted Mandarin
1 Algae Blennie
2 Bangaii Cardinals
1 Pajama Cardinal
1 Green Chromis
1 Long Nose Hawkfish

 

[Sea Hunter]

went to the lfs and grabbed a few emerald crabs and droped them in. As soon as they hit the bottom they started attacking the bubble algae and hair algae. I might stop in tomorrow and get a few more. lol.

thanks everyone.