not sure if this is bubble algae....maybe

crankbait09 · 08/26/2016, 06:53 PM

This is the only "bubble" i have seen in my whole tank. This flowy bubble is attached to the sand. It's maybe a 1/16 of an inch in diameter. It stationary, but yet sways in the flow.....never leaving that spot.

is that bubble algae? I can't get closer with my phone, it's towards the back of the tank. if you look super duper close, you will see a mini "stem" at the base of it going in to the sand

mattyg18 · 08/26/2016, 07:06 PM

Looks like bubble algae to me. Try to gently pluck it off and scoop it up with a net while not popping it, or scooping it up with some sand while not popping it.

crankbait09 · 08/26/2016, 07:07 PM

ok, that's easy enough to do...........i think.

crankbait09 · 08/26/2016, 07:11 PM

yep, easy. got it out, hopefully there isnt any more

mattyg18 · 08/26/2016, 07:26 PM

Glad to hear. I had a few bubbles pop up but thankfully haven't seen any in a while. I try to catch them early. I know some people just leave them. Anyways glad you took care of it.

billdogg · 08/27/2016, 08:27 AM

Yes, that was bubble algae. And yes, there will be more. Just stay on top of it and it's not a big deal, although if you let it grow it will help you lower your nitrates

SeaCucumberFan · 08/27/2016, 08:32 AM

Brace yourself,

Bubble algae is coming!

crankbait09 · 08/27/2016, 09:18 PM

nooooooooooo

Do all new tanks get it or is this a special instance?

SeaCucumberFan · 08/27/2016, 10:28 PM

Not all tanks get bubble algae.

JohnnyHildo · 08/27/2016, 10:33 PM

i had what i though was going to be a insurmountable plague of bubble algae and 10 emerald crabs later i am hard pressed to find any in my tank a month later.

crankbait09 · 08/28/2016, 07:19 AM

I hear too many stories that people move their Emerald to the sump.........I'd hate to have to buy one and do the same...........

Time to read up on this bubble algae crap........... sigh

OllieNZ · 08/28/2016, 07:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crankbait09

I hear too many stories that people move their Emerald to the sump.........I'd hate to have to buy one and do the same...........

Time to read up on this bubble algae crap........... sigh

Swap it between as required?

Dkuhlmann · 08/28/2016, 09:22 AM

I too have a lot of bubble algae in my DT almost none in my sump, go figure...

I will not ever put Emerald crabs in my DT again, EVER! My one and only is living his life in the sump and is probably the biggest Emerald crab I've ever seen. He will live there until he dies.

His crime was eating two royal gramma's.

crankbait09 · 08/28/2016, 06:28 PM

I just found another green strand type cluster. I always thought it was my chaeto planting itself, that made its way up to the DT from the sump. Never thought to much about it. I decided to yank it. It was starting to form a root cluster underneath the sand. I looked at it a little closer, and there was in fact a small "bubble" in that cluster as well. In the trash it went

crankbait09 · 08/28/2016, 06:29 PM

once removed from the tank, can you touch the bubbles or even pop them with bare hands? Why would I want to? uh, curiosity

SeaCucumberFan · 08/29/2016, 01:57 AM

Make sure you pop them away from the tank

Dkuhlmann · 08/29/2016, 04:08 AM

It's as much fun to pop as bubble wrap

I especially love watching the little "puff" clouds in the tank when I pop them in the tank. More fun than popping them out of the water

bvaughn7 · 08/30/2016, 07:24 PM

Does anyone know how long the spores can stay a live on rock if you dry the rock out? I've heard it can live for a while and come back even after drying.

xCry0x · 08/30/2016, 07:26 PM

If you pull the rock out, scrub it with a tooth brush and hydrogen peroxide.

Then burn the rock and throw it out.

kozmic · 08/30/2016, 07:35 PM

My tank ran for about 20 years without a hint of bubble algae until one dang mushroom frag I added that must have had spores (did not have any visible bubble algae) buried in the piece of rock it came on... within about two months of adding, I started seeing little green balls everywhere...

