bubble algae...Injections?

klotz16 · 02/12/2008, 11:24 PM

someone at a LFS told me theyve injected calcium into bubble algae to kill it? Has anyone ever done this and does it work?

capncapo · 02/12/2008, 11:30 PM

I think they have aiptasia and bubble algae confused.

demonsp · 02/12/2008, 11:34 PM

What does it look like?What color are they?

Teen Aquarist · 02/13/2008, 12:06 AM

I just popped my bubble algae and it has not come back.

capncapo · 02/13/2008, 12:10 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Teen Aquarist
I just popped my bubble algae and it has not come back.

Consider yourself fortunate.

Bubble algea reproduces by spores and guess what is contained inside the algae. When you pop it, you're spreading spores.

jrod11 · 02/13/2008, 12:14 AM

I think if you pop it at a very early stage, you are lucky and it wont come back. However, if it is mature enough it will spread thousands of spores and you are screwed. I could be wrong, but i heard this somehwere

uscharalph · 02/13/2008, 12:15 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Teen Aquarist
I just popped my bubble algae and it has not come back.

Not good advice to follow. Best method is to remove the rock from your tank and remove the BA in a bucket. Then rinse the rock a couple times with saltwater.

TheFishGuy,LLC · 02/13/2008, 02:36 AM

I have injected bubble algae with Calcium hydroxide much the same way one injects aiptasia. Kills the spores so that when you pop it, it won't reproduce. Good method for those bubbles that are hard to get to.

Teen Aquarist · 02/13/2008, 09:32 AM

LOL that was close, i had three of them and they where very small.

Shooter7 · 02/13/2008, 09:50 AM

bah - bubble algae is just about like any algae, it needs the right conditions to grow. My tank is over 2 years old and during that time I've found a few bubble algae here and there. I just popped them because they were down in places I couldn't remove them from and I hated the sight of them. I did not have any massive follow up explosion of bubble algae simply because I run my tank such that it is not conducive to algae growing. Zero nitrates, run phosphate reactor constantly, light feedings...all the stuff that does not lend itself to algae growth. Why would bubble algae be any different? People get emerald crabs to eat the bubbles...well, they tear the bubbles apart while they're eating them. How is that any different than one of us tearing the bubbles apart? If you are running a low nutrient system, then I don't see any reason to have any major concerns about popping one here or there. If you're growing a lot of them, then one has to think you have water conditions that are good for their growth, and you could potentially grow more after popping them.

seapug · 02/13/2008, 10:17 AM

Popping them is generally not a problem. Leaving them in place and being afraid to touch them is a guaranteed way to let them spread.

What you want to avoid is letting them grow to the point where they become large and start to turn transparent. That's when they are mature and carrying the spores.

klotz16 · 02/14/2008, 12:21 AM

Thanks a lot this has been helpful.... I hate this stupid algae so I wana get rid of it. The one in my tank is green and hard shelled and is particularly fond of this one live rock in the corner... So I'll just start getting them when theyre early and worst case I'll take out that rock. Thanks!

Mavrk · 02/14/2008, 12:24 AM

Read up:
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/20...ture/index.php

and...

To Reef Central

spazthecat · 02/14/2008, 05:19 PM

I don't inject them. I do just the opposite. I suck the spores out with a syringe and then pull the shell off the rock. It's worked well so far.

Andy

Canarygirl · 02/14/2008, 05:55 PM

Quote:

I don't inject them. I do just the opposite. I suck the spores out with a syringe and then pull the shell off the rock. It's worked well so far.

Good thinking! I'm going to try this. I popped a few while trying to get them off of rocks and they turned into many, many more...

02/12/2008, 11:24 PM	#1
klotz16 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: miami florida Posts: 21	bubble algae...Injections? someone at a LFS told me theyve injected calcium into bubble algae to kill it? Has anyone ever done this and does it work?

02/12/2008, 11:30 PM	#2
capncapo Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Florissant, MO Posts: 4,664	I think they have aiptasia and bubble algae confused. __________________ S.L.A.S.H. ............ Often imitated, never duplicated! Venture forth and enjoy life .... the only difference between a rut and a grave is the depth. Current Tank Info: Which one?

02/13/2008, 09:50 AM	#10
Shooter7 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Tolono, IL Posts: 6,754	bah - bubble algae is just about like any algae, it needs the right conditions to grow. My tank is over 2 years old and during that time I've found a few bubble algae here and there. I just popped them because they were down in places I couldn't remove them from and I hated the sight of them. I did not have any massive follow up explosion of bubble algae simply because I run my tank such that it is not conducive to algae growing. Zero nitrates, run phosphate reactor constantly, light feedings...all the stuff that does not lend itself to algae growth. Why would bubble algae be any different? People get emerald crabs to eat the bubbles...well, they tear the bubbles apart while they're eating them. How is that any different than one of us tearing the bubbles apart? If you are running a low nutrient system, then I don't see any reason to have any major concerns about popping one here or there. If you're growing a lot of them, then one has to think you have water conditions that are good for their growth, and you could potentially grow more after popping them. __________________ Dave Current Tank Info: 10 years salty - standard 29g reef - moved from 120 gal reef, 2x250w Reeflux 10k's on ARO electronics and VHO super actinics on Icecap ballast, 2xTunze 6060, MSX 200 skimmer, GEO 612 Ca reactor, mag 12 return

02/13/2008, 10:17 AM	#11
seapug Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: 4980 ft. Posts: 7,954 Blog Entries: 1	Popping them is generally not a problem. Leaving them in place and being afraid to touch them is a guaranteed way to let them spread. What you want to avoid is letting them grow to the point where they become large and start to turn transparent. That's when they are mature and carrying the spores. __________________ insert clever saying here. Current Tank Info: 200 gallon custom Marineland DD peninsular tank. LPS dominated mixed reef. Previous 90 gallon mixed reef TOTM April 2009.

02/12/2008, 11:34 PM	#3
demonsp Moved On Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: el paso tx Posts: 7,634	What does it look like?What color are they?

02/13/2008, 12:06 AM	#4
Teen Aquarist Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 411	I just popped my bubble algae and it has not come back.

02/13/2008, 12:14 AM	#6
jrod11 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: San Diego Posts: 347	I think if you pop it at a very early stage, you are lucky and it wont come back. However, if it is mature enough it will spread thousands of spores and you are screwed. I could be wrong, but i heard this somehwere

02/13/2008, 02:36 AM	#8
TheFishGuy,LLC Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Jonesboro, AR Posts: 109	I have injected bubble algae with Calcium hydroxide much the same way one injects aiptasia. Kills the spores so that when you pop it, it won't reproduce. Good method for those bubbles that are hard to get to.

02/13/2008, 09:32 AM	#9
Teen Aquarist Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 411	LOL that was close, i had three of them and they where very small.

02/14/2008, 12:21 AM	#12
klotz16 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: miami florida Posts: 21	Thanks a lot this has been helpful.... I hate this stupid algae so I wana get rid of it. The one in my tank is green and hard shelled and is particularly fond of this one live rock in the corner... So I'll just start getting them when theyre early and worst case I'll take out that rock. Thanks!

02/14/2008, 12:24 AM	#13
Mavrk Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: California - South Bay Area Posts: 2,775	Read up: http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/20...ture/index.php and... *To Reef Central*

02/14/2008, 05:19 PM	#14
spazthecat Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Pickerington, OH Posts: 220	I don't inject them. I do just the opposite. I suck the spores out with a syringe and then pull the shell off the rock. It's worked well so far. Andy