valonia problems!

[golfbomber]

can anyone suggest what i should do for my valonia breakouts? i have a 55 gallon and have tried to pick them off while i do water changes but it seems that they just keep on poppin up. (i try not to pop them but some are inevitable). i heard emerald crabs are ok but anyone have any experience with them? thx

 

[KDodds]

Is this Valonia or Ventricaria? Valonia can be really insidious because it's so much smaller and so much more difficult to remove completely as a result. With Valonia, I've found that it's very intolerant of nutrient poor environments when there is predation (i.e. your hand removing the majority of it). By contrast, Ventricaria is easier to remove, but seems to be able to hold on indefinitely despite being in nutrient poor conditions (although spread will be MUCH reduced). Ventricaria, I found by accident, is very intolerant of higher heat levels. I had a heater malfunction that raised temps to the high 90's. This eradicated the Ventricaria.