Bubble Algae

[CoralClark]

Bubble algae is starting to spread throughout my rank pretty fast... what can I do to try to get this under control?

 

[Lytehouse]

Quickest is removing as much as you can manually.
If you don't get your overflows cleared out you will be continuously repopulating the tank.
I use emeralds in frag system to keep control.

 

[btkrausen]

I tore my tank down and started over, haha. I tried about everything to get rid of it to no avail.

 

[returnofsid]

Manual removal works well, BUT do NOT pop them in the tank. Gently twist them to get them off the rock. Emerald Crabs have mixed results for different people. They've always worked wonders for me though.

 

[sf_ramsden]

Manual removal works well, BUT do NOT pop them in the tank. Gently twist them to get them off the rock. Emerald Crabs have mixed results for different people. They've always worked wonders for me though.

I agree with returnofsid in regards to emerald crabs. You need to find the right kind of emerald crab, usually the bigger ones with the huge claws (I believe these are males). I got one a few weeks ago and he knocked most of it out with not too many problems. He did pick at some acros here and there, and also ate some z's/p's, but for the most part he demolished my bubble algae as well.

The thing with emerald crabs is that they do tend to pop the bubbles, which pretty much keeps the bubble algae around, but at the same time they just keep eating it and eating it so it doesn't really get out of hand. Unfortunately mine died a few days ago and I am not sure why. I will be getting another one once I am back from vacation in a week.

 

[Aquaph8]

I agree with manual removal too. I find it worth it to take the rocks out one at a time and remove the bubbles and then rinse (best to do during a water change). With a little patience youll be back on track in no time. I found the emerald crabs to be worthless on multiple occasions. Good luck

 

[sf_ramsden]

I agree with manual removal too. I find it worth it to take the rocks out one at a time and remove the bubbles and then rinse (best to do during a water change). With a little patience youll be back on track in no time. I found the emerald crabs to be worthless on multiple occasions. Good luck

Unfortunately for some people pulling their rocks out isn't always the best option. I have SPS frags epoxied to my rocks and didn't want to mess them up if I didn't have to. I figured I would go for a more natural solution with the emeralds. Again, they do seem to be hit or miss, but I have had good luck and I know plenty of other people that have no problems with them either.

Reefcleaners . org sells them and they say that they guarantee their emeralds will eat the bubble algae or they will refund you your $$$. Maybe try theirs first: ReefCleaners.org | Clean Up Crews and Macro Algae - Emerald/Ruby Mithrax Crab*

 

[Aquaph8]

Unfortunately for some people pulling their rocks out isn't always the best option. I have SPS frags epoxied to my rocks and didn't want to mess them up if I didn't have to. I figured I would go for a more natural solution with the emeralds. Again, they do seem to be hit or miss, but I have had good luck and I know plenty of other people that have no problems with them either.

Reefcleaners . org sells them and they say that they guarantee their emeralds will eat the bubble algae or they will refund you your $$$. Maybe try theirs first: ReefCleaners.org | Clean Up Crews and Macro Algae - Emerald/Ruby Mithrax Crab*

Ive had a lot of emerald crabs of all sizes over the years and while some ate it here and there, they never completely got rid of it. Ive had emerald crabs mess with other livestock too. I know pulling rocks is a pain but in some cases its necessary. Your frags being out of the water for a short period wont hurt them anyways. If its just not an option, then in tank manual removal is also an option as long as you dont pop them. I tried the natural approach when I had bubble algae years ago and all it got me was a waste of time and a lot more bubble algae.

 

[lars]

i hate bubble algea! my tank is full of large sps growing on rocks and the glass. there's no way to pull my rocks out without desroying the tank. i just try to remove as many as i can every couple days or so. emerald crabs never work for me. they just die off eventually. good luck with them, and i'll be following along.

 

[ScubaJay]

How big is your tank? Add some TANGS if it's big enough.
I recently had a minor bubble algae bloom to the point where it was actually encrusting my vortek's. But even more recently I added some tangs to my tank and HOLY COW they were awesome! I've had emerald crabs and never saw them really do much of anything to the bubble algae, but the tangs devoured it like it was icecream... that is if tangs loved icecream...
It took the tangs a bit to get around to the more hidden clusters, but any bubble algae that was out in the open was gone within a week maybe two. It was a very pleasant, and unexpected, surprise. I wish I could tell you which tang specifically did it as I added 3 (Desjardini Sailfin, Blue-eye Kole, & a Regal), but I'm rarely home and they worked too fast for me to "catch them in the act" :wink:. I have to assume it wasn't the Regal, as their mouth is so tiny, but either the sailfin or the kole could easily have done it. So if you're tank has the room, I would definately consider this approach, tangs are a much nicer addition provided you have room for them (no offense to the emerald crab lovers out there =P ). Hope that helps.

 

[Aquaph8]

It was the Desjardin or (Red Sea Sailfin), they're known to eat bubble algae but Im sure its kinda hit or miss.

 

[Jeepguy242]

i had a similar problem, got 3 emrald crabs, and in a few weeks they had it under control, i now have only 1 emrald left and the bubble algea is coming back, so iguess its time to get 2 more!