I have bubble Algae
- Thread starter ninjamini
- Start date
agreed, if u can remove the rock from the tank then take it out and then remove it from the rock. take a razor blade and if u can, scrape it off the rock (part of the rock where the bubble attached itself.) i have seen it form on one rock and have done this. after i did it, i would run some fresh water to make sure there is nothing left over on the rock so it can not spread if there is any.
Man, I just spent the last half hour in the trenches with a toothbrush scraping and picking and pulling and siphoning a ton of these bubble bastards and some HA from my 24g. Get those out now as quickly as possible. Maybe even add a small green mythax (emerald crab) just to make sure that they don't grow to plague proportions.
As stated above, remove without popping the bubble...apparently that's one way that it multiplies. They are fun to pop once you have them out of the tank though!
On the emerald crab subject...I've heard that the males are more disruptive than the females...go figure! I had a male in my tank and he took to eating my mushrooms and I think pulled the big claw off my white claw hermit crab. Telling males from females is the same as blue crabs you eat...the bottom of the carapace has either a pointed or triangular shape on the bottom. The pointed is the male and the triangular is the female.
The other issue is what's contributing to the algae...maybe more aggressive water changes are in order. I've not had any algae outbreaks since I started doing water changes every 1-2 weeks.
On the emerald crab subject...I've heard that the males are more disruptive than the females...go figure! I had a male in my tank and he took to eating my mushrooms and I think pulled the big claw off my white claw hermit crab. Telling males from females is the same as blue crabs you eat...the bottom of the carapace has either a pointed or triangular shape on the bottom. The pointed is the male and the triangular is the female.
The other issue is what's contributing to the algae...maybe more aggressive water changes are in order. I've not had any algae outbreaks since I started doing water changes every 1-2 weeks.
I believe that one of the "scientific geniuses" in the community (maybe Borneman or someone else) started a discussion about how as they get older their diets switch from all herbivorous to part herb, part protein, and they've got to find somewhere to get the proteins from, i.e. corals or something ::shrug:: fishfood? I read it quite a while back.
ninjamini
New member
Well I take full responsibility for this bubble algae. I have not done a water change in weeks. I used to do them 10% every other week. Its been like 5 weeks since I did one.
My nitrates were at 10 ppm according to the test I did at the meeting. That was the lowest reading I ever got.
Phosphates were at .4. That was the highest reading I ever got. I think I will also add some phosban to the tank tomorrow. Anyone have a phosban reactor I can borrow for a few weeks? If not I may just drop some into the sump.
I actually love Emeralds. I think they look really cool. I had one in the tank But I have not seen him in months.
NanoKat - did the emerald do that to the white claw you are looking to replace.
Well it looks like I have some major work to do tomorrow. I need to go to the LFS and get some water. Pull out my corals so that I can get to the rock. Then remove the rock and move it to QT. I will suck off the bubble after its out of the tank.
Looks like its time to redecorate.
Anyone think that my lights can be the cause? There are now a year old.
My nitrates were at 10 ppm according to the test I did at the meeting. That was the lowest reading I ever got.
Phosphates were at .4. That was the highest reading I ever got. I think I will also add some phosban to the tank tomorrow. Anyone have a phosban reactor I can borrow for a few weeks? If not I may just drop some into the sump.
I actually love Emeralds. I think they look really cool. I had one in the tank But I have not seen him in months.
NanoKat - did the emerald do that to the white claw you are looking to replace.
Well it looks like I have some major work to do tomorrow. I need to go to the LFS and get some water. Pull out my corals so that I can get to the rock. Then remove the rock and move it to QT. I will suck off the bubble after its out of the tank.
Looks like its time to redecorate.
Anyone think that my lights can be the cause? There are now a year old.
Since someone stirred this thread, I did some research.
Here it says that they're opportunistic feeders and may turn to corals or inverts to supplement their diets:
http://www.desertcoralaquatics.com/inverts/crabs/green-emerald-crab/prod_11.html
From:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/mithraxfaqs.htm
"Could be either, most crabs are opportunistic feeders, although the Mithrax is generally considered fairly safe. The Coral Banded shrimp is also a known coral sampler. May need to removed both and see if the situation improves"
Sounds like they're safer than a lot of other opportunistic inverts.. but who knows.
Anyways I just wanted to help by providing some more reading into the subject.
Personally I've never had them attack corals, only bubble algae or regular algae, but the day they turn to corals is the day they go for a swim down the Palm Beach County Water and Sewer District line. Free of charge.
Now I've seen my hermits eat coral, and I've seen a peppermint devour a head of candycane (probably trying to get the food inside the head). Stupid reef-safe/not-safe animals. why can't they make up their mind and make it easier for us..?
Here it says that they're opportunistic feeders and may turn to corals or inverts to supplement their diets:
http://www.desertcoralaquatics.com/inverts/crabs/green-emerald-crab/prod_11.html
From:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/mithraxfaqs.htm
"Could be either, most crabs are opportunistic feeders, although the Mithrax is generally considered fairly safe. The Coral Banded shrimp is also a known coral sampler. May need to removed both and see if the situation improves"
Sounds like they're safer than a lot of other opportunistic inverts.. but who knows.
Anyways I just wanted to help by providing some more reading into the subject.
Personally I've never had them attack corals, only bubble algae or regular algae, but the day they turn to corals is the day they go for a swim down the Palm Beach County Water and Sewer District line. Free of charge.
Now I've seen my hermits eat coral, and I've seen a peppermint devour a head of candycane (probably trying to get the food inside the head). Stupid reef-safe/not-safe animals. why can't they make up their mind and make it easier for us..?
