bubble algae - emarald crab

ptomoson · 09/23/2008, 09:48 AM

I'm starting to get a small amount of buble algae. The threads I read say do not pop them when removing. Others say get an emerald crab. Does an emerald crab eat the bubble whole?

sfarid123 · 09/23/2008, 10:54 AM

If you have green bubble, you may get lucky with emeralds. I have the red bubble algae (red valonia) for the past year and unfortunately nothing eats it. I would not pop them or your whole tank will become infested very fast.

spider86 · 09/23/2008, 07:36 PM

They tear the bubble apart and eat it. I had a bad case and got an emerald which ate it all. If you can not remove it by hand, an emerald is worth a shot.

sabbath · 09/23/2008, 07:46 PM

If you can remove the rock. Take it out during a water change and put it in the old water & pull bubble off and shake it in old water.

liz3 · 09/23/2008, 08:17 PM

They should be pretty to remove without popping when small. Once they get big is when mine seemed to pop, and yes then spread spores when popped. sabbath has a good idea with the water change and removal as any extra spores will go down the drain.

Every one says emerald crabs, but I never had mine take interest in the bubble algae.

jayco5 · 09/23/2008, 09:19 PM

My emerald crabs ate my bubble algae. I stripped off what I could and watched the crabs eat the rest.

Agu · 09/23/2008, 09:21 PM

Last emerald crab I got thought blastumossa was better tasting, ten minutes later it was in the sump with the mantis shrimp.

liz3 · 09/23/2008, 09:53 PM

mantis...not good.

I think it's hit or miss with the individual u get. I bought the copperband butterfly for aptasia when some swore it would helpt and others that it would not. Mine did...but would not eat anything else so starved eventually after clearing the tank out.

tomphot1 · 09/24/2008, 09:12 AM

Emerald crabs took care of the hair algae I had - not much, just real short stuff in one corner.
They also took care of some bubble algae I had in a hard to reach area.
My Foxface also liked bubble algae while it was around.

jayco5 · 09/24/2008, 11:19 AM

I also had several blastos with my emerald crabs, but the crabs never touched them. Just an FYI.

09/23/2008, 09:48 AM	#1
ptomoson Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: NW Iowa Posts: 274	bubble algae - emarald crab I'm starting to get a small amount of buble algae. The threads I read say do not pop them when removing. Others say get an emerald crab. Does an emerald crab eat the bubble whole?

09/23/2008, 07:36 PM	#3
spider86 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Milwaukee, WI Posts: 306	They tear the bubble apart and eat it. I had a bad case and got an emerald which ate it all. If you can not remove it by hand, an emerald is worth a shot. __________________ Zach Current Tank Info: 37g reef, 25g sump, OR 2500, Octo-150, Calfo overflow, 150w HQI Pheonix 14k, T5 retro, w/ closed loop, Little Giant 3-MDQX-SC, UV, PhosReactor, CarbonReactor, 1/10 Prime chiller

09/23/2008, 09:21 PM	#7
Agu Registered Member Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: Sarasota, Florida Posts: 30,279	Last emerald crab I got thought blastumossa was better tasting, ten minutes later it was in the sump with the mantis shrimp. __________________ Less technology , more biology . Current Tank Info: 30 gallon half cube and 5.5, both reef tanks

09/23/2008, 10:54 AM	#2
sfarid123 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: maryland Posts: 456	If you have green bubble, you may get lucky with emeralds. I have the red bubble algae (red valonia) for the past year and unfortunately nothing eats it. I would not pop them or your whole tank will become infested very fast.

09/23/2008, 07:46 PM	#4
sabbath Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Twin City's Mn. Posts: 1,771	If you can remove the rock. Take it out during a water change and put it in the old water & pull bubble off and shake it in old water.

09/23/2008, 08:17 PM	#5
liz3 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Glendale Heights Posts: 1,289	They should be pretty to remove without popping when small. Once they get big is when mine seemed to pop, and yes then spread spores when popped. sabbath has a good idea with the water change and removal as any extra spores will go down the drain. Every one says emerald crabs, but I never had mine take interest in the bubble algae.

09/23/2008, 09:19 PM	#6
jayco5 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Michigan Posts: 74	My emerald crabs ate my bubble algae. I stripped off what I could and watched the crabs eat the rest.

09/23/2008, 09:53 PM	#8
liz3 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Glendale Heights Posts: 1,289	mantis...not good. I think it's hit or miss with the individual u get. I bought the copperband butterfly for aptasia when some swore it would helpt and others that it would not. Mine did...but would not eat anything else so starved eventually after clearing the tank out.

09/24/2008, 09:12 AM	#9
tomphot1 Premium Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 86	Emerald crabs took care of the hair algae I had - not much, just real short stuff in one corner. They also took care of some bubble algae I had in a hard to reach area. My Foxface also liked bubble algae while it was around.

09/24/2008, 11:19 AM	#10
jayco5 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Michigan Posts: 74	I also had several blastos with my emerald crabs, but the crabs never touched them. Just an FYI.