Bubble Algae

[greasemonkey]

What is the best way to deal with bubble algae? I have quite the little outbreak in my 10 gal. I want to buy an emerald crab for it anyway, but would like to have a couple of other ways of controlling this stuff. One of these bubbles is the size of a golfball. Thanks, James

[StephenA]

Water changes, less feeding, manual removal (DO NOT pop them). Emeral crabs only eat one of the many kinds. Let it run its course and it should slow down.

[Andrew]

I turn off all circulation, then use clear tubing to suck the suckers ;) off LR when i do water changes. Emerald crabs work ok, but will sometimes munch on other things. I had one that developed a taste for soft corals and corraline algae :o .

Andrew

[caz]

my emerald crab has taken care of mine..

[greasemonkey]

OK, so emerald crab may not be the solution. With manual removal, is it better to remove the rock from the tank, or remove it in tank, during water change?

[StephenA]

I would just remove it in the tank during a water change.

[GaryP]

With a tank that small, I would take the rock out and remove it in a bucket of salt water. That way, any spores released by ruptured bubles won't be in your tank water.

Ordinarily I would recommend a Foxface for bubble algae control. They are a lot less picky about which species they eat then an emerald crab. However, your tank is to small for a Foxface.

[NaCl_H2O]

If a Foxface or Emerald eats bubble algae in your tank, don't the spores get released anyway - think about it! Same logic as when folks say don't tear your caulerpa, take out full pieces, or "feed it to your Tangs" ... guess I don't follow this logic :wacko

Bubble algae isn't harmful, unless in plague levels simply because it competes for space on the LR and doesn't look as purty as coraline algae. Nutrients in the water are keeping the bubble algae going, try to attack the nutrients - skimmer, refugium, etc.

Physical removal will temporarily solve the aesthetic problem, but not the cause. Actually, any algae is "good" because it is a nutrient export. I have tons of algae, including bubble, I just keep most of it in my refugium ;)

Don't be overly paranoid about bursting the bubbles, let the skimmer pull out the spores. Remove what you can for aesthetics, but work on your nutrient export somehow.

Just one semi-experienced reefer's opinion :P

[StephenA]

I agree Steve, When my Rabbit fish eats them they pop!

I don't think it's harmful. I think some placed here and there is very natural looking. I've never removed bubble algea from my tank.

[GaryP]

Yes, they pop and the spores are released and new bubble algae sprouts, and the foxface eat it, and so on and so on. The important fact is that there is a control measure in place vs. none. I agree that is not as bad as some other nuisance algaes, but you still don't want it to get out of control. I usually let it get large before trying to remove it. Its easier to remove without popping it when it is large and has thicker skin.

I also sometimes siphon on the larger ones when I do a water change. That way I feel the siphon pulls out most of the spores as well as the skin if it breaks.

[StephenA]

I have a Scribbled Rabbit fish.



I usually let it get large before trying to remove it


Same here, it's more fun when they get huge.