Killing bubble algae with no light

diggler93 · 09/20/2015, 07:54 AM

Hello,

Anybody know how long it takes to kill bubble algae when there is no light?

Need to redo my tank due to a bubble algae infestation and would rather not nuke everything with bleach if I can help it.

Thanks

Bent · 09/20/2015, 08:45 AM

It depends in the severity.

Pics?

ncaldwell · 09/20/2015, 08:58 AM

You weren't able to kill with emerald crabs or other animals? What I'd guess at least a week probably more as I find bubbles of it occasionally in my filter bag and leave it

davocean · 09/20/2015, 09:45 AM

I've seen bubble algae still alive that was buried under rockwork for who knows how long, seriously doubt any lights out period will do much of anything to get rid of it.
Emerald crabs would be my go to.

thegrun · 09/20/2015, 09:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davocean

I've seen bubble algae still alive that was buried under rockwork for who knows how long, seriously doubt any lights out period will do much of anything to get rid of it.
Emerald crabs would be my go to.

+1, it would take months and I'm not sure even that would kill it.

SoloGarth · 09/20/2015, 10:03 AM

Yes the only way to be rid of it is manual removal of all bubble algae or better yet sterilizing all rocks

diggler93 · 09/20/2015, 10:13 AM

Thanks all. Bleach it is.

SoloGarth · 09/20/2015, 10:20 AM

Bleach isn't necessary. Just let it dry out for a while. I guess better to be safe but I can't see it surviving out of the water long term.

cloak · 09/20/2015, 10:21 AM

If your going to go the emerald crab route you might as well just try and manually remove as many as you can before each water change. Don't worry about popping them. If you keep doing this from week to week and don't slack off you should be able to keep them under control. You'll probably never eradicate it from your system completely, but there are certain numbers that are bearable. I have bubble algae in my tank, but I stay ahead of it. GL.

ryeguyy84 · 09/20/2015, 11:10 AM

1/4 inch airline cut to a point and manually remove then while siphoning. It takes forever but you'll eventually get ahead of it. Skim slightly wet after the manual removal.

diggler93 · 09/20/2015, 11:40 AM

I've tried emerald crabs, super low nutrient route, picking it off and I'm sick of dealing with it. I've starved my corals and actually lost some due to running ridiculous amounts of GFO and NoPox yet the stuff survives. I think bubble algae and **** roaches will be the only thing alive after a nuclear blast.

davocean · 09/20/2015, 11:45 AM

There are some online vendors that sell emeralds that are gauranteed to eat it, not all do, but I have had huge populations of valonia wiped out by just a few good emeralds.
That and manual removal are really the two best options you have.

diggler93 · 09/20/2015, 11:46 AM

Problem is I'm in Canada and I am not aware of any vendors that guarantee that. Wish there were I would buy 100.

Sugar Magnolia · 09/20/2015, 12:09 PM

I killed all of mine by injecting the bubbles with hydrogen peroxide. My mithrax crabs who weren't eating the bubbles before, cleaned up the remains of the bubbles. I went after the bubble algae in batches over the course of a couple of weeks but the clusters were finally gone.

kinnadian · 09/20/2015, 02:55 PM

Can't be beaten with blackouts, low nutrients, nothing.

Once you have it, the only way to beat it is to find something that will continually eat it, or tear down your tank and start again.

joshkirkland83 · 09/20/2015, 03:11 PM

I have a 100g. It was on a quarter of my live rock that goes up 24" and 48" long. I took each rock out and scrubbed with a wire brush then dipped in hydrogen peroxide, rinsed, put back. Havent seen any since. That was 7 months ago. Its at least worth a shot for a 79 cent bottle of peroxide.

Vancouver Reefr · 09/20/2015, 05:31 PM

I bought a foxface to deal with mine and he has done a fantastic job. My whole tank was covered, now there are just a few spots left where his snout cannot reach.

alton · 09/21/2015, 07:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davocean

There are some online vendors that sell emeralds that are gauranteed to eat it, not all do, but I have had huge populations of valonia wiped out by just a few good emeralds.
That and manual removal are really the two best options you have.

