I’m wondering what these shiny little clusters are all over my live rock?

[redrocketfish]

Could anyone help me identify these shiny little bumps or clusters all over my live rock?

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

That is bubble algae.

 

[JNalley]

If the clusters are all the same as what's on the frag plug, it's bubble algae, see below:

There are a few cleanup crew members that will eat it, most commonly people employ the use of Emerald Crabs.

 

[kindafun]

They are bubble algae. Get them out however you can, including manually. I have a Foxface Rabbitfish that helps me by eating them.

 

[VintageReefer]

It’s a pest algae and you should remove and dispose of asap before your tank is overrun. They sting corals they touch and they multiply fast. Very few things eat them. Snails won’t touch them. Emerald crab is hit or miss. Pithos crab eats them but also eats corals. The few fish that eat them are larger fish that need big tanks. Best bet is remove before it’s an infestation. Which can happen fast.

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

It’s a pest algae and you should remove and dispose of asap before your tank is overrun. They sting corals they touch and they multiply fast. Very few things eat them. Snails won’t touch them. Emerald crab is hit or miss. Pithos crab ears then but also eats corals. Best bet is remove before it’s an infestation. Which can happen fast.

While bubble algae is considered nuisance algae, it certainly doesn't sting corals, lol. I don't know of any algae that can do that.

 

[VintageReefer]

@EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal
How dare you laugh at me, my advice is spot on. V.R. Certified and Fact Checked

Post something so I can laugh at you back! Don’t make me dig through the archives and bring back old posts just for mocking laugh reactions!

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

*And before someone posts "don't pop the bubbles because it will release spores", you can pop these as much as you want -- there are no spores

 

[VintageReefer]

While bubble algae is considered nuisance algae, it certainly doesn't sting corals, lol. I don't know of any algae that can do that.

It does! Many corals, smaller ones, will not open if bubble algae is touching it

Zoa colonies can have 100 open polyps, but those that touch bubble algae will remain closed and die off

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

It does! Many corals, smaller ones, will not open if bubble algae is touching it

Zoa colonies can have 100 open polyps, but those that touch bubble algae will remain closed and die off

That doesn't mean it stings the coral...

 

[Borat]

These are lovely pets.. holy grail bubble algae..

You should count yourself incredibly lucky (NOT)!

 

[VintageReefer]

*And before someone posts "don't pop the bubbles because it will release spores", you can pop these as much as you want -- there are no spores
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That doesn't mean it stings the coral...

Irritates. 24/7. And when irritated, they stay closed. And when closed they don’t get light. And then they eventually die

And they are invasive and will take over more and more of your life rock, they block inlet grates on weirs and power heads reducing flow.