Red Bubble Algea??

Mikester3111 · 01/08/2012, 12:19 PM

I have a really bad outbreak of this stuff and I don't know exactly what it is or how to get rid of it. I was thinking it was some sort of red bubble algae? It grows fast and on everything. I keep manually taking it off and scrubbing the power heads and rock with a brush to get as much off as I can, but within a few weeks it grows right back. Will emerald crabs eat this stuff?

Thanks for any advice!

gmate · 01/08/2012, 12:22 PM

Wow, that's pretty bad. That's so big crabs may not eat it. Though it's hard to tell, if those are Nano powerheads maybe it isn't so big. Do you have a FTS?

Mikester3111 · 01/08/2012, 12:36 PM

Yeah, it's pretty bad! I spent days cleaning it out of the tank for it to grow right back. I have a 90 gallon reef tank and everything else seems to be healty. The powerheads are not nano.. I think the power heads are hydro 3's.

What is a FTS?

tebstan · 01/08/2012, 03:06 PM

In the first pic, I thought, "huh, those are kind of pretty." Then I scrolled down... whoa!

Are they growing in isolated areas, like clusters? Or just randomly all over?

People say if you pop bubble algae it will release spores. I don't know if thats a fact or if its true with this kind. Just to be safe, I make it a point to roll them off gently or just leave them alone. When you're srubbing with a brush it may be spreading, making it worse?

An FTS is a Full Tank Shot. A pic of the whole tank, to put things in perspective.

SushiGirl · 01/08/2012, 05:00 PM

Wow, I've never seen them that bad before!!! It is red bubble algae. I see an aiptasia in that 2nd pic, too. Something has to be fueling the algae, so I'd check your phosphates.

Here's some info & suggestions.

Mikester3111 · 01/08/2012, 06:40 PM

@tebstan - this stuff is growing all over the place. It seems like it's on every piece of rock in the tank just about. When I've cleaned it out before, I took all of the assessable rock and power heads out of the tank and pulled the stuff of with tweezers at the root then scrubbed the remaining "roots" with the brush under the sink faucet. Some did pop in the process, but I tried to clean it all off with fresh water before putting it back in the tank. Other other pieces in the tank, I used tweezers also and piked them off one-by-one. All this work and it all just grew right back.

@SushiGirl - Thanks for the link... I know I have some glass anemone in there. I used Jones juice on then before, but there were a few that survived. I will take care of them soon.

01/08/2012, 12:19 PM	#1
Mikester3111 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 3	Red Bubble Algea?? I have a really bad outbreak of this stuff and I don't know exactly what it is or how to get rid of it. I was thinking it was some sort of red bubble algae? It grows fast and on everything. I keep manually taking it off and scrubbing the power heads and rock with a brush to get as much off as I can, but within a few weeks it grows right back. Will emerald crabs eat this stuff? Thanks for any advice!

01/08/2012, 12:22 PM	#2
gmate MASC Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Littleton, CO Posts: 2,267	Wow, that's pretty bad. That's so big crabs may not eat it. Though it's hard to tell, if those are Nano powerheads maybe it isn't so big. Do you have a FTS? __________________ https://www.marinecolorado.org/ 180, 90 and 50 gallon reef ready systems. Fragging & trading since 2010. Current Tank Info: 180g, 90g & 50g frag tank

01/08/2012, 03:06 PM	#4
tebstan Registered Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Texas Posts: 961	In the first pic, I thought, "huh, those are kind of pretty." Then I scrolled down... whoa! Are they growing in isolated areas, like clusters? Or just randomly all over? People say if you pop bubble algae it will release spores. I don't know if thats a fact or if its true with this kind. Just to be safe, I make it a point to roll them off gently or just leave them alone. When you're srubbing with a brush it may be spreading, making it worse? An FTS is a Full Tank Shot. A pic of the whole tank, to put things in perspective. __________________ Washington's Rule #110: Labor to keep alive in your breast that little spark of celestial fire called conscience. Last edited by tebstan; 01/08/2012 at 03:14 PM.

01/08/2012, 05:00 PM	#5
SushiGirl Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Fort Worth, TX USA Posts: 8,267	Wow, I've never seen them that bad before!!! It is red bubble algae. I see an aiptasia in that 2nd pic, too. Something has to be fueling the algae, so I'd check your phosphates. Here's some info & suggestions. __________________ Visit my Homepage or "My Albums" (via Profile) for hitchhiker pics. Current Tank Info: 55g softy/LPS tank & 20L reef tank

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01/08/2012, 12:36 PM	#3
Mikester3111 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 3	Yeah, it's pretty bad! I spent days cleaning it out of the tank for it to grow right back. I have a 90 gallon reef tank and everything else seems to be healty. The powerheads are not nano.. I think the power heads are hydro 3's. What is a FTS?

01/08/2012, 06:40 PM	#6
Mikester3111 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 3	@tebstan - this stuff is growing all over the place. It seems like it's on every piece of rock in the tank just about. When I've cleaned it out before, I took all of the assessable rock and power heads out of the tank and pulled the stuff of with tweezers at the root then scrubbed the remaining "roots" with the brush under the sink faucet. Some did pop in the process, but I tried to clean it all off with fresh water before putting it back in the tank. Other other pieces in the tank, I used tweezers also and piked them off one-by-one. All this work and it all just grew right back. @SushiGirl - Thanks for the link... I know I have some glass anemone in there. I used Jones juice on then before, but there were a few that survived. I will take care of them soon.