What causes............

tami1024 · 02/16/2009, 11:14 AM

What causes green bubble algea & how do I get rid of it?

kraze3 · 02/16/2009, 11:24 AM

Emerald crabs have been known to eat it but not all do. You might get lucky though and get one that does. I had a little growing in my tank. During a water change I used the siphon hose to start the water draining out. I then plucked them off carefully while keeping the hose right on them. If they break they will spread. The idea of the siphon was so thta if they break hopefully all the junk gets sucked out. I then used a toothbrush to scrap off all remnants, still using siphon hose. I had one other pop up pn another side of the tank and did the same. So far so good though.

Toddrtrex · 02/16/2009, 11:30 AM

It has been my experiences that the larger ones are the ones that you don't want to pop. The smaller ones are fine -- it is a feel sort of thing for how big they have to be before being loaded with spores.

I have had good luck with emeralds. Of course excess nutrients will make them grow faster, but I have also had some in a tank with very low nutrients -- no other nuisance algae in the tank.

tami1024 · 02/16/2009, 01:12 PM

My friends husband has a 65g sw and has nothing but trouble w/ it. He actually hired someone from an lfs to help with the problems he is having but this person seems to be making the situation worse instead of better. The tank was set up approx 6-8 mo ago with live rock and orginal sand and some of the orginal water. After the setup was done he experienced GHA, cyno and now GBA. B4 the GBA the guy took all the sand and rocks and replaced them with new hoping to cure the prob. IMO would'nt that be considered an unseasoned tank and have to cycle all over again? I am just trying to help out my friends husband so he won't give up on it. Anyone have any suggestions?

Toddrtrex · 02/16/2009, 01:40 PM

It really depends on if the new live rock was cured or not.

About a year and half ago my 58 was over run with them. I had tried everything, but it just wouldn't go away (( Plus I had some GSP and yellow polyps that I wanted out of the tank )). So I bought some new live rock, cure it for a month. Pulled the old live rock (( and old sandbed )) and cleaned the heck out of the tank and sump. The livestock was in rubbermaid bins during this time. 29 hours later the tank was re-set up and put all the live stock back in the next day -- no issues.

tami1024 · 02/16/2009, 01:41 PM

Thanks!!

Toddrtrex · 02/16/2009, 01:48 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by tami1024
Thanks!!

Sure thing, and if you are bored, here is a thread that I had made about the ordeal.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...5&pagenumber=1

NanoReefWanabe · 02/16/2009, 03:27 PM

i dont imagine removing and replacing the rock and sand were necessary...especially if it came from the same store...i would have just burned all the rock in vats with bleach, then into vats with muriatic acid and water...let all the crap burn off the rocks and then, start from scratch the way it should have been done in the first place..with clean cooked rock and one piece of nice live rock from a well established tank to seed it all...

6 month in isnt that far you cant restart...if there are lots of coral etc in the tank then i am not too sure...it also really depends on how bad the algae problem is too...if it isnt too bad then low nutrient import high nutrient export combined with aggressive skimmer should clear it up..but if the rock is laced with PO4 then all is lost...

supervdl · 02/16/2009, 03:34 PM

Sailfin Tang or Rabbitfish should keep it somewhat under control. I have them in my tank but only in spots where the fishes can't reach. My Naso eats them as well but not sure if this is generally the case or the specific appetite of mine :-).

02/16/2009, 11:14 AM	#1
tami1024 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Jupiter Fl Posts: 430	What causes............ What causes green bubble algea & how do I get rid of it? __________________ Reefer addict!! Current Tank Info: 29 gal with,1 multi rock, multiple mushrooms,1 rock nem, a few snails, 1 harlequin star,2 kenya trees,1 scallop and 1 mandarin goby named Gray!! 75 gal has 1 rock nem, 1 GBTA, 1 brittle star, 2 damsels and 1 tom clown

02/16/2009, 11:30 AM	#3
Toddrtrex Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Carol Stream, IL Posts: 23,162	It has been my experiences that the larger ones are the ones that you don't want to pop. The smaller ones are fine -- it is a feel sort of thing for how big they have to be before being loaded with spores. I have had good luck with emeralds. Of course excess nutrients will make them grow faster, but I have also had some in a tank with very low nutrients -- no other nuisance algae in the tank. __________________ Click my name and then "visit toddrtrex's homepage" for tank pictures Current Tank Info: 210g reef and 65g reef

