Bubble Algae Outbreak

bal009 · 03/31/2018, 10:47 PM

Hi Guys,

I'm dealing with a tremendous bubble algae infestation on my 29g biocube, this thing is annoying and hard to remove manually with a siphon tube and a rigid air line tubing, so I've been thinking to buy some emerald crabs even-though they like to pick on corals sometimes.

What do you guys think about this? Any other ideas or previous experiences on how to deal with this issue that you can share?

I'm posting some pictures, so that you guys can see how bad it is.

ramseynb · 04/01/2018, 02:07 AM

Get some emeralds for reef cleaners and remove as much as you can. One emerald would be enough for a 29g (maybe too much) so plan on donating or selling the others.

If you can take the rock out, you could kill a lot of it by pouring hydrogen peroxide on it. You might even look into dosing it. There’s also a chemical (flu-something) that works for hair algae and bryopsis but I’m not sure it kills bubble algae.

Tripod1404 · 04/01/2018, 02:17 AM

You can just very well pop them yourself. An emerald crab will just pop them for you. With an infestation at that level, I would worry about spores. If they have spores, those will be eventually released anyways.

I think when used at high doses, fluconazole can also kill it.

NYCBOB · 04/01/2018, 05:06 AM

emerald crabs. i had a few bubble algae back then, and the crabs took care of them.

homer1475 · 04/01/2018, 05:17 AM

if it's that bad, I don't think anything you do or add livestock wise is going to make a dent in it.

Me personally, I would pull the rock and rinse it with hydrogen peroxide.

moondoggy4 · 04/01/2018, 10:09 AM

I used Algaefix from API it caused them to lose there root strength and the bubble algae just came off and clogged all of my pumps.

JTL · 04/01/2018, 10:39 AM

That is really bad. You will need to remove it. Unless it is really special I would just replace it.

Uncle99 · 04/01/2018, 05:22 PM

I agree, it's a bit far gone for CUC grazers.
Nuke it with hydrogen peroxide, or just replace it.
That stuff is PITA, once in, can move quickly...

Chuckd76 · 04/01/2018, 05:37 PM

I've only ever had one emerald crab that bothered with it out of the six or so I've had and even that one stopped eating it after a while.
The bubbles are actually pretty strong so I would try just pulling it off. If there's already a ton of it popping some of it isn't going to matter.
After you get as much off as you can just keep on top of it. It's always going to be in your tank now, the key is just maintenance.

alton · 04/02/2018, 05:23 AM

Use Vibrant by under water creations. Once you notice it subsiding, slow down your usage and then stop.

Savant · 04/02/2018, 08:29 AM

this tank is small for a foxface but i had BA as bad as what you have pics of..I manually removed as much as I could, added a foxface and he ate the rest and nvr saw BA again till the foxface went over the wall. within a couple of months the BA was back and so was a new foxface who promptly ate all the BA and I havnt seen any since.

shaginwagon13 · 04/02/2018, 08:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by homer1475

if it's that bad, I don't think anything you do or add livestock wise is going to make a dent in it.

Me personally, I would pull the rock and rinse it with hydrogen peroxide.

+1

That's really bad, there is no way that just appeared overnight. Did you add any LR or corals recently that you noticed some bubble algae?

jmm · 04/02/2018, 09:58 AM

I had just as bad of an outbreak. The snails shells got so heavy, the snails couldn't move. I gave up on the tank and first grape caulerpa went wild. I pulled that out and then fern caulerpa took over. I pulled that out and then halimeda showed up. I quit feeding, supplementing and changing water. I had other tanks that were not affected.

Soon, the bubble algae started clumping, loosening, and then detaching and floating to the top. There was so much it was actually heavy. Big handfuls floated to the top several times a day until it was gone. All of the algae except the halimeda went away. The tank cleared up completely and I gave it away. The new owners have no bubble algae, no caulerpa and keep the halimeda trimmed back to less than 4 inches.

I think the other algaes smothered the bubble algae and the more controllable, more attractive halimeda just "took over."

BFG · 04/02/2018, 12:43 PM

The only successful result I got was from a vlamingi tang in my 120 . It was as bad as yours and magnify the infestation in a 120g tank . It was an accidentally discovery as I lost the mood after the infestation covered all the rocks I had . A newbie colleague who could not stop buying new fish showed up at my door and pass this tang to me as he discovered it would grow big . Long story short , all the bubble algae disappeared in a few days . Of course , the tang grew and I traded it at my lfs for a trio of firefish .

I did not have any tangs before that vlamingi and I like to have small fishes in my tank . I disliked having tangs till this day .

