WHAT IS THIS

[rcasa]

I found this on one of my Zoas, it’s like a air bubble but when grabbed and held it’s hard?? Any clue?

 

[D.WhiteShark]

Bubble algae. Is there any more? Best to just toss that. It looks kinda cool but can become problematic. Many people have had luck with emerald crabs taking it out. I'd just keep a look out for it in the future and remove it as you see it.

 

[JTP424]

+1 for bubble algae, keep it out of the tank :)

 

[Emmanuelkoll]

Bubble algae, usually Valonia, has turned into a real plague in my tank. It spread fast and now it’s everywhere on the rockwork. What starts as a few bubbles easily turns into dozens once it finds the right conditions.

From what I’ve seen, it shows up due to a mix of available nutrients, especially phosphate, decent lighting, and mature rock full of small crevices where it can really lock in. It likely came in on live rock or frags and once it settled, it took off. The tank itself is stable, which ironically makes it easier for this stuff to grow.

The biggest problem is how tough it is to deal with. The bubbles attach extremely hard to the rock, and when they pop during removal, they seem to spread even more. Manual removal helps, but it’s slow and frustrating, and missing a few bubbles just means they come back again.

Nutrient control helps over time, but this is not something that disappears overnight, even with low numbers. I’ve tried keeping phosphate in check, but Valonia clearly doesn’t need much to survive. Emerald crabs may help a bit, but they’re not a magic solution and can’t keep up once it gets established.

At this point it’s clear that bubble algae isn’t just a cosmetic issue. If it gets a foothold, it can completely take over sections of the tank and crowd out corals. Definitely one of the most annoying algae problems I’ve dealt with.

 

[Biokabe]

Bubble algae, usually Valonia, has turned into a real plague in my tank. It spread fast and now it’s everywhere on the rockwork. What starts as a few bubbles easily turns into dozens once it finds the right conditions.

From what I’ve seen, it shows up due to a mix of available nutrients, especially phosphate, decent lighting, and mature rock full of small crevices where it can really lock in. It likely came in on live rock or frags and once it settled, it took off. The tank itself is stable, which ironically makes it easier for this stuff to grow.

The biggest problem is how tough it is to deal with. The bubbles attach extremely hard to the rock, and when they pop during removal, they seem to spread even more. Manual removal helps, but it’s slow and frustrating, and missing a few bubbles just means they come back again.

Nutrient control helps over time, but this is not something that disappears overnight, even with low numbers. I’ve tried keeping phosphate in check, but Valonia clearly doesn’t need much to survive. Emerald crabs may help a bit, but they’re not a magic solution and can’t keep up once it gets established.

At this point it’s clear that bubble algae isn’t just a cosmetic issue. If it gets a foothold, it can completely take over sections of the tank and crowd out corals. Definitely one of the most annoying algae problems I’ve dealt with.

Most snails won't eat bubble algae, you need to either manually remove it or bring in a more specialized consumer. Foxfaces, emerald crabs and pitho crabs are about the only things I'm aware of that eat it. Of those, emeralds are the most common but also the most unreliable. They will eat it, but only after they've exhausted other sources. Pithos love bubble algae and will actively seek it out. Foxfaces usually take some time to discover it, but once they do they eat it with gusto and are probably the fastest way to get rid of a really bad bubble infestation.

If your tank is large enough for a foxface and your livestock will play nice with it (which is usually the case) then a foxface is usually the best control for bubble algae. Barring that, get some pitho crabs if you can find them. Emeralds will work, but if I'm being honest I've never had much success with controlling bubble algae through emerald crabs.

Manual removal is really only feasible if you happen to catch bubble algae when it's just getting started. I think the idea that popping the bubbles spreads the algae is a myth, but whether it is or not, it's just too easy for bubble algae to wedge itself into tight corners that you can't really get at. I think bubble algae is definitely one where you need a living consumer to handle it.

 

[Emmanuelkoll]

I think prevention is by far the best approach. Strong, effective dips on corals and careful treatment of any rock before it goes into the tank make a huge difference. Once bubble algae establishes itself in the rockwork, you’re mostly playing defense.

 

[Biokabe]

Yeah, prevention is best, but once it's already in the tank it's a little late to start preaching prevention.

 

[rcasa]

Amazing, honestly never seen this and yes I did pop and end up finding it out pretty fast.

Thank all of you guys for advice and knowledge. Helps me and others a lot.

 

[ColorMeGone]

Go get your some Pitho crabs