Why does Valonia (bubble algae) get such a bad rap?

ACBlinky · 10/02/2007, 10:45 AM

Just curious, why does everyone hate Valonia (bubble algae) so much? IME it's easy to remove, doesn't grow very quickly, and hey - it's using up nutrients just like any macro would. I have a little patch of Valonia in my display, along with some Halimeda, and don't mind either. They're pretty, slow-growing, not really invasive, don't bother the corals... and I have to admit, visitors are always most intrigued by the shiny green 'coral'

So why is Valonia getting such a bad rap?

gregrex · 10/02/2007, 10:52 AM

My little valonia bubbles detach, travel to the sump and jam up my skimmer. I guess it's an easy enough problem to avoid, but that's my main valonia related beef.

landlord · 10/02/2007, 10:58 AM

Many algae species look rather attractive in small quantities. I think that the beef comes from those with large amounts that become rather uncontrolable.

FWIW --landlord

amike5 · 10/02/2007, 11:00 AM

They aren't always easy to remove, certain types do grow fast and take over large areas, they can grow quite large.

adw · 10/02/2007, 11:48 AM

I used to feel the same way when I had more space in my tank and the algae was limited to a certain area. Now that space is at a premium and the stuff has managed to spread it self all over the tank it's constant fight to keep up with it. Halimedia can be a real pain in the arse once it's got a foot hold.

seapug · 10/02/2007, 12:25 PM

I'd rather have bubble algae than bryopsis or derbesia, but it can be a big pain like any other.

All algae can be nice if they stay in small patches in one place. The problem is they usually don't.

advice1 · 10/02/2007, 12:31 PM

i just have one small bubble whats the best way to remove it?

SaltyDr · 10/02/2007, 02:20 PM

Pop it. Just kidding. Gently pry it loose and pluck it out. Popping it will release the spores and soon you'll have lots of baby bubbles.

MTB · 10/02/2007, 02:35 PM

Syphon it out. Easiest way IMO.

filmoholic · 10/02/2007, 02:52 PM

Good post becouse it really does have a bad rep.Dosent seem too have a lot of bad reasons for a bad rep tho.

Toddrtrex · 10/02/2007, 03:23 PM

I can't stand the stuff. In fact I am going to re-do my 58 because of it. IME, it does grow fast and it a huge PITA to get off of rocks. I have no issues with any other algae in my tank, but that stuff is out of control.

SDguy · 10/02/2007, 03:27 PM

Like any other algae, if it covers every inch of space in your tank, you will hate it.

That said, I remember mail ordering valonia for my tank back in the day

Cool green pearls!

Justin James · 10/02/2007, 03:29 PM

I've had a few bubbles of it along with 1 single aptasia that havn't spread yet since I setup the tank in earlie June 07. It's a joke to get rid of compared to Dinoflagelents... "TRUST ME"!!!

Toddrtrex · 10/02/2007, 03:38 PM

Tank looks nice from a far,

but...

I've stopped taking pictures of that tank because of that stuff.

jman77 · 10/02/2007, 03:59 PM

"Just curious, why does everyone hate Valonia (bubble algae) so much? "

you're kidding me right?

Anemone · 10/02/2007, 05:19 PM

Hey Todd,

Did you know you have bubble algae?

Kevin

xtm · 10/02/2007, 06:21 PM

I think there are two kinds of Valonia.. one that is tiny and grows in clusters and one that grows huge like marbles, but doesn't multiply fast.
I HATE the tiny clustered ones.. they look so gross and terribly hard to remove. Just thinking about it makes me want to throw up

spleify · 10/02/2007, 06:40 PM

This crap took me 4 hours to get out of one of my refugiums. Finally I ended up tearing the whole thing down, taking it out back, and hosed out the refugium with the hose. Luckily (and I don't know how) none of it made it into the display. I bought a frag from my LFS, and it had 1 bubble on it, and I thought awww how cute, a piece of bubble algae. Within 8 days that's what I had on my hands.

Justin James · 10/02/2007, 06:42 PM

Green emerald crabs eat it. Just pop a couple of thouse bad boys in there and poof! It's gone!

gillies · 10/02/2007, 06:47 PM

I just restarted my entire system a few months back because of valonia hell. The stuff just kept spreading and spreading in a system that had been up about five years. Lost a lot of my best corals in an attempt to house them in a stock tank while new rock cycled. Now I'm rebuilding with frags. And to think, when I first saw it in my tank way back when... I thought it was pretty.

At first sign, I now pick it out with an exacto knife while holding siphon right next to it. Bye, Bye.

VALONIA HELL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

trmiv · 10/02/2007, 06:48 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Justin James
Green emerald crabs eat it. Just pop a couple of thouse bad boys in there and poof! It's gone!

I'm apparently not paying my emerald crab enough, because he won't touch it.

DrBegalke · 10/02/2007, 06:58 PM

IME, only the larger emerald crabs eat it.

jman77 · 10/02/2007, 07:03 PM

I've tried small , large, female , & male emerald crabs , non have touched the stuff... i think it's a dam urban myth

Toddrtrex · 10/02/2007, 09:05 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Anemone
Hey Todd,

Did you know you have bubble algae?

