Vibrant vs Bubble Algae

[Rollnwthdatide]

It is literally a known algaecide. There is no question about it. It 100% kills algae.

Their legal troubles are for selling an unregistered pesticide. Plain and simple.

They definitely changed the product after initial launch because it sure wasn't any type of algaecide when they initially released it for free and got horrible reviews from initial testers. I stand by what I said, it's still a horrible product.

 

[VintageReefer]

Is it working safely with corals? Acro specifically?

I have a mixed reef and did a few doses of vibrant recently (I think it was 3 doses a week apart) and had no issues. Followed instructions on bottle exactly

I keep a lot of lps and 10 acro frags, have not had any issue

I also used vibrant in the “controversial days” and had positive results. It did eliminate bubble algae but that needed a more aggressive treatment. I didn’t have any issues back then either

Here’s my tank last night, I used vibrant 3x over the last month

 

[Ryan - Serious Reefs]

Not believed. Known.

The new Vibrant label shows this to be true as well

I’m currently using AlgaeFix for bubble algae and chaetomorpha antennina. Bubble algae is usually one of the last algae that it works on but I can say for sure I’m seeing clear or popped bubbles at this point. Almost all the chaeto antennina is gone as well. It seemed to attack the film algae on the glass first, then the chaeto, and now the bubble algae.

Perfect!! Thank you!

 

[Tony Thompson]

Hi @Randy Holmes-Farley with regards the UK and underwater creations product Vibrant. The UK wholesale distributor is Aquarium Connections in London. I have reached out to the distributor to clarify if the new labelling is in use and that any previously incorrectly labeled products have been removed from sale.

I am awaiting a response.

However in the mean time I did a little research and found the same incorrect and misleading marketing material is still being used on some UK LFS websites that still sell the product. Most say out of stock but I did find one that was in stock.

I will be perusing this case further Wirth the relevant authorities in the UK and EU. I have included in my correspondence the EPA USA ruling which can be found here.

EPA Reaches Settlement with Underwater Creations Inc. in St. Louis Park, Minnesota, for Alleged Pesticide Violations | US EPA

EPA News Release: EPA Reaches Settlement with Underwater Creations Inc. in St. Louis Park, Minnesota, for Alleged Pesticide Violations

www.epa.gov

 

[BeanAnimal]

Vibrant never works. I was one of the testers when they initially released and they sent me numerous bottles for free..did absolutely nothing.

It is algaecide — it works, some would argue too well, as it doesn’t know the difference between “good” and “bad” algae.

 

[BeanAnimal]

Likely had zero impact. It's a bad product hence their legal troubles.

The legal troubles are the result of lies about the chemical makeup and have nothing to do with it “working” or not. It is not a “reef” product invented or formulated by the vender , it is rebottled algaecide with a misleading label.

 

[ReefCheef]

I have quite a bubble algae infestion in my 55l tank.
I decided to try dosing Vibrant to see if it would deal with it. But after 6 weeks of dosing weekly. I'm not seeing any change.

It says 1ml weekly for every 10g, so since my tanks only 12g (UK), I've been dosing 1ml every Sunday.

Am I doing something wrong? Do I need to up the dosage or dose more regulary?

just get emerald/pitho crabs. I got 10 for my 450 gallon tank and they cleaned ever inch of it out in 1 month.

 

[rtparty]

They definitely changed the product after initial launch because it sure wasn't any type of algaecide when they initially released it for free and got horrible reviews from initial testers. I stand by what I said, it's still a horrible product.

Proof?

That seems extremely unlikely since UWC was already using it for their maintenance accounts when they decided to sell it

Maybe you didn’t see anything in your system but even from the very beginning, it clearly worked for a lot of people. Hence why it caught on and had massive threads on every forum

 

[VintageReefer]

It’s literally the same thing as algaefix Marie. Anyone using one is using the other. Same thing, two bottles. Well, three bottles :)

 

[JohnNYC8]

I have quite a bubble algae infestion in my 55l tank.
I decided to try dosing Vibrant to see if it would deal with it. But after 6 weeks of dosing weekly. I'm not seeing any change.

It says 1ml weekly for every 10g, so since my tanks only 12g (UK), I've been dosing 1ml every Sunday.

Am I doing something wrong? Do I need to up the dosage or dose more regulary?

As someone who has battled bubble algae I don’t think Vibrant is the answer for a big outbreak. If you kill the bubble algae then you have loads of dead algae rotting in the tank. That could trigger tougher issues to fix. If you have to remove it dead or alive just remove it while it’s alive.

 

[rtparty]

As someone who has battled bubble algae I don’t think Vibrant is the answer for a big outbreak. If you kill the bubble algae then you have loads of dead algae rotting in the tank. That could trigger tougher issues to fix. If you have to remove it dead or alive just remove it while it’s alive.

Simple and routine maintenance takes care of that. Removing bubble algae is next to impossible when it gets into hard to reach areas

 

[JohnNYC8]

Simple and routine maintenance takes care of that. Removing bubble algae is next to impossible when it gets into hard to reach areas

I'm looking at OP's pic and it looks pretty easy to reach.

 

[rtparty]

I'm looking at OP's pic and it looks pretty easy to reach.

You can see every crack and crevice? Back of the rock? Underside of each rock? Impressive

 

[VintageReefer]

You can see every crack and crevice? Back of the rock? Underside of each rock? Impressive

I would also think the back and sides of the rocks is just as bad

 

[Ziggy17]

I'm looking at OP's pic

You can see every crack and crevice? Back of the rock? Underside of each rock? Impressive

You’re a real party…..

 

[rtparty]

You’re a real party…..

Thanks

 

[Reef Puncher]

With that size of tank with limited coral, why don’t you just remove the rock, manually remove, and spray down the rock with hydrogen peroxide?

right i got corals on every rock, covering every inch, i couldnt just take the rocks out, but im facing a similiar issue. but if i was this guy, i would do what you said.

 

[Jaycee]

Based on my experience, I treated a 65-gallon Red Sea Reefer system that developed a significant bubble algae infestation, with some bubbles growing quite large. I used Vibrant at the recommended dosage of 1ml per 10 gallons. During the seven-week treatment, I did not run any GFO or carbon—only a protein skimmer was active.

Throughout the process, I performed a 10-gallon water change each week before dosing 6ml of Vibrant. Over time, the bubble algae began to turn gray and eventually disappeared. However, I experienced a cyanobacteria bloom during the course of treatment, which raised concerns about the side effects.

Currently, I’ve noticed a small patch of bubble algae reappearing. I’m now uncertain whether to treat it again with Vibrant or consider using API Algaefix Marine as an alternative.

 

[gbroadbridge]

Currently, I’ve noticed a small patch of bubble algae reappearing. I’m now uncertain whether to treat it again with Vibrant or consider using API Algaefix Marine as an alternative.

Given AlgaeFix and Vibrant contain exactly the same algaecide, you may wish to pick the cheapest.

Rather than using an algaecide, I'd be looking for a herbivore that eats them.

I have two in my tank, a Scopus Tang and an Foxface rabbit fish.
Both of mine love eating Bubble algae.

 

[pjr]

I've used Vibrant for bubble algae. They recommend an 8 to 12 week doing regiment to eliminate it..... which it did, but crated other tank issues, including onset of slime algae and significant loss in pods and mini-bristle stars. The balance of my tank was greatly upset, and took nearly a year to stabilize.