Please list one of the vendors, I have not found an emerald yet that eats what I have

Bent · 09/21/2015, 07:57 AM

Reefcleaners.org garuntees theirs I think k...

SoloGarth · 09/21/2015, 08:15 AM

Emeralds are only guaranteed to eat something you don't want them to in my experience. Like your favorite coral.

Allentown · 09/21/2015, 04:59 PM

Fox face eats it?

Well that settles it....I'm defiantly getting a fox now! My scribbled was a great fish, used to let me pet him at feedings and ate out if my hand.

Won't emerald crabs go after torch and hammers?

I tried to tell someone on here recently that bubble is more like an infection and not subject to removal with normal means.

He flatly insisted I was wrong, I left him to his delusion

09/20/2015, 07:54 AM	#1
diggler93 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Posts: 77	Killing bubble algae with no light Hello, Anybody know how long it takes to kill bubble algae when there is no light? Need to redo my tank due to a bubble algae infestation and would rather not nuke everything with bleach if I can help it. Thanks

09/20/2015, 08:45 AM	#2
Bent I got nothin' Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: The anals Posts: 6,420	It depends in the severity. Pics? __________________ Quitters never lose. [QUOTE=CStrickland]Who gets mad at a starfish?[/QUOTE] Current Tank Info: 75g DT, 30G refugium, 10g chaeto tank, 50g stock tank basement sump

09/20/2015, 09:45 AM	#4
davocean Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 14,655	I've seen bubble algae still alive that was buried under rockwork for who knows how long, seriously doubt any lights out period will do much of anything to get rid of it. Emerald crabs would be my go to. __________________ There's a fine line between owning your tank and your tank owning you! Current Tank Info: SCA 120g RR Starfire, Tunze silence 1073.02 return, 40g sump w/ fuge, SWC Extreme 160 cone skimmer,Geismann reflexx 4xT5, 2x Panorama Pro LED strips, Vortech MP40QD

09/20/2015, 10:03 AM	#6
SoloGarth Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Otis, MA Posts: 1,126	Yes the only way to be rid of it is manual removal of all bubble algae or better yet sterilizing all rocks __________________ 120G Miracles Starfire SPS system Calcium Rx, Bio Pellets, Radions and Gyres My Build Thread: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2549420

09/20/2015, 10:20 AM	#8
SoloGarth Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Otis, MA Posts: 1,126	Bleach isn't necessary. Just let it dry out for a while. I guess better to be safe but I can't see it surviving out of the water long term. __________________ 120G Miracles Starfire SPS system Calcium Rx, Bio Pellets, Radions and Gyres My Build Thread: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2549420

09/20/2015, 08:58 AM	#3
ncaldwell Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Posts: 241	You weren't able to kill with emerald crabs or other animals? What I'd guess at least a week probably more as I find bubbles of it occasionally in my filter bag and leave it

09/20/2015, 10:13 AM	#7
diggler93 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Posts: 77	Thanks all. Bleach it is.

09/20/2015, 10:21 AM	#9
cloak Moved On Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Stockton, CA Posts: 14,854	If your going to go the emerald crab route you might as well just try and manually remove as many as you can before each water change. Don't worry about popping them. If you keep doing this from week to week and don't slack off you should be able to keep them under control. You'll probably never eradicate it from your system completely, but there are certain numbers that are bearable. I have bubble algae in my tank, but I stay ahead of it. GL.

09/20/2015, 11:10 AM	#10
ryeguyy84 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: New Jersey Posts: 2,753	1/4 inch airline cut to a point and manually remove then while siphoning. It takes forever but you'll eventually get ahead of it. Skim slightly wet after the manual removal. __________________ Current tank: 90G mixed reef. Current Tank Info: 90 gallon

09/20/2015, 11:40 AM	#11
diggler93 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Posts: 77	I've tried emerald crabs, super low nutrient route, picking it off and I'm sick of dealing with it. I've starved my corals and actually lost some due to running ridiculous amounts of GFO and NoPox yet the stuff survives. I think bubble algae and **** roaches will be the only thing alive after a nuclear blast.

