The Great Bubble Algae War

[NeutronMan]

I read that someone used Reeflux to kill of bubble algea. It took an extended amount of time but the results were pretty impressive. Ill look and see if I can find the thread.

I think they had to use an awful lot of it to do so and that that comes with some risk. It’s also pretty $$$$

 

[Reefing102]

I have multiple pithos in my tanks. My experience with them has been decent, however, I find them to have a big appetite and are lazy at the same time.

They don’t like to climb it seems and stay close to the sand bed. If I bring the algae to them, they devour it. If I leave it at the tip of the rock work, it stays there untouched for the most part. I noticed they prefer small algae. As an example, I have significant hair algae at the top of one of my reefs. I can pick up a pithos and put it in the algae and there’s no impact because it’s tall and flowy. Do some manual removal to thin it out and then give it to them, and they clean the rock like no other. Not necessarily helpful specifically for your bubble algae but just some insight on my experience with pithos crabs. They demolished my bryopsis though

 

[NeutronMan]

I have multiple pithos in my tanks. My experience with them has been decent, however, I find them to have a big appetite and are lazy at the same time.

They don’t like to climb it seems and stay close to the sand bed. If I bring the algae to them, they devour it. If I leave it at the tip of the rock work, it stays there untouched for the most part. I noticed they prefer small algae. As an example, I have significant hair algae at the top of one of my reefs. I can pick up a pithos and put it in the algae and there’s no impact because it’s tall and flowy. Do some manual removal to thin it out and then give it to them, and they clean the rock like no other. Not necessarily helpful specifically for your bubble algae but just some insight on my experience with pithos crabs. They demolished my bryopsis though

When I had pithos, they just went around knocking my corals over and didn’t touch any algae that I could notice. I don’t know what they were eating but all died within a year and I never replaced them. Same for emerald crabs.

Chemical means have always worked out best for me so I might have to just risk the 4x dose of Reef flux. I’ve used the normal dose to completely remove bryopsis.

 

[NikkiPotnick]

I followed the protocol on Parkers Reef (Youtube). Believe it is about a month long or so? Have not seen one bubble since .

 

[slingfox]

I followed the protocol on Parkers Reef (Youtube). Believe it is about a month long or so? Have not seen one bubble since .

Did you have any issues with the coral from the Continuum product line treatment protocol?

 

[Minifoot77]

I just bought 30 pithos crabs and if this army doesnt do it I may be looking at chemical warfare to. Who is acro dominant that has used a chemical to kill bubble algae?

 

[Moe K Verified Sponsor]

I was mostly acro dominant. I did reef flux and brightwell razor. Both worked great and I did not have any coral death. Things do stagnate in growth for a while. Any macro algae in the sump needs to be replaced once the water is cleared up. The problem is the bubble algae will come right back in a couple months if you do not get a hold of your nutrients.

The only thing I found to work was a few pitho crabs and keeping po4 and nitrate considerable low. Po4 sub 0.06 and nitrate sub 5ppm. This is what I recommend starting with. If you cant keep nutrients low the bubble algae can grow much faster than the cuc can take care of it.

For tanks big enough a fox face will take care of it eventually and you can put it behind you but then you have to be careful with tasty meaty corals like acans, lobos, etc.

 

[NikkiPotnick]

Did you have any issues with the coral from the Continuum product line treatment protocol?

Absolutely zero coral issues. It was pretty amazed to be honest.

 

[Minifoot77]

I was mostly acro dominant. I did reef flux and brightwell razor. Both worked great and I did not have any coral death. Things do stagnate in growth for a while. Any macro algae in the sump needs to be replaced once the water is cleared up. The problem is the bubble algae will come right back in a couple months if you do not get a hold of your nutrients.

The only thing I found to work was a few pitho crabs and keeping po4 and nitrate considerable low. Po4 sub 0.06 and nitrate sub 5ppm. This is what I recommend starting with. If you cant keep nutrients low the bubble algae can grow much faster than the cuc can take care of it.

For tanks big enough a fox face will take care of it eventually and you can put it behind you but then you have to be careful with tasty meaty corals like acans, lobos, etc.

Im in a few grow outs so it will have to wait a year if it causes stagnation... my foxface lo gets what he can reach so it doesnt look crazy and the pithos army will hopefully help too

 

[JTP424]

 

[BubbleAlgaeFarmer]

I hope no stagnation from using AF! My corals just started growing feverishly

 

[Maho.B]

The best manual method I found for bubble algae was a "smoothie" type straw connected to a siphon, I cut the tip of the straw at a slight angle and each water change I would use the straw to pry them off and suck them out. It's a slow process but works ok. In the beginning my biweekly water changes weren't enough frequency so I siphoned them into a filter sock so I could put the water back in the tank and not do an actual water change. Good luck! That stuff is brutal. My corals were growing so well I was to worried about trying an algaecide.

 

[NeutronMan]

Warning!

I just went with the 4x recommended dose of Reef Flux HD and my tank is in peril! Most corals closed tightly and fish hiding/looking stressed.

It’s only been an hour.

I’ve added carbon, skimmer, and air stone.

Don’t do it!