What are those air bubble looking things all over my rocks?

RC Anemone · 10/26/2006, 01:03 PM

Sorry for the newbie question, but I just noticed these things on my rocks. Looks like green slime on my rocks with air bubbles all over. I even have one of these bubbles on my brain coral. They look like clear bubbles with black in them. What is this stuff? Thanks.

barclayrl · 10/26/2006, 01:06 PM

It is a bubble algae. I cannot remember the correct name for it. But that is what it is. It will clear up in time with proper water parameters and cleanup crew.

Hotrod324 · 10/26/2006, 02:10 PM

Get some emerald crabs. I got it bad from a lfs and they cleared it up and it hasnt been back since

Mitchell_2004 · 10/26/2006, 02:10 PM

Yup emeralds will take care of it..

RC Anemone · 10/26/2006, 02:16 PM

Are emeralds safe with corals and clams? What about a snail, will any also be just as good? Thanks

dlaxer24 · 10/26/2006, 02:23 PM

red leg hermit crabs eat mine up!! i hear i got lucky thou

lhoy · 10/26/2006, 02:29 PM

Well, despite the quick references to bubble algae, I would say it may be dinoflagellates or another form of algae. I would rarely describe bubble algae as "slimy." Find Sprung's book on algae (or search www.wetwebmedia.com) to be sure it looks like bubble algae. The solutions are VERY different and emerald crabs aren't always well behaved in a tank.

Be sure you have a good ID before buying a solution or trying one. For instance, if it is dinoflagellates you don't want to do ANY water changes until it is cleared up. Finally, if it is bubble algae it usually won't just go away over time, it can spread very rapidly. It is not a sign of water quality, just an annoying algae form.

Post some pictures if you can because there are various forms of Bubble algae, but you certainly want to be sure of the problem before you start a solution.

Lee

UrbanSage · 10/26/2006, 02:44 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by lhoy
Well, despite the quick references to bubble algae, I would say it may be dinoflagellates or another form of algae. I would rarely describe bubble algae as "slimy."

Lee

I agree very much with this.

Bubble algae is more like a dark green perl. If you touch it it also feels hard (until it pops

)

Bubble algae will look like this. (Found on google with an image search. Not mine.)

RC Anemone · 10/26/2006, 04:05 PM

I hope you guys are still around. Here's the pics. Thanks for everyone's help.

bertoni · 10/26/2006, 04:07 PM

I'd guess the pictures showed cyanobacteria, although it could be dinoflagellates. The air bubbles are O2, as waste from photosynthesis.

I don't know of an animal that reliably will eat this stuff, although you might get lucky. I'd siphon it off the coral. Siphoning it off the rock would help a bit, too.

These blooms are common in new tanks, and often go away on their own. How long has the tank been set up? Also, how much, what, and how often is the tank being fed?

lhoy · 10/28/2006, 05:02 PM

First, most certainly NOT bubble algae. ID'ing a problem without pics on this board causes a lot of poorly spent money, unnecessary equipment, and doomed livestock.

Second, dinoflagellates are a golden-brown and from your pictures it "appears" to be more greenish and thus not likely to be dino's. However, you will know for sure if your snails die!! Get them to another tank if you see them start to die. DO NOT do a water change if you see snails start to die. Water chnages only exacerbate dino's.

Third, there is a green form of cyanobacteria called Oscillatoria (no, I am not an algae expert, just using great resources). The bubbles are trapped oxygen created by photosynthesis. If so, best thing to do is increase water flow, use protein skimming, activated crabon, water changes, and increase alkalinity. Of course, some serious water changes will also help.

Absolute best thing is to buy Sprung's book on algae and research www.wetwebmedia.com.

Best of wishes, I have dealt with both and they can make an aquarist nuts!!!

Lee

10/26/2006, 01:03 PM	#1
RC Anemone Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 125	What are those air bubble looking things all over my rocks? Sorry for the newbie question, but I just noticed these things on my rocks. Looks like green slime on my rocks with air bubbles all over. I even have one of these bubbles on my brain coral. They look like clear bubbles with black in them. What is this stuff? Thanks.

