Please help with Bubble Algae, I can't figure it out.

[ryshark]

My 180-gallon tank continues to grow bubble algae and I don't know what else to do. I have spent a lot of money lately on new skimmer, test kits, GAC and GFO reactor and I just can't figure it out.
Phosphate-0 Elos
Nitrate- 1ppm Elos
Alk-8 Elos..... slowly bringing it up, it was 7 when I first got the kit a week ag
RODI water 6-stage... 0-tds
3-Emerald Crabs
50-Mexican Red Leg Hermits (A prior totm said after buying these his Valonia subsided about a month later... I just added them about 4-days ago)
Dual Stage GFO/GAC Bulk Reef Supply Reactor
Just switched from Tropic Marin Pro Reef to DD saltmix
SWC Cone skimmer with Askoll pump
2x Vortech MP40w
tank was set up from my previous tank about 10-months ago.
My coral growth has pretty much stopped since the bubble algae took off
Coralline growth is also way down
Please help, I don't know what to do anymore. Thanks.

 

[rbnice1]

If ti was me I would add about 10-12 emeralds.

I used 3 in a 60 and they killed it off in about a month.

 

[ryshark]

I never see the 3 I have eating it, maybe they do it at night with the lights off.

 

[DARKSILENTTYPE]

If ti was me I would add about 10-12 emeralds.

I used 3 in a 60 and they killed it off in about a month.

+1

I had this issue . Bubble algae can live a LNS tank without any issue . I have a 135 and added 20 emeralds and it was cleaned up in about two months . :beer:

DST

 

[ryshark]

I will buy more emerald crabs. I read somewhere that the males with bigger claws are better????? I wish I knew what the bubble algae was eating in order to spread. The weird thing about the Elos kit I bought today, is that my tank, my tap water and my rodi drain water all test out to be 0

 

[dots]

Try the tests again, just to be sure. The Elos kit is one of the best I have used myself. Make sure you shake the vial carefully between each dropp and do it in a well lit area like a bathroom or kitchen. Then look down on a white piece of paper.

Bubble algae can live in a LNS so don't be alarmed if it is 0. Make sure you do more research on the Mithrax, there is a darker version that people have had more luck with, but unfortunatly like all crabs are opportunistic and may not prefer them first.

 

[ryshark]

Try the tests again, just to be sure. The Elos kit is one of the best I have used myself. Make sure you shake the vial carefully between each dropp and do it in a well lit area like a bathroom or kitchen. Then look down on a white piece of paper.

Bubble algae can live in a LNS so don't be alarmed if it is 0. Make sure you do more research on the Mithrax, there is a darker version that people have had more luck with, but unfortunatly like all crabs are opportunistic and may not prefer them first.

Does LNS stand for Low Nutrient System? Thats my guess, and if I am correct that is not good. :mad2::mad2: I was hoping if I could take its food away then it would die off. I will try the PO4 test again, thanks. I also have the Elos Mg, Alk, and Nitrate test kits. I like those 3.

 

[gregod]

I had a severe bubble algae problem. The large bubbles I pulled by hand and then I added a sailfin tang. He cleaned up most of the rest. If I get any bubble algae in my smaller tank I just stick that piece of rock in the tank with the tang and it is cleaned off in a day.

 

[ryshark]

I forgot to put that on my list, I do have a desjardini tang too because I heard some of them will eat it. Mine of course does not, but it is still fairly small.

 

[MSX-Jeff]

Rabbitfish will eat valonia...well, they'll eat any algae other than bryopsis. Foxface seem to be the best, but all others do well also. The blulined rabbit is a very pretty fish if you are not into the look of the foxface.

 

[ryshark]

Rabbitfish will eat valonia...well, they'll eat any algae other than bryopsis. Foxface seem to be the best, but all others do well also. The blulined rabbit is a very pretty fish if you are not into the look of the foxface.

Thanks Jeff, I will definitely look into that. By the way the skimmer is working great, pulling out lots of chunky nog, I'm glad I decided to go with the Askoll based pump.

 

[MSX-Jeff]

Good to hear you are happy!

 

[reefbro]

Added 5 emerald crabs to my 75 gallon. All bubble algae gone in a couple of days.

 

[ryshark]

I have 3-emeralds now in my 180. I'm going to get about 7-more and a rabbit fish as Jeff mentioned. So far I think I am going with the Siganus doliatus

 

[socalmiket]

I have 3-emeralds now in my 180. I'm going to get about 7-more and a rabbit fish as Jeff mentioned. So far I think I am going with the Siganus doliatus

I have this fish (Scribbled Rabbitfish), it didn't eat any of my bubble algae, but it did eat all my Zoos

Just thought I would warn you, I have heard from others that this fish can be known to munch on zoanthids (mine leaves palys and yellow polyps alone though).

I bought 4 emerald crabs for my 120 gallon, I manually removed the larger bubbles, the crabs took care of the small ones.

- MikeT

 

[coveman]

I had a severe bubble algae problem. The large bubbles I pulled by hand and then I added a sailfin tang. He cleaned up most of the rest. If I get any bubble algae in my smaller tank I just stick that piece of rock in the tank with the tang and it is cleaned off in a day.

I've got a unicorn tang that just kills the stuff! I've got 4 different systems and I just started moving a few pieces of lr at a time over to the tang's system and he cleans it in a day or 2.

 

[redsea reefer]

I have heard Yellow Tangs eat them as well.

 

[ryshark]

I have this fish (Scribbled Rabbitfish), it didn't eat any of my bubble algae, but it did eat all my Zoos

Just thought I would warn you, I have heard from others that this fish can be known to munch on zoanthids (mine leaves palys and yellow polyps alone though).

I bought 4 emerald crabs for my 120 gallon, I manually removed the larger bubbles, the crabs took care of the small ones.

- MikeT

I purchased the Scribbled Rabbitfish "Sp. Doliatus" a little over a week ago(along with more emerald crabs). Fortunately for me it does eat bubble algae. It especially likes to eat it out of the water column after I scrape it off and it will also pick bubbles off the rocks. So far it has not touched any zoas/palys at all. Honestly, I wouldnt care if it did eat zoas as long as he ate the bubble algae. I am way more into sps right now. So far so good, I am starting to feel good about my tank again

 

[ryshark]

I've got a unicorn tang that just kills the stuff! I've got 4 different systems and I just started moving a few pieces of lr at a time over to the tang's system and he cleans it in a day or 2.

The only thing with unicorns is they get HUGE. I don't think it would have been to happy in my 180

 

[ryshark]

I have heard Yellow Tangs eat them as well.

I have heard about Desjardini Sailfins eating it, but that is the only Zebramosa I have heard about. If a yellow tang ate it for somebody, I think they got lucky. Even my Desjardini won't touch it.