Admittedly, it was a FOWLR tank for ten of those years, but still... bubble algae sux!

Btw... you might have some type of Caulerpa macro (rather than bubble algae), since you say it had a small stem. Bubble algae will grow in a cluster of bubbles, Caulerpa will grow in a string or line/row of bubbles, somewhat looking like grapes.

kozmic · 08/30/2016, 07:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xCry0x

If you pull the rock out, scrub it with a tooth brush and hydrogen peroxide.

Then burn the rock and throw it out.

This! LOL!

crankbait09 · 09/01/2016, 05:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kozmic

My tank ran for about 20 years without a hint of bubble algae until one dang mushroom frag I added that must have had spores (did not have any visible bubble algae) buried in the piece of rock it came on... within about two months of adding, I started seeing little green balls everywhere...

Admittedly, it was a FOWLR tank for ten of those years, but still... bubble algae sux!

Btw... you might have some type of Caulerpa macro (rather than bubble algae), since you say it had a small stem. Bubble algae will grow in a cluster of bubbles, Caulerpa will grow in a string or line/row of bubbles, somewhat looking like grapes.

yes, it definitely had a stem......I'll keep an eye on anymore I find. The color of them are very similar to chaeto algae. But the chaeto I do have, does not have balls. Which led me to thing the worst. I've only found 2-3 of them in the sand. No where else. I will continue to hunt for them

08/26/2016, 06:53 PM	#1
crankbait09 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Cincinnati, Ohio Posts: 932	not sure if this is bubble algae....maybe This is the only "bubble" i have seen in my whole tank. This flowy bubble is attached to the sand. It's maybe a 1/16 of an inch in diameter. It stationary, but yet sways in the flow.....never leaving that spot. is that bubble algae? I can't get closer with my phone, it's towards the back of the tank. if you look super duper close, you will see a mini "stem" at the base of it going in to the sand

08/27/2016, 08:27 AM	#6
billdogg Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Grove City, Ohio Posts: 10,806	Yes, that was bubble algae. And yes, there will be more. Just stay on top of it and it's not a big deal, although if you let it grow it will help you lower your nitrates __________________ I'll try to be nice if you try to be smarter! I can't help that I grow older, but you can't make me grow up! Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef with 40b sump, RO 150 skimmer, AI Sol Blue x 2, and a 60g Frag Tank with 100g rubbermaid sump. 2 x Kessil A360w lights, BM curve 5 skimmer

08/27/2016, 10:33 PM	#10
JohnnyHildo Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Posts: 669	i had what i though was going to be a insurmountable plague of bubble algae and 10 emerald crabs later i am hard pressed to find any in my tank a month later. __________________ 120G Standard - 40G Sump. Apex - DOS - ATI Current Tank Info: Acros - Zoas - Palys

08/28/2016, 09:22 AM	#13
Dkuhlmann Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: NW Iowa Posts: 8,823	I too have a lot of bubble algae in my DT almost none in my sump, go figure... I will not ever put Emerald crabs in my DT again, EVER! My one and only is living his life in the sump and is probably the biggest Emerald crab I've ever seen. He will live there until he dies. His crime was eating two royal gramma's. __________________ Previous tanks: 200 gal fowlr 9" Emperor Angel and many different butterfly fish 4" maroon clown and several other fish, 50 gal sump, 40 gal mixed reef/fish mostly softies and LPS. Current Tank Info: 40b 750 gph 45 lbs lr, 2"-3" sand, 165w full spectrum dimable LED, 20 gal sump/refugium 30 lbs lr, Bak Pak 2 skimmer, 4" sock temp 79-80, sg 1.026, NH3 0, NO2 0, NO3 <10, ph 8.2, calc 400, mag 1300

