bubble algae in overflow?

MSherman · 08/24/2007, 11:30 AM

I need some advice please. I have a large quantity of bubble algae and aptasia in my overflow box. I have no bubble algae in my display but do get 1 or 2 aptasia in the display every once in a while. I zap them with white vinegar and they die. I do have a mechanical filter in my sump before the return. I think this is keeping most of the stuff out. Here's the big question. Do I do anything? I am afraid if I try to clean this stuff out of the overfow number one- I won't get it all and it will grow back & number 2 - I will release particles into the water and MORE stuff will enter the display. I am thinking about placing some 'black out' plastic over the top of the box to eliminate light and killing the stuff. What do you all think? Thanks

dan10342 · 08/24/2007, 12:46 PM

well, is this an overflow box (like the ones that hang on the back) or is it internal?

if its internal, i would remove any spong/ anything blocking loose bubbles from going in sump/refugium etc. i would also turn off return pump so the bubbles cant get back in display.

then i would take a net, and net the loose bubbles out of the sump.

just what i would do though

MSherman · 08/24/2007, 01:33 PM

It's an internal overflow and I actually tried doing this but I put a some filter pads in a filter bag and put it over the 1" pipe going into the sump. It collected a lot but the overflow is FILLED with both aiptasia and bubble algae all the way to the bottom. It is very difficult to get around the pipes and I think it would be impossible to get to the bottom. Any thoughts. Will depriving the area of light work? Won't it be a waste unless I get it all? Thanks

dan10342 · 08/24/2007, 01:38 PM

i have no idea then. aiptasia can live without light for some time, (if not "forever"), and the bubbles... i have no clue. sorry i couldnt be of more help. i would just leave them in there, or go buy a new tank.

rustybucket145 · 08/24/2007, 01:46 PM

Might sound crazy.....

But.... cut off the pumps, siphon all the water out of the overflow and fill it up with straight vinegar. Let it soak for an hour or two. Knock as much loose as you physically can. Siphon vinegar out... fill it up again..

Repeat as necessary!!

Be sure to stick a powerhead or bubbler in your main tank while you are doing this to keep the water from stagnating.

Also, Vinegar won't hurt your tank if you splash some in it on accident. It will be ok.

MSherman · 08/24/2007, 01:47 PM

Thanks jjjo. It's an interesting hobby, isn't it.

MSherman · 08/24/2007, 02:16 PM

rustybucket

I'v only been doing this for a year. I think, and I could be wrong, that the internal overflow (it's separated from the tank by an oval plastic with slits in it to let the tank water in) cannot be siphoned out because there are 3 rows of slits (one at the top, middle & bottom). I think I would have to drain the entire display down! Do I really have to do this? Help?

ludnix · 08/24/2007, 02:19 PM

In my experience starving bubble algae of light will make them into clear bubbles (dead) which you can then remove with little risk of spreading their spores. I don't know how Aiptasia would react.

I think I would leave the aiptasia in the overflow box, and just keep the tank in check by killing any that pop up there. Aiptasia are supposed to be good filters.

MSherman · 08/24/2007, 02:34 PM

thanks ludnix. Should I keep the blackout plastic on the overflow forever? What if the bubbles go clear and I don't remove them (just in case?). Is this OK?

rustybucket145 · 08/24/2007, 02:44 PM

Quote:

I think, and I could be wrong, that the internal overflow (it's separated from the tank by an oval plastic with slits in it to let the tank water in) cannot be siphoned out because there are 3 rows of slits (one at the top, middle & bottom). I think I would have to drain the entire display down! Do I really have to do this? Help?

No you don't have to drain the entire tank (unless your's is setup different than the average tank). Yes there are slits at different levels but they are all backed by a solid arch which runs solid the entire span from bottom to top.

At least give it a try (siphoning that is)... what could it hurt?

MSherman · 08/24/2007, 02:57 PM

rustybucket- I see that! So I can drain the overflow. WOW. I don't want to start a fight, but what do you think about keeping the overflow dark & killing the bubbles like ludnix thinks.

ludnix- how about rustybucket's idea?

In general I'm alittle bit scared about putting all that vinegar in the overflow. Has anyone done this? It sounds like it would work.
Am I the only one with this problem? How did this stuff get in the overflow if its not in the display?

