Green Bubble Algae

[thewackyreefer]

Is there really any way to completely rid a tank of green bubble algae once you've got it?

It seems no matter what I do I always end up with the bubbles, I scrub them off (out of the tank) and they always come right back...

Anyone have any suggestions on how to really control or rid a tank of this nuisance?

 

[beaner_12]

you probably have a phosphate problem, or over feeding your fish

 

[thewackyreefer]

Would the elimination of all phosphates kill the algae or just stunt the growth?

 

[skinz78]

I have had it, knocked it down but not out. I added a Foxface Lo and it chowed on the stuff. One day my Koraila decided to run backwards and sucked the fish in... When I found it it was still alive but died from stress. I now have little bubbles appearing in my tank so it is time to get another Foxface.

 

[Sasquatch]

sadly no it won't, unless you catch it right away its the herpe's of reefing, short of cooking the rock Ive never seen a complete removal once established

 

[Hyprviperx]

i believe you can get emerald mithrax crabs to eat the bubble algae. however, i had the same thing and when i put the crab in he went straigh to my star polyps and started to snatch them off one at a time. so if you do get a mithrax watch him... it may have just been an individual experience on my part but id hate to be the cause of someone's corals death.

 

[MitchReef]

Hand Pick it.....these came out of my display about 15 months ago. Haven't seen hardly any since.

 

[skinz78]

Oh wow those were huge!

I have tried Mythrax crabs and they never ate it for me.

 

[Hyprviperx]

i use a plastic set of tweasers and hand pick them too, although ive never had any larger than maybe a BB

 

[Hyprviperx]

Oh wow those were huge!

I have tried Mythrax crabs and they never ate it for me.

after he went after my corals i pulled him out and he never got the chance. haha

i should have used him for sheepshead bait haha :xd:

 

[btkrausen]

How long have you been fighting it? I've been fighting bubble algae for probably 5 months at least. I"ve tried most of everything, as so far the only thing that has at least slowed it down is vodka dosing and manual removal. Miltrax didn't help, foxface hardly touched it. GFO didn't do much either.

I bought some 1/2 inch RO tubing, and sliced it on an angle, so its kinda pointy and flat at the end. Then, I start a syphon from the other end. The water goes from the tank to a filter sock in the sump. Then, siphon still going, I use the RO tubing to scrape off the bubble algae. I've found its much easier like this, and you can get a lot more out much faster.

 

[sprinklerdudes]

i had the red bubble algea, increased the macro algea in the refugium, and upped the magnism n my tank , still have some small pieces in there, but it is declining not spreading