Do Tuxedo urchins eat bubble algae?

[OberlinMichael]

My seven month old tank is overrun with bubble algae. When I set up my 75 gal. tank I transferred two emerald crabs from my first tank, a 40 breeder. Since I didn't want my cute crabs to starve I put about four bubbles of bubble algae (I know, I know, huge mistake which I regret) in the tank, that's all, I swear. Now It's overrun. They're always eating, but aren't making a dent, so I'm wondering if a tuxedo urchin would eat it? Thanks for any info. I really like emerald crabs and have thought about adding two more. The first two are a pair and have exhibited mating behavior, so I'm afraid of upsetting their love nest. Do you think adding two more would be OK, or would that be a mistake? I've heard that Fox faces eat bubble algae, but a 75 gallon is too small for one. And catching fish is so stressful for both them and me, that I don't like the idea of getting a young one and rehoming later.

Sorry for all of the questions. I appreciate your expertise. I've enjoyed lurking up to now.

 

[Hairyteeth]

if you take a metal straw and jam it in your siphon tube and rubber band it together… put the exit side of the tube into a sock filter in your sump and go to town every couple days. This is your best bet.

 

[Sdoutreefer]

Tuxedo urchin won't touch it... I've only had luck with Emerald Crabs. Maybe buy one or two more?

My emeralds didn't seem interested at all in the bubble algae I had in my tank. Then one day, it was all gone! Took months for the one I had to start eating it.

 

[OberlinMichael]

if you take a metal straw and jam it in your siphon tube and rubber band it together… put the exit side of the tube into a sock filter in your sump and go to town every couple days. This is your best bet.

Thanks, I'll try it.

 

[Iballhog]

No, I have one tank packed with the bubble and I find the urchin will sometimes wear the bubble algae like a dress.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

I've heard emerald crabs are some of the best options to fight against CUC

 

[ya_boii]

How are your nutrient levels? It might help to check nitrates and phosphates just to be on the safe side

 

[BriDroid]

I have one emerald crab, and he won't eat it???? I have two more coming today with a coral order so I hope at least one of them likes it! I only have a small patch of it that keeps coming back! My tuxedo urchin never touched it.

 

[Bohemian Waxwing]

EMBRACE THE PITHO CRAB SUPREMACY

 

[kevgib67]

Emeralds always worked for me but ^ this, the pitho crab is the king of bubble algae eradication!

 

[kevgib67]

 

[Idoc]

I've had two crazy outbreaks of bubble algae. I purchased several emerald crabs that were "guaranteed" to eat bubble algae and they didn't touch it! All they did was attack my duncan coral...so they were removed. But both my outbreaks were controlled using Vibrant. If you use it, just watch your other parameters and start slow with it...after about 3-4 weeks, the bubble algae starts to disappear. After it was all gone with the first outbreak, I stopped the Vibrant and I didn't have any more issues with bubble algae for about a year.

 

[twentyleagues]

Another vote for pitho crabs! They work emerald crabs are hit or miss, miss on my part everytime how big a miss varies.

 

[Hairyteeth]

I’ve used vibrant before as well and it work just fine I’m really going for manual control Right now myself, as I’m avoiding chemicals atm…and I have a bit

 

[BryanM]

Don't use vibrant, nasty nasty stuff.

Going down the crab road is fine, just be mindful that if it likes the bubble algae, when it is all gone, it will look for something else to eat, and that very well might be some corals.

I've had to re-home every kind of crab I've ever put or found in my tank. Once they get half dollar size, they start becoming aggressive to softies... in my tank anyway.

 

[Bohemian Waxwing]

Don't use vibrant, nasty nasty stuff.

Going down the crab road is fine, just be mindful that if it likes the bubble algae, when it is all gone, it will look for something else to eat, and that very well might be some corals.

I've had to re-home every kind of crab I've ever put or found in my tank. Once they get half dollar size, they start becoming aggressive to softies... in my tank anyway.

Softies can take the abuse, keep your crabs!!!

 

[BryanM]

Softies can take the abuse, keep your crabs!!!

No no no.

Same with the filefish, who got a taste for cynarinas. Nursed that one back to health, but the fish was off to the LFS.

 

[Bohemian Waxwing]

Ya LPS can’t take much abuse, wise choice.

 

[BriDroid]

Here is one of my newly arrived emerald crabs, 3 hours ago he was bouncing around the back of a FedEx truck, eating my little patch of bubble algae under this hammer frag.

 

[ColorMeGone]

Here is one of my newly arrived emerald crabs, 3 hours ago he was bouncing around the back of a FedEx truck, eating my little patch of bubble algae under this hammer frag.

I need me one of them