MSherman · 08/24/2007, 02:59 PM

Just thought of a nightmare also. What if there is a leak between the 2 walls? Could there be one and the overflow still works?
Am I being paranoid? Sorry!

rustybucket145 · 08/24/2007, 03:02 PM

ummm... keeping it dark and killing the bubbles..... the only issue I can see with this is.....

Bubble algae contains thousands/millions of tiny tiny 'seeds' inside each bubble. If you kill the bubble, it turns white and you pop it, have you just released all these seeds? Are they still viable? or dead?

I don't have the answer to these questions.... don't know that you will find a source that can give you the answers.....

The main reason I stress eradication is that some of this crap got into my tank from a fellow reefer (his tank crashed) I was trying to store some coral short term for him and got the dreaded bubble algae. I've been battling it ever since. Hasn't reached the display tank yet, just a frag tank. If it were to get into my display I don't know what I would do. You have the chance and the perfect situation to totally eradicate this from your system before it gets out of hand..... If I were you, I would do everything in my power to get it out and get it all out good.

Best of luck whatever course of action you decide to take! Be sure to keep us updated as to your progress!! I'm sure everybody would be interested in a solution.

three-spot · 08/24/2007, 03:22 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by MSherman
Just thought of a nightmare also. What if there is a leak between the 2 walls? Could there be one and the overflow still works?
Am I being paranoid? Sorry!

Yes, there could be a small leak in the overflow wich wouldn't prevent it from working.

If you want to find out if there's a leak, turn the return pump off and block off the drain from the overflow. The water level in the overflows should normally be slightly lower than the water level in the display, so, bassically, if the water level stays the same = no leak. Rises= leak. lowers= probably won't happen but if it does you didn't block your oveflow's drain off completely.

Simply blacking out the overflows won't kill the aptasia... apparently they can live several months without light, remember they can filter feed. So the vinegar route would be the best way.

MSherman · 08/24/2007, 03:45 PM

Three-Spot - I suppose if I drain the overflow and wait awhile, and no water leaks in, there is no leak? Yes? Do you recommend the vinegar aproach? Will it kill the algae also? Should I scrap the stuff out after vinegar or let it rot? Maybe scrap before I siphon the vinegar out. I would have to put a heavy duty filter sock on once I start the pump again anyway I suppose.

08/24/2007, 11:30 AM	#1
MSherman Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: LI, NY Posts: 97	bubble algae in overflow? I need some advice please. I have a large quantity of bubble algae and aptasia in my overflow box. I have no bubble algae in my display but do get 1 or 2 aptasia in the display every once in a while. I zap them with white vinegar and they die. I do have a mechanical filter in my sump before the return. I think this is keeping most of the stuff out. Here's the big question. Do I do anything? I am afraid if I try to clean this stuff out of the overfow number one- I won't get it all and it will grow back & number 2 - I will release particles into the water and MORE stuff will enter the display. I am thinking about placing some 'black out' plastic over the top of the box to eliminate light and killing the stuff. What do you all think? Thanks

08/24/2007, 01:46 PM	#5
rustybucket145 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: valdosta, ga Posts: 3,707	Might sound crazy..... But.... cut off the pumps, siphon all the water out of the overflow and fill it up with straight vinegar. Let it soak for an hour or two. Knock as much loose as you physically can. Siphon vinegar out... fill it up again.. Repeat as necessary!! Be sure to stick a powerhead or bubbler in your main tank while you are doing this to keep the water from stagnating. Also, Vinegar won't hurt your tank if you splash some in it on accident. It will be ok. __________________ 400gals of various tanks in the same system. Current Tank Info: 2 175w MH, 2 VH0 Actinics, Lots of Live Rock, tons of copepods, a Fat Mandarin Goby, Niger Trigger, Yellow Tang, Falco Hawkfish, Bi-Color Pseudo, numerous soft, SPS and LPS Corals

08/24/2007, 02:19 PM	#8
ludnix Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: California Posts: 3,031	In my experience starving bubble algae of light will make them into clear bubbles (dead) which you can then remove with little risk of spreading their spores. I don't know how Aiptasia would react. I think I would leave the aiptasia in the overflow box, and just keep the tank in check by killing any that pop up there. Aiptasia are supposed to be good filters. __________________ -Eric Sutter Current Tank Info: 14g Biocube

