I spotted!

[Louie3]

I spotted 1 buble algea thing ony 1 it was on my filter. Since I took it out safely with out pooping it. does this meen i'll only see 1-2 bubble every othe month? I've had this tank for almost 2 years and this is the first time i see bubble algea.

[tony]

i found one in mine once also, removed it the same as you. never seen another.

[navyreef]

I think you are okay. The important thing is to get them early, as they spread fast.

[moneytank]

as said earlier, as long as you got it out you should be fine. they tend to spread fast

[Shark_Bait]

I have a few here and there. Anyone know what they thrive on ie: cyno loves phosphates. Would be helpfull to know what we might have to work on if we see these things.

[Louie3]

yea i would like to know to

[navyreef]

IME, a Green/Emerald crab is the most effective way to control bubble algae. They thrive on the stuff. It's actual name is Valonia, I think. It's pretty common, and can be a pain in the arse, but usually easy to treat.

[brewercm]

Anyone know what they thrive on

Saltwater. ;)

JK, I'm not sure that I've ever heard myself. I know that I get them also and really have no other algae in my main system other than one little spot. Now my macro farm in the garage on the other hand does really well at growing cheato and razor caulerpa. I usually just pull the bubble algae off and deal with it that way, I've heard the emerald crabs will eat the smaller ones and control them. Other than that they are just more of a nuisance.

[Louie3]

But arent emerald crabs a strike or miss??? they can chooose wheter they want to eat it or just be lazy shellfish and do nothing

[betiuminside]

I got 2 emerald for the last 4 days and I have several bubble algae and they F!! they are just sittin there and doing nothing... so... I will give them more time.. and see what happens...

[Marlin]

I have 2 emerald crabs and I haven't seen them touch the bubble agae.
Louie:
Sorry, you may have gotten the bubble algae from the live rock I gave you. I didn't see any on it, but it may have carried some spores with it that grew when you introduced it to your tank.
If it's a small amount right now, you may be able to eliminate it by just picking it out.

[Texreefer]

i had it a couple years back in another tank,, emerald crabs didn't work. i tried removing them but inevitably busted one which would release millions of spores.. the problem doubled and tripled everytime i tried anythng. i removed the rock scrubbed it clean, rinsed in fresh water and in a week or so hundreds of them would appear.. my best advice is to leave them alone and keep the conditions for their growth as unfavorable as possible

[Louie3]

Rick:

Oh well, I was bound to get them somewhere eventually.

[GaryP]

There are seven species and I seem to recall emerald crabs will only eat 3 of them. The other good grazer on bubble algae is a foxface. I have one in both of my tanks. The only thing that they won't eat is the really big ones. The big ones sometimes will grow in a crack or crevice the foxface can't get to and by the time it pops out its too big for the fish. Unfortunately, a foxface does require a larger tank and is not appropriate for those of you with tanks less than 75 gals.

All algaes require phosphates and nitrates as their primary nutrients. Phosphates are usually the issue in an aquarium.