Green Bubble Algae just may...

T Diddy · 12/19/2011, 08:41 AM

...be my new nemesis. I have had one small patch of the stuff in my tank for a while now, but never did anything to correct it. Now it seems that new little "bubbles" are popping up everywhere. What can I do to kill this stuff??

Sisterlimonpot · 12/19/2011, 08:48 AM

the biggest thing to do is get to the core of it and stop feeding in in the form of nitrates and phosphates. there are many tried and trued ways to rid those.

as for what eats bubble algae, get yourself a few emerald crabs, they will make short work of those valonia (bubble algae) .

T Diddy · 12/19/2011, 08:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sisterlimonpot

the biggest thing to do is get to the core of it and stop feeding in in the form of nitrates and phosphates. there are many tried and trued ways to rid those.

as for what eats bubble algae, get yourself a few emerald crabs, they will make short work of those valonia (bubble algae) .

Thanks for the reply sisterlimonpot, but I've had a few rogue mithrax in the past (constantly picked at LPS). I'm fairly certain that I don't want to risk that again. Any other suggestions?

Sisterlimonpot · 12/19/2011, 09:01 AM

yeah, you definitely have.to get true emeralds, maybe find a reputable place that will sell true emerald crabs.

Sk8r · 12/19/2011, 12:48 PM

I had regular scarlets eat one bubble. The emeralds refused.

Seems to be hit and miss. Bubble is a phase. Your tank's got an excess of something; and then it'll be another algae. GFO did the most to help---but if they get ALL the phosphate, you'll starve out your algae-eating fish.

T Diddy · 12/20/2011, 09:27 PM

would elevated Mg have any effect? I've never tried that method of controlling/killing algae...would it affect the zooxanthellae at all? As for the nutrients, I can't ever detect anything that would cause algal blooms. They are obviously feeding on something. I just don't want a typical wall-to-wall infestation like I did with the GHA a few months ago.

Sisterlimonpot · 12/20/2011, 11:50 PM

as far as I know raising MG only works for bryopsis. Starving the valonia out by lowering nitrates and phosphates is a really good plan.

The Punisher · 12/20/2011, 11:56 PM

Manual removal has worked for me. Scrape off the bubbles while siphoning out right around the area where you're removing the bubble so you don't spread the spores.

Sisterlimonpot · 12/21/2011, 12:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Punisher

Manual removal has worked for me. Scrape off the bubbles while siphoning out right around the area where you're removing the bubble so you don't spread the spores.

That's the most important thing, if you pop the bubble then you run the risk of spreading the algae throughout the tank.

Tigerlusken · 12/21/2011, 12:21 AM

I had one of these, i removed it with tweezers and it didnt pop, is there a chance it leaves spores from where it was attached to the rock or it should be ok as long as it is intact?

Sisterlimonpot · 12/21/2011, 12:27 AM

as long as it stayed in tact you should be fine

Jocko · 12/21/2011, 08:02 AM

Good that you only had one and you got it out. However bubble algae spreads in tanks without being popped. But we tend to ignore that fact. Because everyone hears that the spores are inside and it seems reasonable, we assume it is true and repeat it to others. And now it is assumed to be fact. That's the funny thing about not having any scientific evidence. So keep an eye out. Hopefully you won't see any more.

rogermccray · 12/21/2011, 08:45 AM

They obviously reproduce without being popped, but if you keep pulling them out as soon as you see them I think you will have the problem taken care of in no time (no time in aquarium terms at least

).

T Diddy · 02/11/2012, 09:54 PM

thanks for the replies. Manual removal is not an option for most of it, and I refuse to put mithrax in the tank. However, i recently added a foxface, and he has been giving the bubble algae He11. It is pretty funny to watch...he has to work pretty hard to beat it up and get a mouthfull. I've also been working on water chemistry a little harder. I should have better lighting over my fuge soon. GFO was getting old, so that has also been replaced. With any luck, the combination of all these measures will put a significant dent in this new menace.

12/19/2011, 08:41 AM	#1
T Diddy Slayer of Mice Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Augusta, Ga Posts: 1,338	Green Bubble Algae just may... ...be my new nemesis. I have had one small patch of the stuff in my tank for a while now, but never did anything to correct it. Now it seems that new little "bubbles" are popping up everywhere. What can I do to kill this stuff?? __________________ America's best are not in America. Current Tank Info: 140 Gallon DSA in-wall, foam/rock wall, DIY LED, 40g sump, Precision Marine Skimmer, 100 gallon refugium, NO3, PO4,NH3/4 undetectable, Mg, Ca, KH...eeehhhhhh?

