Bubble algae

[gregrunningbird]

I have a GARF tank with all the manmade rocks to boot. I decided to introduce a piece of true live rock to help promote coralline algae, small inverts, etc. seeding a month ago. This was in addition to the usual sandbed seeding during initial set up about 5 months ago. Now, that piece of live rock has tiny (smaller than this letter "o") bubble algae, about a dozen I can see.


This is causing a dilemma...take the live rock out or keep it in and try to manage a tough pest? I lean towards the latter, but would like to hear control ideas/alternatives from y'all!


(BTW, the live rock looks great otherwise with spaghetti worms, a small crab, other small inverts, and a good amount of coralline algae growing upon it)

 

[israelnajar]

You can try picking it off with tweezers while trying not to pop them, because they will release spores and cause more bubble algae to pop up. Emerald crabs will eat bubble algae. So that is an option too. Rob has some, and he should be getting the VHOs in today also.

 

[reign]

i agree some mithrax crabs are a sure bet to help eradicate the valonia sp. but some emeralds are alot better @ eating it then others... so try to pick it off.. get emeralds then see what happens if it comes back i would say get progressive and remove rock soon...all you need is is a little valonia to spoil the day........

 

[moonpower]

I pick them off. I have an emerald crab in one tank and it doesn't get any that I can see, so I feel the crab knows his job. I plan on getting one for each tank.

 

[GreenUku]

I've had mixed success with emerald crabs.

On the other hand, I'd say bubble algae has been the most benign of the plagues to hit my aquariums. Don't get me started on macros in a small tank, especially halimeda.

 

[asfullax]

LOL. yeah, I'd take bubble outbreaks over macro outbreaks Been there, done that.

As for bubble, a few big rocks of mine started to become covered, I picked up a few emerald crabs and i think there are two bubbles left. One trick is to lower your feeding as the crabs will prefer hair algae and easy food pickings at the bottom. By cutting down the food, there is less hair algae and less leftovers. They worked great for me.

pulling them in an option if you have the big bubbles, but unfortunatly I had the mini strand bubble algae, I could never pull them.

 

[gregrunningbird]

bubble algae

bubble algae



Thanks to all of you for your help with the issue of bubble algae in my tank. I did introduce two emerald crabs into my 55 gallon reef tank. Thus far, they have been whittling away at some hair algae which was also growing, and I am expecting good results for the bubble algae when the crabs are done there.

Further, regarding the SOURCE of the problem...I have cut back on my feeding regimen drastically, and if and when any bubble algae get large enough, I will pick them off, should the crabs not get them.

Again, thanks for the help, I hope to meet some of you and thank you in person at the upcoming NMOK meeting at my home,