Kevin

Don't like you anymore.

It is the bain of my existence, I have 45 lbs of new rock curing rock now for when I replace all the old rock in that tank. Going to be a HUGE project, will have to clean out the sump and the overflow.

ACBlinky · 10/02/2007, 09:34 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jman77
"Just curious, why does everyone hate Valonia (bubble algae) so much? "

you're kidding me right?

Not at all, this was a serious post! I do get frustrated with the Halimeda sometimes because I have to prune all the bits trying to grow in the rest of the tank (it's only allowed to stay in one area, but I don't think it knows that), but the bubble algae is easy to manage. I put my arm in the tank about once a month to scrape coralline off the back wall, and take the opportunity to spend a few minutes peeling off any bubbles that have popped up in 'off limits' areas.

One thing I didn't consider is real estate - our tank is very lightly populated with corals, because we lost so much when we moved house (and before that the tank wasn't exactly stuffed; we were still buying new corals to fill out the 90g after our upgrade). In a heavily stocked tank I imagine it would be much more of a pain to pull out the algae from between corals.

Thanks for all the replies guys, I really did wonder why everyone hated this stuff so much, now I have a better idea. I'd still rather have Valonia on my rockwork than Bryopsis, Caulerpa or hair algae, but I can understand now why you all get so frustrated

10/02/2007, 10:45 AM	#1
ACBlinky Premium Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Peterborough, ON, Canada Posts: 4,954 Blog Entries: 20	Why does Valonia (bubble algae) get such a bad rap? Just curious, why does everyone hate Valonia (bubble algae) so much? IME it's easy to remove, doesn't grow very quickly, and hey - it's using up nutrients just like any macro would. I have a little patch of Valonia in my display, along with some Halimeda, and don't mind either. They're pretty, slow-growing, not really invasive, don't bother the corals... and I have to admit, visitors are always most intrigued by the shiny green 'coral' So why is Valonia getting such a bad rap? __________________ "The cure for anything is salt water: sweat, tears, or the sea." - Isak Dinesen Current Tank Info: 150g mixed reef, 30g sump/refugium, LED lighting, 100lbs LR, coral beauty, flame angel, blue & yellow tangs, gobies, damsels, 6-line wrasse, lawnmower blenny, dottyback, clown pair, rabbitfish, shrimp, crabs, CUC.

10/02/2007, 10:58 AM	#3
landlord Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Alexandria, KY Posts: 1,937	Many algae species look rather attractive in small quantities. I think that the beef comes from those with large amounts that become rather uncontrolable. FWIW --landlord __________________ Forget the Turtle Man, you got the Coral Man Live Action Fragging! Current Tank Info: 90 Gallon SPS Reef (Sump, Fuge, Skimmer, CX reactor, Chemical filtration, Overflow) by Lifereef, 2x400W 20K Radiums on IceCaps, 2x39W T5 "For fun", RK2, 4x Tunze 6055, Aqua Logic 1/3 HP Chiller, DIY RO/DI ATO 2-Part via Litermeter. Lotsa Clownfish

10/02/2007, 11:48 AM	#5
adw Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Ashland MA Posts: 623	I used to feel the same way when I had more space in my tank and the algae was limited to a certain area. Now that space is at a premium and the stuff has managed to spread it self all over the tank it's constant fight to keep up with it. Halimedia can be a real pain in the arse once it's got a foot hold. __________________ When asked if he had any regrets about throwing the man through the window, Barkley said, "I regret we weren't on a higher floor." "It's all about bucks kid, the rest is conversation." Gordon Gecko Current Tank Info: 36x24x24 90 gal with 40B sump, 2x RADION XR30W, AC3, Tunze osmulator, Octopus XP-2000SSS Cone Skimmer, KORALLIN C-1501, MP40 and 2 Hydor PHs

10/02/2007, 12:25 PM	#6
seapug Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: 4980 ft. Posts: 7,954 Blog Entries: 1	I'd rather have bubble algae than bryopsis or derbesia, but it can be a big pain like any other. All algae can be nice if they stay in small patches in one place. The problem is they usually don't. __________________ insert clever saying here. Current Tank Info: 200 gallon custom Marineland DD peninsular tank. LPS dominated mixed reef. Previous 90 gallon mixed reef TOTM April 2009.

10/02/2007, 02:35 PM	#9
MTB Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Illannoy Posts: 1,365	Syphon it out. Easiest way IMO. __________________ Got Frags? Current Tank Info: 40 breeder. Kessil lights. Reef octopus skimmer. Vortec mp40 x2.

10/02/2007, 10:52 AM	#2
gregrex Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Nova Scotia, Canada Posts: 154	My little valonia bubbles detach, travel to the sump and jam up my skimmer. I guess it's an easy enough problem to avoid, but that's my main valonia related beef.

10/02/2007, 11:00 AM	#4
amike5 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Englewood, CO Posts: 724	They aren't always easy to remove, certain types do grow fast and take over large areas, they can grow quite large.

