Dreaded Bubble algae

[Tkieu78]

As the title says. Stuff started showing up in my overflow. I've been manually removing. Been lucky. Hasn't shown up in the display yet. I'm sure it will eventually. Looking for some opinions. Emerald crabs still the go to? I have a mixed reef with softies , lps , sps. What's the chances of a crab going rouge and eating corals ? Or one of my wrasses while they sleep? I've read Tang's? Purple, sailfin? Foxface?
110 gallon dsa with a 30 gallon sump. I don't have any tangs currently so if fish is the way to go. Lmk!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[scuzy]

Don't really notice them much. I saw one or two bubble and they just died off.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[mattim40gfusion]

I have thousands of bubble algae. Got an army of emeralds and theyre slowly taking them down. Weekly water changes at 10%


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[BPro32]

Emeralds have always worked for me as well. I picked up 4 for my 40g now and they took care of everything as far as I can tell.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[mav3rick478]

I've always used Emerald crabs and never had any issues with them going rogue. I also usually buy them when they are really small.

Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk

 

[lynchmob3000]

Foxface usually works also


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Kinetic]

100% confident that emeralds are not reef safe. You might not notice them, but every emerald I have had or seen will tear at coral tissue, polyps, and try to catch any fish that ventures too close. Larger tanks, you won't notice it, so I guess that could be ok for you. I would never do it.

I've had a few emeralds, never touched bubble algae, but loved tearing up my acros.

 

[Tkieu78]

I worry more about the wrasses sleeping in the rocks or the fathead anthias sleeping.....


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[Kinetic]

I worry more about the wrasses sleeping in the rocks or the fathead anthias sleeping.....


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

I had a randall's goby, and he was perched on a rock, and the emerald came up and caught him in his claw. The goby died since it's whole back section was basically cut off. I tried to pull the crab out, but he pulled the fish into a hole.

I also saw the emerald tear at a passing by flame angel's fin. Tore it clean through.

That last incident was what caused me to tear out all my rock and getting rid of them.

I'd be really wary of perching/sleeping fish with emeralds.

 

[WLachnit]

Tangs keep my bubble algae at bay. I only have a little bit of it where the tangs can't get to it.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Tkieu78]

Sounds like a tang is the best bet. From purple/Tomini/ sailfin/ whitetail/Kole/hippo/ yellow. What do you guys recommend?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[MMacro]

Sounds like a tang is the best bet. From purple/Tomini/ sailfin/ whitetail/Kole/hippo/ yellow. What do you guys recommend?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

My sailfin and tomini seem to like bubble algae the most.

 

[Ihuntbugs]

I have had emerald crabs before. So far all did eat the bubble algae I had. What I learned was get the smaller emerald crabs. My lfs had some bigger emeralds so I bought two. Well one day I started noticing my acro had some munching on it and keeping a watchful eye I caught one of the big ones eating my acro. So down to the sump he got banished! Later I caught the other big one doing the same! So it went to the sump as well. The little ones I still have 3 in the dt. No problem and they keep the bubble algae in check! Never seen them attack fish although when I had the bigger ones in dt they would wave their claws at the fish but not do anything. My experience with emeralds.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[lynchmob3000]

Supposedly the female emerald is the one that will eat bubble. Males supposedly do not. I've had better luck with a foxface and manual removal.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Ihuntbugs]

My tank is too small for a foxface. If it gets real bad and you can do it, take rock out that has it and blast with hydrogen peroxide. Best thing though is to keep your phosphate and nitrate levels down.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[guc32]

I used Vibrant if you want to do chemical route. The algae will turn white and die.

Emeralds and fishes will burst the bubble algae and spread the spores. If you dont take care of your nutrients, they wont go away.

 

[Kinetic]

I used Vibrant if you want to do chemical route. The algae will turn white and die.

Emeralds and fishes will burst the bubble algae and spread the spores. If you dont take care of your nutrients, they wont go away.

Pretty sure vibrant is some kind of bacteria with added nutrient for them. They recently published the ingredients.

 

[Tkieu78]

I always try to opt for a natural predator for it. First will be a tang. Then if that doesn't work. Emerald. Lastly chemicals. Of course with the manual removal anytime I can see and get to it.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[tmantaylor18]

Vibrant worked for me too

 

[D-Nak]

My anemone flat has two tangs (purple and Maculiceps) and no bubble algae. However, I have a basket hanging in the tank that has a pair of clowns in it, and it's full of algae.