ok to pop small bubble algae as method to kill it?

jeffgnz · 02/19/2008, 09:59 PM

I know the big bubbles have spores but what about the tiny baby ones ? if they do not contain spores is simply popping them with a pincher a good way to kill them?

Burbs · 02/19/2008, 10:01 PM

ive tried that in the past and its like they fill back up, if you pop i still say remove it

MTB · 02/19/2008, 10:02 PM

Small bubbles have spores too. I would syphon it out with the pumps offf in the tank. Trying not to pop it of course.

jeffgnz · 02/19/2008, 10:06 PM

easier said than done, i have 100's of them forming. I took out several rocks yesterday during a wc and scraped a lot off. I think I'm going to have to find something to eat them like a foxface or sailfin, i can't get emerald crabs in new zealand. Think Rowa Phos with a reactor would suffocate it?

Stealth91RT · 02/19/2008, 10:31 PM

I used to pick them off by hand just made sure to be careful and not pop them. I haven't seen any more pop up in the past six months.

kindafun · 02/19/2008, 11:41 PM

I think they just have to be removed by whatever means you can. Careful is best. I haven't heard people having success by chemical warfare.

Wh0wantsrice · 02/19/2008, 11:58 PM

dont pop bubble alage it will regrow even more

epstein · 02/20/2008, 07:37 AM

and regrow with a vengance........Resist the urge ...Dont Pop.....Dont Inject....

snarkes · 02/20/2008, 10:59 AM

I know some have had mixed reactions, but I've always had success with adding Emerald Crabs to a tank... and eliminating bubble algae.

matt880305 · 02/20/2008, 11:03 AM

some of the red slime chemicals get ride of it

papagimp · 02/20/2008, 11:06 AM

I tried the not popping them thing, they kept spreading no matter what I did. I recntly went in and popping all I could, literally just scrapping away at the rocks with my bare hands. 2 weeks later, i now have 1/2 the bubble aglae in the tank and no new growth showing up yet. Can't grow new stuff if it's been outcompeted by macro in my fuge and the 2L sized phosphate reactor i'm running.

Amoore311 · 02/20/2008, 11:10 AM

Here's my personal theory on bubble algae. Keep in mind I have only had very small quantities of it. But I'm including some common sense here too

I've always just pulled em off the rock manually. Some have broken, some have not. If you were to add something that eats bubble algae, it would be pupping the bubble to lol. The emerald crab doesn't insert some magic straw into the algae and suck all the spores out. SO in essence it would be the same difference if you broke the bubbles yourself and manually removed as much as you could.

I have it pop up randomly every couple months in very small patches in low flow spots in my tank. By small patches I mean 5-7 bubbles that I just scrape or pull off as they sprout.

papagimp · 02/20/2008, 11:11 AM

Hey look, it's my new york doppleganger again, lol

I like the magic straw comment, my thoughts exactly. and for the record, not all the bubbles will contain spores. Just no way for the average hobbyist to know which ones do.

02/19/2008, 09:59 PM	#1
jeffgnz Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: New Zealand Posts: 206	ok to pop small bubble algae as method to kill it? I know the big bubbles have spores but what about the tiny baby ones ? if they do not contain spores is simply popping them with a pincher a good way to kill them?

02/19/2008, 10:02 PM	#3
MTB Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Illannoy Posts: 1,365	Small bubbles have spores too. I would syphon it out with the pumps offf in the tank. Trying not to pop it of course. __________________ Got Frags? Current Tank Info: 40 breeder. Kessil lights. Reef octopus skimmer. Vortec mp40 x2.

