Nuisance algae question

[AlexKilpatrick]

I've gotten rid of almost all of my nuisance algae with the exception of one type. It is the little hard green marble things. I don't know what they are called. I have quite a few in my tank, tending to grow more on the underside out of the light.

I know you are not supposed to pop them, but I was wondeing if anyone had any suggestions on how to deal with them?

Thanks.

[motohead]

pull them out with your hands.they are real hard to pop.i had some in my tank awhile back and yanked em out.have not seen any since.

[Ping]

I am guessing they are bubble algae. I leave some in one spot because I like how it looks. Whenever I see it any where else, I remove it during a water change. I scrub it with a tooth brush as my wife holds the siphon tube over it.

[AlexKilpatrick]

Yeah, I think it is bubble algae. I agree -- they are kind of cool looking, but I don't want them to overgrow everything.

Thanks for the tips.

[Darth-Tater]

I just let the emerald crabs have a picnic on mine. :huh Dang crabs have gotten huge eating it. I have one crab so big it looks like he has a xenia going on his back. The Xenia seems to move around the tank after dark.


DT

[::pete::]

http://www.reefcorner.com/SpecimenSheets/bubble_algae.htm

[bigdscobra]

Yeah i have two big ones growing in the front of my tank I think they look cool :D

[NaCl_H2O]

WARNING: *** Try this at your own risk *** My success is very likely due to my very brisk flow and large system water capacity (~700g)

Here is a little trick I tried the other day, and it worked!

Used a Syringe and needle filled with Muraitic Acid, injected a VERY small amount into bubble algae - the next day I had transparent withering bubbles ;)

Injecting a small amount into Aptasia works too - the neatest part is watching them "Fizz" into goo :skeezy

Again - WARNING, try this at your own risk !!!! A very small amount of Muratic Acid in a smaller tank can quickly drop your PH - I was very closely monitoring my PH while doing this!!!!!!!

[::pete::]

Hmmm ....

[AlexKilpatrick]

As a rough guess, I might have 150 or so of these in my tank. I don't think any kind of manual menthod is going to be feasible. I would have to tear apart my rockwork to get to them also. They are in all kinds of cracks and crevices, as well as on the underside of rocks.

I just added some emerald crabs, so hopefully they will help. It seems like my sally lightfoot is also picking at them, but I am not sure. I'm also hoping that I can keep the skimmer going well enough to starve them of nutrients.

[Polkster13]

It sounds like whay you have is Valona algae. There are actually several different kinds of Valona and the big one's go by the common name of Sailor's Eyes. An emerald crab will eat these IF it is big, like at least two inches across. I put a 3.5 inch emerald crab in my 135 which was covered with 6 different types of Valona and two weeks later you had to really look to find any Valona. Good luck and hopefully your emeralds are big enough that they will start feeding on these little pesky algaes.

Just be aware, that if you pop them, you are releasing hundreds of seeds for new ones to pop up. They can spread as fast, or faster, than aptasia.

[AlexKilpatrick]

Oh, when you said "it is .. at least 2 inches across", I thought you were talking about the bubble itself. Yikes! Luckily, I don't have any that big.

I have about 6 emerald crabs in my tank right now (probably too many). Some of them are about that size, but they have been munching on the easier stuf. They have been mowing that down pretty well, so I am hoping they will turn to the bubbles when they get hungry.

[Polkster13]

They probably will. Just give them time. Once the algae is gone, you will need to move some of those elsewhere. I have only one in my 135 and he keeps it mowed down very well. You will probably need to only keep one or two in your tank to keep the Valona and other algae to a minimum.

[::pete::]

Just be aware, that if you pop them, you are releasing hundreds of seeds for new ones to pop up. They can spread as fast, or faster, than aptasia.


I have to disagree as I have been popping these for years. I know ... thats why you have been popping for years ... not! I have a few that pop up from time to time and I pop them ... gone. Its algae and will form (conditions permitting) if you pop or not.

[Polkster13]

It may be the specific type of Valona that does this. The type I had multiplied quickly and almost took over the tank. I had read several accounts where these spread by having the bubbles popped. Again, there are many types of Valona and I had at least 6 different kinds in my tank. I couldn't get them out fast enough until I got a very large emerald crab from Jaded which practically wiped my tank clean in just a couple of weeks. Pete, you saw my tank before and after I added the crab so you can testify to its effectiveness. It may also be that agressive skimming takes out the seeds before they can get established.

[NaCl_H2O]

It may also be that agressive skimming takes out the seeds before they can get established.

I think that is the key here. I have a fair amount of it, but I also pop it on a regular basis like Pete.

[GaryP]

There are 7 species of Valona. Apparently emerald crabs can be picky as to what species they will eat. The other critter that will eat it is a Foxface. They are less picky about what they will eat. The downside to a Foxface is that they do get large and may not be appropriate for a tank less then 75 gal.

[AlexKilpatrick]

They probably will. Just give them time. Once the algae is gone, you will need to move some of those elsewhere. I have only one in my 135 and he keeps it mowed down very well. You will probably need to only keep one or two in your tank to keep the Valona and other algae to a minimum.

That's a interesting question. How do you know if a crab is underfed? I see mine picking at things on the rock that I can't see at all, so it isn't just a matter of not seeing any visible algae. I guess the alternative is just to let nature takes its course. If there isn't enough food for the population at hand, then some will die, and then the remaining population will be sustainable.

[Polkster13]

That is pretty much the way you tell. If they die, they are not getting enough food.

[Darth-Tater]

Mmmm Survival of the fitest, what a novel concept. :P I gues Darwin was on to something years ago.

Only 176 days of school left but who's counting :lol Wait a minute I am. :P


DT

[GaryP]

Emerald Crabs are not picky eaters. They will scavenge as well as graze on algae.

[gjuarez]

I have been taking mine out with some tweezers but then again I only have a 29 gallon tank. Good luck with it and if you find a solution that works well for you please post. I need an easier way to take it out.