08/29/2016, 04:08 AM	#17
Dkuhlmann Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: NW Iowa Posts: 8,823	It's as much fun to pop as bubble wrap I especially love watching the little "puff" clouds in the tank when I pop them in the tank. More fun than popping them out of the water __________________ Previous tanks: 200 gal fowlr 9" Emperor Angel and many different butterfly fish 4" maroon clown and several other fish, 50 gal sump, 40 gal mixed reef/fish mostly softies and LPS. Current Tank Info: 40b 750 gph 45 lbs lr, 2"-3" sand, 165w full spectrum dimable LED, 20 gal sump/refugium 30 lbs lr, Bak Pak 2 skimmer, 4" sock temp 79-80, sg 1.026, NH3 0, NO2 0, NO3 <10, ph 8.2, calc 400, mag 1300

08/26/2016, 07:06 PM	#2
mattyg18 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Commack, NY Posts: 284	Looks like bubble algae to me. Try to gently pluck it off and scoop it up with a net while not popping it, or scooping it up with some sand while not popping it.

08/26/2016, 07:07 PM	#3
crankbait09 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Cincinnati, Ohio Posts: 932	ok, that's easy enough to do...........i think.

08/26/2016, 07:11 PM	#4
crankbait09 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Cincinnati, Ohio Posts: 932	yep, easy. got it out, hopefully there isnt any more

08/26/2016, 07:26 PM	#5
mattyg18 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Commack, NY Posts: 284	Glad to hear. I had a few bubbles pop up but thankfully haven't seen any in a while. I try to catch them early. I know some people just leave them. Anyways glad you took care of it.

08/27/2016, 08:32 AM	#7
SeaCucumberFan Moved On Join Date: May 2016 Location: Sleman, Yogyakarta, Central Java, Indonesia Posts: 858	Brace yourself, Bubble algae is coming!

08/27/2016, 09:18 PM	#8
crankbait09 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Cincinnati, Ohio Posts: 932	nooooooooooo Do all new tanks get it or is this a special instance?

08/27/2016, 10:28 PM	#9
SeaCucumberFan Moved On Join Date: May 2016 Location: Sleman, Yogyakarta, Central Java, Indonesia Posts: 858	Not all tanks get bubble algae.

08/28/2016, 07:19 AM	#11
crankbait09 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Cincinnati, Ohio Posts: 932	I hear too many stories that people move their Emerald to the sump.........I'd hate to have to buy one and do the same........... Time to read up on this bubble algae crap........... sigh

08/28/2016, 06:28 PM	#14
crankbait09 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Cincinnati, Ohio Posts: 932	I just found another green strand type cluster. I always thought it was my chaeto planting itself, that made its way up to the DT from the sump. Never thought to much about it. I decided to yank it. It was starting to form a root cluster underneath the sand. I looked at it a little closer, and there was in fact a small "bubble" in that cluster as well. In the trash it went

08/28/2016, 06:29 PM	#15
crankbait09 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Cincinnati, Ohio Posts: 932	once removed from the tank, can you touch the bubbles or even pop them with bare hands? Why would I want to? uh, curiosity

08/29/2016, 01:57 AM	#16
SeaCucumberFan Moved On Join Date: May 2016 Location: Sleman, Yogyakarta, Central Java, Indonesia Posts: 858	Make sure you pop them away from the tank

08/30/2016, 07:24 PM	#18
bvaughn7 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Greensboro NC Posts: 79	Does anyone know how long the spores can stay a live on rock if you dry the rock out? I've heard it can live for a while and come back even after drying.

08/30/2016, 07:26 PM	#19
xCry0x Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Martinez, CA Posts: 1,116	If you pull the rock out, scrub it with a tooth brush and hydrogen peroxide. Then burn the rock and throw it out.

08/30/2016, 07:35 PM	#20
kozmic Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: Cypress, TX Posts: 146	My tank ran for about 20 years without a hint of bubble algae until one dang mushroom frag I added that must have had spores (did not have any visible bubble algae) buried in the piece of rock it came on... within about two months of adding, I started seeing little green balls everywhere... Admittedly, it was a FOWLR tank for ten of those years, but still... bubble algae sux! Btw... you might have some type of Caulerpa macro (rather than bubble algae), since you say it had a small stem. Bubble algae will grow in a cluster of bubbles, Caulerpa will grow in a string or line/row of bubbles, somewhat looking like grapes. Last edited by kozmic; 08/30/2016 at 07:45 PM.