08/24/2007, 03:02 PM	#13
rustybucket145 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: valdosta, ga Posts: 3,707	ummm... keeping it dark and killing the bubbles..... the only issue I can see with this is..... Bubble algae contains thousands/millions of tiny tiny 'seeds' inside each bubble. If you kill the bubble, it turns white and you pop it, have you just released all these seeds? Are they still viable? or dead? I don't have the answer to these questions.... don't know that you will find a source that can give you the answers..... The main reason I stress eradication is that some of this crap got into my tank from a fellow reefer (his tank crashed) I was trying to store some coral short term for him and got the dreaded bubble algae. I've been battling it ever since. Hasn't reached the display tank yet, just a frag tank. If it were to get into my display I don't know what I would do. You have the chance and the perfect situation to totally eradicate this from your system before it gets out of hand..... If I were you, I would do everything in my power to get it out and get it all out good. Best of luck whatever course of action you decide to take! Be sure to keep us updated as to your progress!! I'm sure everybody would be interested in a solution. __________________ 400gals of various tanks in the same system. Current Tank Info: 2 175w MH, 2 VH0 Actinics, Lots of Live Rock, tons of copepods, a Fat Mandarin Goby, Niger Trigger, Yellow Tang, Falco Hawkfish, Bi-Color Pseudo, numerous soft, SPS and LPS Corals

08/24/2007, 12:46 PM	#2
dan10342 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Geneseo, NY Posts: 3,331	well, is this an overflow box (like the ones that hang on the back) or is it internal? if its internal, i would remove any spong/ anything blocking loose bubbles from going in sump/refugium etc. i would also turn off return pump so the bubbles cant get back in display. then i would take a net, and net the loose bubbles out of the sump. just what i would do though

08/24/2007, 01:33 PM	#3
MSherman Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: LI, NY Posts: 97	It's an internal overflow and I actually tried doing this but I put a some filter pads in a filter bag and put it over the 1" pipe going into the sump. It collected a lot but the overflow is FILLED with both aiptasia and bubble algae all the way to the bottom. It is very difficult to get around the pipes and I think it would be impossible to get to the bottom. Any thoughts. Will depriving the area of light work? Won't it be a waste unless I get it all? Thanks

08/24/2007, 01:38 PM	#4
dan10342 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Geneseo, NY Posts: 3,331	i have no idea then. aiptasia can live without light for some time, (if not "forever"), and the bubbles... i have no clue. sorry i couldnt be of more help. i would just leave them in there, or go buy a new tank.

08/24/2007, 01:47 PM	#6
MSherman Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: LI, NY Posts: 97	Thanks jjjo. It's an interesting hobby, isn't it.

08/24/2007, 02:16 PM	#7
MSherman Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: LI, NY Posts: 97	rustybucket I'v only been doing this for a year. I think, and I could be wrong, that the internal overflow (it's separated from the tank by an oval plastic with slits in it to let the tank water in) cannot be siphoned out because there are 3 rows of slits (one at the top, middle & bottom). I think I would have to drain the entire display down! Do I really have to do this? Help?

08/24/2007, 02:34 PM	#9
MSherman Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: LI, NY Posts: 97	thanks ludnix. Should I keep the blackout plastic on the overflow forever? What if the bubbles go clear and I don't remove them (just in case?). Is this OK?

08/24/2007, 02:57 PM	#11
MSherman Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: LI, NY Posts: 97	rustybucket- I see that! So I can drain the overflow. WOW. I don't want to start a fight, but what do you think about keeping the overflow dark & killing the bubbles like ludnix thinks. ludnix- how about rustybucket's idea? In general I'm alittle bit scared about putting all that vinegar in the overflow. Has anyone done this? It sounds like it would work. Am I the only one with this problem? How did this stuff get in the overflow if its not in the display?

08/24/2007, 02:59 PM	#12
MSherman Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: LI, NY Posts: 97	Just thought of a nightmare also. What if there is a leak between the 2 walls? Could there be one and the overflow still works? Am I being paranoid? Sorry!

08/24/2007, 03:45 PM	#15
MSherman Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: LI, NY Posts: 97	Three-Spot - I suppose if I drain the overflow and wait awhile, and no water leaks in, there is no leak? Yes? Do you recommend the vinegar aproach? Will it kill the algae also? Should I scrap the stuff out after vinegar or let it rot? Maybe scrap before I siphon the vinegar out. I would have to put a heavy duty filter sock on once I start the pump again anyway I suppose.