04/01/2018, 02:07 AM	#2
ramseynb Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: New Braunfels, TX Posts: 630	Get some emeralds for reef cleaners and remove as much as you can. One emerald would be enough for a 29g (maybe too much) so plan on donating or selling the others. If you can take the rock out, you could kill a lot of it by pouring hydrogen peroxide on it. You might even look into dosing it. There’s also a chemical (flu-something) that works for hair algae and bryopsis but I’m not sure it kills bubble algae. __________________ How do you make an octopus laugh? Ten tickles!

04/01/2018, 02:17 AM	#3
Tripod1404 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2016 Posts: 1,821	Bubble Algae Outbreak You can just very well pop them yourself. An emerald crab will just pop them for you. With an infestation at that level, I would worry about spores. If they have spores, those will be eventually released anyways. I think when used at high doses, fluconazole can also kill it. Last edited by Tripod1404; 04/01/2018 at 02:25 AM.

04/01/2018, 05:17 AM	#5
homer1475 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Upstate NY Posts: 5,313	if it's that bad, I don't think anything you do or add livestock wise is going to make a dent in it. Me personally, I would pull the rock and rinse it with hydrogen peroxide. __________________ 80G SCA Build: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2560256 Originally posted by der_wille_zur_macht: "He's just taking his lunch to work"

04/01/2018, 10:39 AM	#7
JTL Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Venice Island, FL Posts: 2,532	That is really bad. You will need to remove it. Unless it is really special I would just replace it. __________________ John 100 gallon DT and 50 gallon sump with refugium. Reefbreeders Photon V2+.

04/01/2018, 05:37 PM	#9
Chuckd76 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: NE Ohio Posts: 166	I've only ever had one emerald crab that bothered with it out of the six or so I've had and even that one stopped eating it after a while. The bubbles are actually pretty strong so I would try just pulling it off. If there's already a ton of it popping some of it isn't going to matter. After you get as much off as you can just keep on top of it. It's always going to be in your tank now, the key is just maintenance. __________________ Before you judge a man, walk a mile in his shoes. That way, when you judge him you'll be a mile away. And he'll have no shoes.

04/01/2018, 05:06 AM	#4
NYCBOB Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: NYC Posts: 1,768	emerald crabs. i had a few bubble algae back then, and the crabs took care of them.

04/01/2018, 10:09 AM	#6
moondoggy4 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: menifee So cal Posts: 11,042	I used Algaefix from API it caused them to lose there root strength and the bubble algae just came off and clogged all of my pumps.

04/01/2018, 05:22 PM	#8
Uncle99 Crab Free Zone Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 2,906	I agree, it's a bit far gone for CUC grazers. Nuke it with hydrogen peroxide, or just replace it. That stuff is PITA, once in, can move quickly...

04/02/2018, 05:23 AM	#10
alton Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Zuehl, Texas Posts: 4,460	Use Vibrant by under water creations. Once you notice it subsiding, slow down your usage and then stop.

04/02/2018, 08:29 AM	#11
Savant Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: N.E. Pa Posts: 402	this tank is small for a foxface but i had BA as bad as what you have pics of..I manually removed as much as I could, added a foxface and he ate the rest and nvr saw BA again till the foxface went over the wall. within a couple of months the BA was back and so was a new foxface who promptly ate all the BA and I havnt seen any since. __________________ ____________ Will Tank Info: 105g DT l 100g sump l remote fuge 40g l Photon 48V2 LED l Diablo XS200 l APEX to run the show

04/02/2018, 09:58 AM	#13
jmm Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 569	I had just as bad of an outbreak. The snails shells got so heavy, the snails couldn't move. I gave up on the tank and first grape caulerpa went wild. I pulled that out and then fern caulerpa took over. I pulled that out and then halimeda showed up. I quit feeding, supplementing and changing water. I had other tanks that were not affected. Soon, the bubble algae started clumping, loosening, and then detaching and floating to the top. There was so much it was actually heavy. Big handfuls floated to the top several times a day until it was gone. All of the algae except the halimeda went away. The tank cleared up completely and I gave it away. The new owners have no bubble algae, no caulerpa and keep the halimeda trimmed back to less than 4 inches. I think the other algaes smothered the bubble algae and the more controllable, more attractive halimeda just "took over."

04/02/2018, 12:43 PM	#14
BFG Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Singapore Posts: 700	The only successful result I got was from a vlamingi tang in my 120 . It was as bad as yours and magnify the infestation in a 120g tank . It was an accidentally discovery as I lost the mood after the infestation covered all the rocks I had . A newbie colleague who could not stop buying new fish showed up at my door and pass this tang to me as he discovered it would grow big . Long story short , all the bubble algae disappeared in a few days . Of course , the tang grew and I traded it at my lfs for a trio of firefish . I did not have any tangs before that vlamingi and I like to have small fishes in my tank . I disliked having tangs till this day . __________________ If you've learnt, teach. If you have, give.