Bubble Algae Eaters?

[Eienna]

I just turned up with some bubble algae...is there anything SAFE for reefs and small fish that will eat it but not starve to death after?

If you don't think so, please say so.
Is it OK to remove it manually, or will it just spread and/or grow back?

 

[fraggingfish]

Our purple and sohal tang tear it all up in one of the frag tanks.
Never seen a tang go downtown on bubble algae.

If you want an algae free tank, try keeping a few tangs your rocks and frags will look spotless.

 

[Eienna]

Our purple and sohal tang tear it all up in one of the frag tanks.
Never seen a tang go downtown on bubble algae.

If you want an algae free tank, try keeping a few tangs your rocks and frags will look spotless.

Thanks for the suggestion...but sadly the tank is only 20g. It would have to be an awfully shrimpy tang XD

 

[Planedoc]

Reef cleaners guarantees that their emerald crabs will eat bubble algae. I've good luck with them not hurting anyone else in the tank. They can get big but maybe you trade him back in for a small on for free at you lfs

Tapatalk on Galaxy S3

 

[uall8up]

+1 on the emerald crab

 

[Barky]

I second on the emerald crabs, they worked well in my 240

 

[Eienna]

I've heard of emerald crabs "going rogue" and eating corals and fish. I'd rather not chance it, especially with my Mandarin (not to mention my frags...)

 

[stan13ag]

My emerald crab moves so slowly if he caught a fish he would have earned it....

 

[Eienna]

My emerald crab moves so slowly if he caught a fish he would have earned it....

LOL!

The females have smaller claws. Maybe they're safer than the males?

I can't risk Spike. He's too dear to me. He sleeps on the sand so he'd be easy prey if a crab tried.

I do have a couple of bluelegged hermit crabs. Think they'll get around to eating it?

 

[Connie]

You can manually remove it, just be careful not to burst them.

 

[danka-cedium]

My red sea sailfin will eat it out of my hand.

He goes after any all algae, and does not bother my anthias, wrasses, dragonet, fire fish, or chromis.

 

[NanaReefer]

I manually remove them with every water change by using a scraping motion and the siphon hose at the same time. Emerald Crabs are hit an miss, varies from crab to crab. My Emerald so far hasn't touched it and my tank is also to small for any type of fish that eats it.


Sent from my iPhone 4s using Tapatalk

 

[Bartmmackey]

Yeah bubble algae is paired oft with diatoms and cyano. Just sayin....

 

[TheReefKeeper]

Yeah bubble algae is paired oft with diatoms and cyano. Just sayin....

Has nothing to do with water quality and diatoms may be present but is not caused by it.

I've gotten rid of my last 3 emeralds they keep eating zoos and SPS polyps so I've had terrible luck with em.

 

[Eienna]

Mine came in on a frag. One I don't want to move (to get the algae off) because it took me a good while to find the exact right position for it to open up properly.

 

[Eienna]

Well, I got as much as I could off. Here's hoping it doesn't come back.

 

[cameronh]

Well, I got as much as I could off. Here's hoping it doesn't come back.

Well did you.find anything that worked for the bubble algae? I know this was from a long time ago but just curious.

 

[stede]

Foxfaxe eat bubble algea

 

[Eienna]

Yes, I did manage to get it off. Took the affected items out of the tank before carefully removing the bubbles by hand and giving it a quick rinse to wash away any reproductive material.

Sadly, I had a tank crash not long after this post, killing all my fish (including my beloved Spike.)

 

[cameronh]

Yes, I did manage to get it off. Took the affected items out of the tank before carefully removing the bubbles by hand and giving it a quick rinse to wash away any reproductive material.

Sadly, I had a tank crash not long after this post, killing all my fish (including my beloved Spike.)

I'm sorry to hear that. What was spike?
The mandarin?