10/26/2006, 02:29 PM	#7
lhoy Premium Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Georgetown, TX Posts: 431	Well, despite the quick references to bubble algae, I would say it may be dinoflagellates or another form of algae. I would rarely describe bubble algae as "slimy." Find Sprung's book on algae (or search www.wetwebmedia.com) to be sure it looks like bubble algae. The solutions are VERY different and emerald crabs aren't always well behaved in a tank. Be sure you have a good ID before buying a solution or trying one. For instance, if it is dinoflagellates you don't want to do ANY water changes until it is cleared up. Finally, if it is bubble algae it usually won't just go away over time, it can spread very rapidly. It is not a sign of water quality, just an annoying algae form. Post some pictures if you can because there are various forms of Bubble algae, but you certainly want to be sure of the problem before you start a solution. Lee __________________ I'm not A.D.D., I'm just . . . Hey look, a Squirrel! Current Tank Info: 34 Gallon Current Solana, (2) Tunze Nanostreams 6025, (1) Koralia Nano, Current Outer Orbit 150 Watt X 2 65 Watt PC, Current Prime 1/10th Chiller, Soon to be upgraded Skimmer

10/26/2006, 04:07 PM	#10
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	I'd guess the pictures showed cyanobacteria, although it could be dinoflagellates. The air bubbles are O2, as waste from photosynthesis. I don't know of an animal that reliably will eat this stuff, although you might get lucky. I'd siphon it off the coral. Siphoning it off the rock would help a bit, too. These blooms are common in new tanks, and often go away on their own. How long has the tank been set up? Also, how much, what, and how often is the tank being fed? __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

10/28/2006, 05:02 PM	#11
lhoy Premium Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Georgetown, TX Posts: 431	First, most certainly NOT bubble algae. ID'ing a problem without pics on this board causes a lot of poorly spent money, unnecessary equipment, and doomed livestock. Second, dinoflagellates are a golden-brown and from your pictures it "appears" to be more greenish and thus not likely to be dino's. However, you will know for sure if your snails die!! Get them to another tank if you see them start to die. DO NOT do a water change if you see snails start to die. Water chnages only exacerbate dino's. Third, there is a green form of cyanobacteria called Oscillatoria (no, I am not an algae expert, just using great resources). The bubbles are trapped oxygen created by photosynthesis. If so, best thing to do is increase water flow, use protein skimming, activated crabon, water changes, and increase alkalinity. Of course, some serious water changes will also help. Absolute best thing is to buy Sprung's book on algae and research www.wetwebmedia.com. Best of wishes, I have dealt with both and they can make an aquarist nuts!!! Lee __________________ I'm not A.D.D., I'm just . . . Hey look, a Squirrel! Current Tank Info: 34 Gallon Current Solana, (2) Tunze Nanostreams 6025, (1) Koralia Nano, Current Outer Orbit 150 Watt X 2 65 Watt PC, Current Prime 1/10th Chiller, Soon to be upgraded Skimmer

10/26/2006, 01:06 PM	#2
barclayrl Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Chambersburg, PA Posts: 332	It is a bubble algae. I cannot remember the correct name for it. But that is what it is. It will clear up in time with proper water parameters and cleanup crew.

10/26/2006, 02:10 PM	#3
Hotrod324 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 135	Get some emerald crabs. I got it bad from a lfs and they cleared it up and it hasnt been back since

10/26/2006, 02:10 PM	#4
Mitchell_2004 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Amarillo, TX Posts: 157	Yup emeralds will take care of it..

10/26/2006, 02:16 PM	#5
RC Anemone Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 125	Are emeralds safe with corals and clams? What about a snail, will any also be just as good? Thanks

10/26/2006, 02:23 PM	#6
dlaxer24 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: LI, N.Y. Posts: 79	red leg hermit crabs eat mine up!! i hear i got lucky thou

10/26/2006, 04:05 PM	#9
RC Anemone Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 125	I hope you guys are still around. Here's the pics. Thanks for everyone's help.