Found a crab that eats bubble algae - Test done in Pico Reef

[Polymate3D]

Hello everyone

So I had bubble algae in a 34L Fluval Flex, and bought 2 different kinds of crab to clean up the tank, and found the bubble algae all but go over a couple of weeks wherever the crabs could get too. Did it die off, or did one of the species eat it?

Well I have a thread up around my 1.7L Pico and in it I placed a gorgonian frag on a plug with bubble algae. It was on a frag rack they couldn't reach, and this is it on various days:

October 26th:

October 27th:

October 31st:

This has happened in a 1.7L IKEA jar Pico reef with just a single invert and the corals. No fish or anything else. The little crab in question is this guy:

I believe he is a Calcinus laevimanus.

I did this as part of my Pico reef development as I knew I could isolate the bubble algae to a single invert and capture what happens.

You can check out the progress of the 1.7L Pico reef here:

1.7L IKEA Pico Jar Aquarium (With 3D Printing)

So that's it. I have seen in the past how bubble algae is a big issue for some. Well I believe at least some of these guys do the job!

- Paul

 

[PapaFishRocks]

Anxiously awaiting replies to see if those indeed do eat bubble algae. If yes, I will get some.

Emerald crabs “supposedly” eat bubble algae

I have 4 in my tank. They eat everything, but the bubble algae. :(

 

[Polymate3D]

Anxiously awaiting replies to see if those indeed do eat bubble algae. If yes, I will get some.

Emerald crabs “supposedly” eat bubble algae

I have 4 in my tank. They eat everything, but the bubble algae. :(

I had the exact same in a previous tank and resulted to removing by hand all the time.

I have 3 of these crabs in my Fluval EVO and there is no signs in there either. The only place I have some other than this 1 frag is on the top of the back wall in the Fluval Flex where they cannot reach.

I am hoping someone else can perform the same test with the same crab or other species. Its hard to do such a test in a normal tank but these baby 1.7L Pico's it is very easy thanks to the heating/flow / lighting already being dealt with.

- Paul

 

[tautog83]

Pitho crab/ emerald crab mix will destroy bubble algae.i have 2 of each and they eliminated all of the bubbke algae in 3 weeks

 

[Sinkers]

Anxiously awaiting replies to see if those indeed do eat bubble algae. If yes, I will get some.

Emerald crabs “supposedly” eat bubble algae

I have 4 in my tank. They eat everything, but the bubble algae. :(

Think Josh from WWC said in a video if you pop it they will eat it, but it could spread some maybe.

 

[stE26wy14]

My emeralds eat mushrooms

 

[Zoalicious812]

Hello everyone

So I had bubble algae in a 34L Fluval Flex, and bought 2 different kinds of crab to clean up the tank, and found the bubble algae all but go over a couple of weeks wherever the crabs could get too. Did it die off, or did one of the species eat it?

Well I have a thread up around my 1.7L Pico and in it I placed a gorgonian frag on a plug with bubble algae. It was on a frag rack they couldn't reach, and this is it on various days:

October 26th:

October 27th:

October 31st:

This has happened in a 1.7L IKEA jar Pico reef with just a single invert and the corals. No fish or anything else. The little crab in question is this guy:

I believe he is a Calcinus laevimanus.

I did this as part of my Pico reef development as I knew I could isolate the bubble algae to a single invert and capture what happens.

You can check out the progress of the 1.7L Pico reef here:

1.7L IKEA Pico Jar Aquarium (With 3D Printing)

So that's it. I have seen in the past how bubble algae is a big issue for some. Well I believe at least some of these guys do the job!

- Paul

Is it possible it just knocked the bubble algae free, guessing it lodged somewhere else in the tank. I hope your hermit did eat it, if I only could convince mine to do the same. Was considering an Emerald, but different posts caused me to hold tight on that.

 

[cobraz]

Having anything that eats them only causes spores to spread in the water column as they are broken...picture a daisy getting blown in the wind when the white seeds fly...same happens when the bubble algae is broken open..the spores are in the inside liquid.
It is best to loosen and vac as many as you can daily until there gone.

 

[Science/G]

Bubble algae do not release spores. It's a myth.
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/popping-bubble-algae-lets-settle-this-once-and-for-all.351858/

 

[56longroof]

Having anything that eats them only causes spores to spread in the water column as they are broken...picture a daisy getting blown in the wind when the white seeds fly...same happens when the bubble algae is broken open..the spores are in the inside liquid.
It is best to loosen and vac as many as you can daily until there gone.

Not true.

 

[cobraz]

I may not be correct by this above "Findings" but ask anyone who has them...when you have they multiple in bunches small to large like a weed. So I will not pop them or have anything eat them..for the simple reason. They came on something and seem to multiple rappedly when we have a natural Predator. So I would siphon them whole and not break them..just my opinion on this one and years of battling them in the past.

 

[cobraz]

Well...maybe I am vindicated...this was in CoralWorld Article. So they can spread spores.

"Bubble algae share a common feature: inside their cells threre are a small reproductive organs (called cystocarps), when the bladder reaches maturity (about one third of its final size), it is capable of producing spores, which will be released into the water if the membrane is torn. The truth is that if the aquarium is mature and has a good filtration system, the chances of a spore becoming an algae are low and most of them die, but an immature system it can be like a freshly plowed field waiting for the first rains to upholster with weeds."