how are you controling a bubble algae is a sps tank..

[bagedtaco]

how are you guys controlling a bubble algae out break?

i got a frag. from someone that had a little bubble algae on it and now it has spread through out my tank. i have tryed emarald crab with no luck. it there something else out there that can do away with these things. i also got aptasia from the same person and now have the same issue with it.

i have heard that a copper banded butterfly will eat aptasia but not sure how reef safe these guys are but i'm willing to try anythig at this point.

all water conditions are in order.
nitrates are 0
nitrites are 0
pH 8.0
Ca is 440
Mg is 1300

 

[idua]

I donââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢t know much about Copper Banded Butterflies but what worked for me in the past is Peppermint shrimp. Few weeks after I added him to the tank Aptasia disappeared. Canââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢t really comment on Bubble Algae as I never had a problem with it.

 

[Sindjin]

I like Emerald Crabs. I added 6 to my 120. Some ate the BA, some didnt. What I did was manually removed them while siphoning. I stuck my siphon tube into a Turkey Baster tube and used that as a nozzle...suck up the bubbles and used the tip to scrape them off if need be. So far in the areas I've cleaned, I haven't seen them return. I still have some left to do....next sihpon!

I wouldn't add anything to eat it, because anything you add will be hit or miss. Just make sure you really WANT that fish,crab,whatever in your tank because you like it.

 

[fishdoc11]

I use emerald crabs and manually remove also, sometimes when siphoning, sometimes not. I'll admit I still struggle with it though

For aiptasia I try to keep one or two peppermints in each tank. This has allways worked well for me.

Chris

 

[Fatboy]

My Lo volpinus didn't leave a single bubble algae in my tank..........

 

[bagedtaco]

Thanks

 

[Sparkss]

of course make sure he doesn't graze on your soft corals too, if you have any (and also potential for LPS, although many have reported that this behavior is uncommon)

 

[SunnyX]

I had a huge outbreak of Aptasia and the only thing that worked was a Copperband Butterfly.
I probebly had over 100 aptasia, all gone within a few days.

I have Zoo's and SPS and he does not pick at them

They will wipe out all tube worms and aptasia.

 

[Justin/TiV]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6567512#post6567512 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by SunnyX
I had a huge outbreak of Aptasia and the only thing that worked was a Copperband Butterfly.
I probebly had over 100 aptasia, all gone within a few days.

I have Zoo's and SPS and he does not pick at them

They will wipe out all tube worms and aptasia.

So does that mean...they will eat all feather dusters, coco worms ect...I know not all do the exact same thing...but was wondering what you had experience with

 

[SunnyX]

They will eat all feather dusters and coco works.

 

[causeofhim]

Get a batch of emeralds. Some will eat it and others wont. They seem to only eat the small stuff. The big bubbles you will need to manually remove.

 

[DMK]

i had it pretty bad a few months ago. i increased from monthly water changes to weekly, i blow off LR every day. anytime i see any i pick off w/ whatever and let it just get sucked into overflow where sock catches it. picking it/popping it has not increased problem in my tank. now problem is about 90% taken care of. i think the combination of blowing LR and increased water changes has helper alot. had 5 emeralds, those worthless bastards didn't do dick for my bubble algae. i pulled 4. i'm working on getting last 1 out. they were real good at snatching up my clip of seaweed though.

 

[Michael7979]

I have heard that Red Sea Sailfins will eat bubble algae too.

 

[md fishes]

I had a CBB and it didn't touch my coco worm but it malled all the other feather dusters in my tank.

 

[Wayner2]

Copperband has been in my tank for 6 months and hasn't touched an aptasia.

 

[d4a2n0k]

I bought 6 emeralds for bubble algae and they did nothing. I got a Foxface a few months ago and he wiped out the bubble algae.

Now he is nipping on SPS so I have to get him out.

 

[Phillips]

I had an outbreak, and didn't really bother with it unless I was doing a water change. The I would break and siphon off some of them, usually only the ones that got in the way of a coral colony.

After awhile, it disappeared on it's own. My emerald crabs never touched it.

 

[Kent E]

Had a red sea and it didn't work. I'm trying a rabbitfish. Let you know about it. You got me worried about the sps.

 

[bagedtaco]

i'm gonna try some peppermint shrimp for the aptasia,

as for the bubble's... not real sure yet. i guess i'll start with water changes every week and go from there.

 

[Dan Fagan]

I see you did not measure phosphates. Hi phosphates help BA to flourish. I'd suggest some sort of Phosphate sponge as well...