02/16/2009, 01:12 PM	#4
tami1024 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Jupiter Fl Posts: 430	My friends husband has a 65g sw and has nothing but trouble w/ it. He actually hired someone from an lfs to help with the problems he is having but this person seems to be making the situation worse instead of better. The tank was set up approx 6-8 mo ago with live rock and orginal sand and some of the orginal water. After the setup was done he experienced GHA, cyno and now GBA. B4 the GBA the guy took all the sand and rocks and replaced them with new hoping to cure the prob. IMO would'nt that be considered an unseasoned tank and have to cycle all over again? I am just trying to help out my friends husband so he won't give up on it. Anyone have any suggestions? __________________ Reefer addict!! Current Tank Info: 29 gal with,1 multi rock, multiple mushrooms,1 rock nem, a few snails, 1 harlequin star,2 kenya trees,1 scallop and 1 mandarin goby named Gray!! 75 gal has 1 rock nem, 1 GBTA, 1 brittle star, 2 damsels and 1 tom clown

02/16/2009, 01:40 PM	#5
Toddrtrex Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Carol Stream, IL Posts: 23,162	It really depends on if the new live rock was cured or not. About a year and half ago my 58 was over run with them. I had tried everything, but it just wouldn't go away (( Plus I had some GSP and yellow polyps that I wanted out of the tank )). So I bought some new live rock, cure it for a month. Pulled the old live rock (( and old sandbed )) and cleaned the heck out of the tank and sump. The livestock was in rubbermaid bins during this time. 29 hours later the tank was re-set up and put all the live stock back in the next day -- no issues. __________________ Click my name and then "visit toddrtrex's homepage" for tank pictures Current Tank Info: 210g reef and 65g reef

02/16/2009, 01:41 PM	#6
tami1024 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Jupiter Fl Posts: 430	Thanks!! __________________ Reefer addict!! Current Tank Info: 29 gal with,1 multi rock, multiple mushrooms,1 rock nem, a few snails, 1 harlequin star,2 kenya trees,1 scallop and 1 mandarin goby named Gray!! 75 gal has 1 rock nem, 1 GBTA, 1 brittle star, 2 damsels and 1 tom clown

02/16/2009, 11:24 AM	#2
kraze3 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: RI Posts: 2,373	Emerald crabs have been known to eat it but not all do. You might get lucky though and get one that does. I had a little growing in my tank. During a water change I used the siphon hose to start the water draining out. I then plucked them off carefully while keeping the hose right on them. If they break they will spread. The idea of the siphon was so thta if they break hopefully all the junk gets sucked out. I then used a toothbrush to scrap off all remnants, still using siphon hose. I had one other pop up pn another side of the tank and did the same. So far so good though.

02/16/2009, 03:27 PM	#8
NanoReefWanabe Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Barrie, Ontario, Canada Posts: 6,639	i dont imagine removing and replacing the rock and sand were necessary...especially if it came from the same store...i would have just burned all the rock in vats with bleach, then into vats with muriatic acid and water...let all the crap burn off the rocks and then, start from scratch the way it should have been done in the first place..with clean cooked rock and one piece of nice live rock from a well established tank to seed it all... 6 month in isnt that far you cant restart...if there are lots of coral etc in the tank then i am not too sure...it also really depends on how bad the algae problem is too...if it isnt too bad then low nutrient import high nutrient export combined with aggressive skimmer should clear it up..but if the rock is laced with PO4 then all is lost...

02/16/2009, 03:34 PM	#9
supervdl Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: NE PA Posts: 1,315	Sailfin Tang or Rabbitfish should keep it somewhat under control. I have them in my tank but only in spots where the fishes can't reach. My Naso eats them as well but not sure if this is generally the case or the specific appetite of mine :-). __________________ My tank thread: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1167897 Current Tank Info: 135 gal mixed reef with Radions and Zeovit; 210 gal SPS reef being set up