09/20/2015, 11:45 AM	#12
davocean Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 14,655	There are some online vendors that sell emeralds that are gauranteed to eat it, not all do, but I have had huge populations of valonia wiped out by just a few good emeralds. That and manual removal are really the two best options you have. __________________ There's a fine line between owning your tank and your tank owning you! Current Tank Info: SCA 120g RR Starfire, Tunze silence 1073.02 return, 40g sump w/ fuge, SWC Extreme 160 cone skimmer,Geismann reflexx 4xT5, 2x Panorama Pro LED strips, Vortech MP40QD

09/20/2015, 11:46 AM	#13
diggler93 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Posts: 77	Problem is I'm in Canada and I am not aware of any vendors that guarantee that. Wish there were I would buy 100.

09/20/2015, 12:09 PM	#14
Sugar Magnolia Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Northern VA Posts: 17,691	I killed all of mine by injecting the bubbles with hydrogen peroxide. My mithrax crabs who weren't eating the bubbles before, cleaned up the remains of the bubbles. I went after the bubble algae in batches over the course of a couple of weeks but the clusters were finally gone. __________________ Adrienne The only thing to fear is fear itself....and spiders.

09/20/2015, 02:55 PM	#15
kinnadian Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Posts: 187	Can't be beaten with blackouts, low nutrients, nothing. Once you have it, the only way to beat it is to find something that will continually eat it, or tear down your tank and start again.

09/20/2015, 03:11 PM	#16
joshkirkland83 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2015 Posts: 81	I have a 100g. It was on a quarter of my live rock that goes up 24" and 48" long. I took each rock out and scrubbed with a wire brush then dipped in hydrogen peroxide, rinsed, put back. Havent seen any since. That was 7 months ago. Its at least worth a shot for a 79 cent bottle of peroxide.

09/20/2015, 05:31 PM	#17
Vancouver Reefr Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Kenora, ON Posts: 152	I bought a foxface to deal with mine and he has done a fantastic job. My whole tank was covered, now there are just a few spots left where his snout cannot reach. __________________ .................AQUATROLLER..................... The Ultimate DIY Aquarium Controller of the 21st Century!!! ... LED's, PH, Salinity, Clock, LCD, ATO, Auto Water Changer, Variable Speed Cooling Fan Control and lots, lots more...... Current Tank Info: 75 Gal in the making

09/21/2015, 07:57 AM	#19
Bent I got nothin' Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: The anals Posts: 6,420	Reefcleaners.org garuntees theirs I think k... __________________ Quitters never lose. [QUOTE=CStrickland]Who gets mad at a starfish?[/QUOTE] Current Tank Info: 75g DT, 30G refugium, 10g chaeto tank, 50g stock tank basement sump

09/21/2015, 08:15 AM	#20
SoloGarth Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Otis, MA Posts: 1,126	Emeralds are only guaranteed to eat something you don't want them to in my experience. Like your favorite coral. __________________ 120G Miracles Starfire SPS system Calcium Rx, Bio Pellets, Radions and Gyres My Build Thread: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2549420

09/21/2015, 04:59 PM	#21
Allentown Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Augusta, Ga Posts: 975	Fox face eats it? Well that settles it....I'm defiantly getting a fox now! My scribbled was a great fish, used to let me pet him at feedings and ate out if my hand. Won't emerald crabs go after torch and hammers? I tried to tell someone on here recently that bubble is more like an infection and not subject to removal with normal means. He flatly insisted I was wrong, I left him to his delusion __________________ NEW Build: 225g 72x27x27 Tigger Emerald 39 Sump, ConeS CO-3, 3xHydra 52, BRS 2 part dosers, Vortech MP-40 QD Gyre XF150, Neptune Wav x2, 2x Jaebo RW-4, SMR-1, MR-1