10/02/2007, 12:31 PM	#7
advice1 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Stamford, CT Posts: 123	i just have one small bubble whats the best way to remove it?

10/02/2007, 02:20 PM	#8
SaltyDr Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Southwest Florida Posts: 1,191	Pop it. Just kidding. Gently pry it loose and pluck it out. Popping it will release the spores and soon you'll have lots of baby bubbles.

10/02/2007, 02:52 PM	#10
filmoholic Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: columbus oh Posts: 154	Good post becouse it really does have a bad rep.Dosent seem too have a lot of bad reasons for a bad rep tho.

10/02/2007, 03:23 PM	#11
Toddrtrex Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Carol Stream, IL Posts: 23,162	I can't stand the stuff. In fact I am going to re-do my 58 because of it. IME, it does grow fast and it a huge PITA to get off of rocks. I have no issues with any other algae in my tank, but that stuff is out of control. __________________ Click my name and then "visit toddrtrex's homepage" for tank pictures Current Tank Info: 210g reef and 65g reef

10/02/2007, 03:27 PM	#12
SDguy Fish heads unite! Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: San Diego Posts: 23,384	Like any other algae, if it covers every inch of space in your tank, you will hate it. That said, I remember mail ordering valonia for my tank back in the day Cool green pearls! __________________ Peter SDMAS member Marine tanks since 1989. ><((((º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸><((((º> ·´¯`·.¸. , . .·´¯`·.. ><((((º> Current Tank Info: 240g butterfly and angel FOWLR. 15g QT.

10/02/2007, 03:29 PM	#13
Justin James Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: NS, Canada Posts: 510	I've had a few bubbles of it along with 1 single aptasia that havn't spread yet since I setup the tank in earlie June 07. It's a joke to get rid of compared to Dinoflagelents... "TRUST ME"!!!

10/02/2007, 03:38 PM	#14
Toddrtrex Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Carol Stream, IL Posts: 23,162	Tank looks nice from a far, but... I've stopped taking pictures of that tank because of that stuff. __________________ Click my name and then "visit toddrtrex's homepage" for tank pictures Current Tank Info: 210g reef and 65g reef

10/02/2007, 03:59 PM	#15
jman77 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: West Palm Beach, Florida Posts: 2,391	"Just curious, why does everyone hate Valonia (bubble algae) so much? " you're kidding me right?

10/02/2007, 05:19 PM	#16
Anemone Cloning Around Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Valencia, California Posts: 25,267	Hey Todd, Did you know you have bubble algae? Kevin __________________ Back in the pool, swimming with the sharks... Current Tank Info: Red Sea 425XL w/Kessil AP700, Vertex 180i Skimmer, 2 x Vortech MP40s

10/02/2007, 06:21 PM	#17
xtm Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Panorama City, CA Posts: 4,703	I think there are two kinds of Valonia.. one that is tiny and grows in clusters and one that grows huge like marbles, but doesn't multiply fast. I HATE the tiny clustered ones.. they look so gross and terribly hard to remove. Just thinking about it makes me want to throw up __________________ Function before fashion Current Tank Info: 120g SPS Tank (48x24x24)

10/02/2007, 06:40 PM	#18
spleify Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Denver, Colorado Posts: 9,579	This crap took me 4 hours to get out of one of my refugiums. Finally I ended up tearing the whole thing down, taking it out back, and hosed out the refugium with the hose. Luckily (and I don't know how) none of it made it into the display. I bought a frag from my LFS, and it had 1 bubble on it, and I thought awww how cute, a piece of bubble algae. Within 8 days that's what I had on my hands. __________________ Make it a Great Day!!!! Current Tank Info: 60 gal SPS cube, with 25 gal refugium, 400W MH, DIY Lumenarc III, DIY skimmer, DIY stand and canopy. 40 breeder LPS with 40 gallon sump, DIY stand, 250W MH

10/02/2007, 06:42 PM	#19
Justin James Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: NS, Canada Posts: 510	Green emerald crabs eat it. Just pop a couple of thouse bad boys in there and poof! It's gone!

10/02/2007, 06:47 PM	#20
gillies Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 901	I just restarted my entire system a few months back because of valonia hell. The stuff just kept spreading and spreading in a system that had been up about five years. Lost a lot of my best corals in an attempt to house them in a stock tank while new rock cycled. Now I'm rebuilding with frags. And to think, when I first saw it in my tank way back when... I thought it was pretty. At first sign, I now pick it out with an exacto knife while holding siphon right next to it. Bye, Bye. VALONIA HELL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

10/02/2007, 06:58 PM	#22
DrBegalke Go Buckeyes! Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Phoenix area, AZ Posts: 2,599	IME, only the larger emerald crabs eat it. __________________ ~Jason Begalke Current Tank Info: Latest project: JBJ Cubey

10/02/2007, 07:03 PM	#23
jman77 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: West Palm Beach, Florida Posts: 2,391	I've tried small , large, female , & male emerald crabs , non have touched the stuff... i think it's a dam urban myth