Bubble Algae

[GaryR1984]

So, I got some new Live Rock recently and now I'm noticing a outbreak in bubble algae.

I'm going to buy some crabs to help combat the issue, what else have people tried that has worked well for them?

I'll also going to get a snail crew, and I'm looking into a few fish. What from Acanthurids and Siganids should I get? I have a small 3 foot tank, but I'm in the process of setting up another tank, so as the fish grow, they can be moved so that's not to much of a concern.

Also, what other foods should I feed them. Dried Seaweed and so on so forth, what has people tried that is good? I also have a clown in the tank.

After all this, I plan to get a yellow tang because they are pretty sweet and I like them.

What are the reasons for bubble algae to form? Bad water? Over feeding? New Rock from a LFS?

HelP!

Thanks Much,

Gary

 

[Blown 346]

Emerald crabs might not touch it, some do and some dont, its a 50/50 chance. Plus Those crabs or any liek the sort can eventually start to go after your snails, hermits and fish. They cant be trusted.
Instead of buying somethign to try and tackle it, find out what is causing it and correct it.

 

[GaryR1984]

Well, The hard part is finding the source.

 

[m2434]

How much BA? I see some from time to time and just remove it with tweezers. It's best not to break it, but if you have a good protein skimmer, it's less of an issue than some make it out to be. The worst thing you can do is leave it for any period of time. It will release spores anyway. If you break it, trying to remove it, it may do this as well, but odds are you will not break every one. If you leave them, every one will release spores and not only that, will continue to release spores, i.e. not just release them that once.

So IMO, get rid of them ASAP! If it's a bad outbreak i.e. everywhere in your tank you can add a crab, but they only occasionally work and in the meantime the BA will be spreading.

 

[GaryR1984]

Thanks,

I'm going to go ahead and take out each rock and use a razor to cut the pieces off as described on RK. I'm also going to look into getting one of the fish that may or may not feed on BA. I do have a skimmer.

Thanks for the help. Hopefully this will work out to the best.