02/19/2008, 10:31 PM	#5
Stealth91RT Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Oklahoma City Posts: 355	I used to pick them off by hand just made sure to be careful and not pop them. I haven't seen any more pop up in the past six months. __________________ -Richard "My friends look at me funny and ask why I have massive bags of white powder sitting by my tank!" Lol Current Tank Info: 75Gal. ; (12X3w) LED Bar ;(4) Overdiven T-5's W/Icecap Reflectors; Nautilus TE Skimmer W/Recirc.Mod; Phosban150 converted into Cal Reactor ; 250w Titanum Heater, DA Reef Keeper Light ; (3) Modded MJ 1200's

02/20/2008, 07:37 AM	#8
epstein Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: NYC transplant now in CT Posts: 1,501	and regrow with a vengance........Resist the urge ...Dont Pop.....Dont Inject.... __________________ I'd Rather be a failure at something I love , Than a sucess at something I hate . George Burns Current Tank Info: 150 DD Cube / 100 Gal Sump(basement) 30gal cube frag tank plumb Panworld 250ps return/ Reef Octopus SRO3000 Skimmer/ Bubble Magus Doser/Lumenmax reflector with 400 watt Radium bulb Ice Cap Ballast Apex Controller 2 MP40wes 2 gyre 150

02/20/2008, 10:59 AM	#9
snarkes Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 479	Get an Emerald Crab I know some have had mixed reactions, but I've always had success with adding Emerald Crabs to a tank... and eliminating bubble algae.

02/19/2008, 10:01 PM	#2
Burbs Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Charleston,SC Posts: 324	ive tried that in the past and its like they fill back up, if you pop i still say remove it

02/19/2008, 10:06 PM	#4
jeffgnz Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: New Zealand Posts: 206	easier said than done, i have 100's of them forming. I took out several rocks yesterday during a wc and scraped a lot off. I think I'm going to have to find something to eat them like a foxface or sailfin, i can't get emerald crabs in new zealand. Think Rowa Phos with a reactor would suffocate it?

02/19/2008, 11:41 PM	#6
kindafun Entreprenerd Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Mesa, AZ Posts: 465	I think they just have to be removed by whatever means you can. Careful is best. I haven't heard people having success by chemical warfare.

02/19/2008, 11:58 PM	#7
Wh0wantsrice Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Fresno, Ca Posts: 51	dont pop bubble alage it will regrow even more

02/20/2008, 11:03 AM	#10
matt880305 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: montgomery, il Posts: 844	some of the red slime chemicals get ride of it

02/20/2008, 11:06 AM	#11
papagimp COMAS Rocks! Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Oklahoma City, OK Posts: 8,185 Blog Entries: 2	I tried the not popping them thing, they kept spreading no matter what I did. I recntly went in and popping all I could, literally just scrapping away at the rocks with my bare hands. 2 weeks later, i now have 1/2 the bubble aglae in the tank and no new growth showing up yet. Can't grow new stuff if it's been outcompeted by macro in my fuge and the 2L sized phosphate reactor i'm running. __________________ 58g Softie & 75g Stoney Member, Central Oklahoma Marine Aquarium Society Current Tank Info: 58g Mixed Reef Project - Started June 2011

02/20/2008, 11:10 AM	#12
Amoore311 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Ulster County, NY Posts: 2,521	Here's my personal theory on bubble algae. Keep in mind I have only had very small quantities of it. But I'm including some common sense here too I've always just pulled em off the rock manually. Some have broken, some have not. If you were to add something that eats bubble algae, it would be pupping the bubble to lol. The emerald crab doesn't insert some magic straw into the algae and suck all the spores out. SO in essence it would be the same difference if you broke the bubbles yourself and manually removed as much as you could. I have it pop up randomly every couple months in very small patches in low flow spots in my tank. By small patches I mean 5-7 bubbles that I just scrape or pull off as they sprout.

02/20/2008, 11:11 AM	#13
papagimp COMAS Rocks! Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Oklahoma City, OK Posts: 8,185 Blog Entries: 2	Hey look, it's my new york doppleganger again, lol I like the magic straw comment, my thoughts exactly. and for the record, not all the bubbles will contain spores. Just no way for the average hobbyist to know which ones do. __________________ 58g Softie & 75g Stoney Member, Central Oklahoma Marine Aquarium Society Current Tank Info: 58g Mixed Reef Project - Started June 2011