12/19/2011, 08:48 AM	#2
Sisterlimonpot R.C. Fraternity President Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Litchfeild Park AZ Posts: 11,490 Blog Entries: 2	the biggest thing to do is get to the core of it and stop feeding in in the form of nitrates and phosphates. there are many tried and trued ways to rid those. as for what eats bubble algae, get yourself a few emerald crabs, they will make short work of those valonia (bubble algae) . __________________ Jimmy MASVC President Dishes are done man! Current Tank Info: 300 in progress

12/19/2011, 09:01 AM	#4
Sisterlimonpot R.C. Fraternity President Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Litchfeild Park AZ Posts: 11,490 Blog Entries: 2	yeah, you definitely have.to get true emeralds, maybe find a reputable place that will sell true emerald crabs. __________________ Jimmy MASVC President Dishes are done man! Current Tank Info: 300 in progress

12/19/2011, 12:48 PM	#5
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	I had regular scarlets eat one bubble. The emeralds refused. Seems to be hit and miss. Bubble is a phase. Your tank's got an excess of something; and then it'll be another algae. GFO did the most to help---but if they get ALL the phosphate, you'll starve out your algae-eating fish. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

12/20/2011, 09:27 PM	#6
T Diddy Slayer of Mice Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Augusta, Ga Posts: 1,338	would elevated Mg have any effect? I've never tried that method of controlling/killing algae...would it affect the zooxanthellae at all? As for the nutrients, I can't ever detect anything that would cause algal blooms. They are obviously feeding on something. I just don't want a typical wall-to-wall infestation like I did with the GHA a few months ago. __________________ America's best are not in America. Current Tank Info: 140 Gallon DSA in-wall, foam/rock wall, DIY LED, 40g sump, Precision Marine Skimmer, 100 gallon refugium, NO3, PO4,NH3/4 undetectable, Mg, Ca, KH...eeehhhhhh?

12/20/2011, 11:50 PM	#7
Sisterlimonpot R.C. Fraternity President Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Litchfeild Park AZ Posts: 11,490 Blog Entries: 2	as far as I know raising MG only works for bryopsis. Starving the valonia out by lowering nitrates and phosphates is a really good plan. __________________ Jimmy MASVC President Dishes are done man! Current Tank Info: 300 in progress

12/20/2011, 11:56 PM	#8
The Punisher Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Baton Rouge, LA Posts: 1,398	Manual removal has worked for me. Scrape off the bubbles while siphoning out right around the area where you're removing the bubble so you don't spread the spores. __________________ "I look for absolutes and there are absolutely none." 311

12/21/2011, 12:21 AM	#10
Tigerlusken Registered Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Norway Posts: 33	I had one of these, i removed it with tweezers and it didnt pop, is there a chance it leaves spores from where it was attached to the rock or it should be ok as long as it is intact?

12/21/2011, 12:27 AM	#11
Sisterlimonpot R.C. Fraternity President Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Litchfeild Park AZ Posts: 11,490 Blog Entries: 2	as long as it stayed in tact you should be fine __________________ Jimmy MASVC President Dishes are done man! Current Tank Info: 300 in progress

12/21/2011, 08:02 AM	#12
Jocko Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Boston Posts: 595	Good that you only had one and you got it out. However bubble algae spreads in tanks without being popped. But we tend to ignore that fact. Because everyone hears that the spores are inside and it seems reasonable, we assume it is true and repeat it to others. And now it is assumed to be fact. That's the funny thing about not having any scientific evidence. So keep an eye out. Hopefully you won't see any more.

12/21/2011, 08:45 AM	#13
rogermccray Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 1,050	They obviously reproduce without being popped, but if you keep pulling them out as soon as you see them I think you will have the problem taken care of in no time (no time in aquarium terms at least ).

02/11/2012, 09:54 PM	#14
T Diddy Slayer of Mice Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Augusta, Ga Posts: 1,338	update thanks for the replies. Manual removal is not an option for most of it, and I refuse to put mithrax in the tank. However, i recently added a foxface, and he has been giving the bubble algae He11. It is pretty funny to watch...he has to work pretty hard to beat it up and get a mouthfull. I've also been working on water chemistry a little harder. I should have better lighting over my fuge soon. GFO was getting old, so that has also been replaced. With any luck, the combination of all these measures will put a significant dent in this new menace. __________________ America's best are not in America. Current Tank Info: 140 Gallon DSA in-wall, foam/rock wall, DIY LED, 40g sump, Precision Marine Skimmer, 100 gallon refugium, NO3, PO4,NH3/4 undetectable, Mg, Ca, KH...eeehhhhhh?

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