not sure if this is bubble algae....maybe

R

reef tank 2.0

Member
This is the only "bubble" i have seen in my whole tank. This flowy bubble is attached to the sand. It's maybe a 1/16 of an inch in diameter. It stationary, but yet sways in the flow.....never leaving that spot.

is that bubble algae? I can't get closer with my phone, it's towards the back of the tank. if you look super duper close, you will see a mini "stem" at the base of it going in to the sand

 
Looks like bubble algae to me. Try to gently pluck it off and scoop it up with a net while not popping it, or scooping it up with some sand while not popping it.
 
Glad to hear. I had a few bubbles pop up but thankfully haven't seen any in a while. I try to catch them early. I know some people just leave them. Anyways glad you took care of it.
 
Yes, that was bubble algae. And yes, there will be more. Just stay on top of it and it's not a big deal, although if you let it grow it will help you lower your nitrates:D
 
i had what i though was going to be a insurmountable plague of bubble algae and 10 emerald crabs later i am hard pressed to find any in my tank a month later.
 
I hear too many stories that people move their Emerald to the sump.........I'd hate to have to buy one and do the same...........

Time to read up on this bubble algae crap........... sigh
 
I too have a lot of bubble algae in my DT almost none in my sump, go figure...

I will not ever put Emerald crabs in my DT again, EVER! My one and only is living his life in the sump and is probably the biggest Emerald crab I've ever seen. He will live there until he dies. :hammer: His crime was eating two royal gramma's. :hammer:
 
I just found another green strand type cluster. I always thought it was my chaeto planting itself, that made its way up to the DT from the sump. Never thought to much about it. I decided to yank it. It was starting to form a root cluster underneath the sand. I looked at it a little closer, and there was in fact a small "bubble" in that cluster as well. In the trash it went :)
 
It's as much fun to pop as bubble wrap :dance: I especially love watching the little "puff" clouds in the tank when I pop them in the tank. More fun than popping them out of the water :thumbsup: :D
 
Does anyone know how long the spores can stay a live on rock if you dry the rock out? I've heard it can live for a while and come back even after drying.
 
If you pull the rock out, scrub it with a tooth brush and hydrogen peroxide.

Then burn the rock and throw it out.
 
My tank ran for about 20 years without a hint of bubble algae until one dang mushroom frag I added that must have had spores (did not have any visible bubble algae) buried in the piece of rock it came on... within about two months of adding, I started seeing little green balls everywhere... :(

Admittedly, it was a FOWLR tank for ten of those years, but still... bubble algae sux!

Btw... you might have some type of Caulerpa macro (rather than bubble algae), since you say it had a small stem. Bubble algae will grow in a cluster of bubbles, Caulerpa will grow in a string or line/row of bubbles, somewhat looking like grapes.
 
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