Valonia Removal

[Harville]

Hi

I don't know if I'll be helping anybody or not...
But, for the last two years or so I have been battling bubble algae.

No matter what I tried ( reduced feedings, Manual removal by hand, increase water change schedule, Mithrax crabs , Rabbitfish, more Mithrax crabs etc. ) Nothing seemed to make a differance.

So, after being fustrated for a long time with constantly battling this, I decided that I would devout an entire day doing whatever I could think of to remove this problem of mine.

My best idea was to use 16 inch ( not that size should matter ) stainless steel tongs to remove the algae that I could not by hand ( embeded in rock, hard to reach areas etc. )

Well, it took me a couple of hours but I suprisingly removed all the bubble algae that my eyes could see. ( I popped a couple dozen of them in the process though. )

The tongs did a fantastic job of pulling them from the rocks ( much better that my hand could ever do ! )

Despite the fact that I surley popped several of them and released thier spores into the water, I am yet to see any new Valonia forming ( this was about a week ago )

So I am keeping my fingers crossed as I believe I may have finally solved my problem.

I hope this info could be of possible use to someone who has also tried "everything" to no avail.

-That's all.

 

[keckles]

According to a local source (Travis L. Stevens), Valonia are often popped before reaching the stage of sexual maturity. Basically, when they pop they're firing blanks.

Manual removal has always been the best method IMO.

 

[graveyardworm]

I've been battling valonia much like you describe for a solid 2 years. I too have tried everything, the long tongs is by far the easiest way to remove them, I also incorporate the use of a siphon hose to help suck out any possible spores as they pop. Give it 2 - 3 weeks and they'll most likely be back. As soon as you see them starting to come back begin a continual removal process everyday or everyother day, as much time as you can devote to it. I'm sure this method would work I just am never able to completely follow through I either get busy at work or something else comes up plus I begin to get frustrated with it. Good luck.

 

[skeeter-doc]

whenevr I see any, I always pop them when doing a water change, and pop them right in front of my siphon tube so as to not allow any gametes to settle and grow anew; just a thought

 

[wds21921]

I've had Valonia for several years and at best all you can do is remove the ones you can see.
I think like most types of algaes, if you see one you've got 3 on the way.
It does help to not pop them at all if you can. Even siphoning is no guarantee of removal.