Emerald Crabs vs. Bubble Algae

Frost_Hydra · 02/08/2019, 11:52 AM

I'm starting to have an issue with Bubble algae in my tank recently, and a lot of people have told me that emerald crabs would eat them.

The part that I'm confused about is how this fixes the problem. To my understanding, when bubble algae pop it releases all its spores. So wouldn't an emerald crab trying to eat it just spread the algae even more? am I suppose to use them in combination with another method or medication?

kevin21 · 02/08/2019, 11:57 AM

Supposedly, the way their claws are, they can scoop and eat the bubble algae without actually popping it and releasing the spores.

jgraz · 02/08/2019, 12:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frost_Hydra

I'm starting to have an issue with Bubble algae in my tank recently, and a lot of people have told me that emerald crabs would eat them.

The part that I'm confused about is how this fixes the problem. To my understanding, when bubble algae pop it releases all its spores. So wouldn't an emerald crab trying to eat it just spread the algae even more? am I suppose to use them in combination with another method or medication?

Yes the bubble will pop so to speak when they try to eat it.
Even if they manage to remove the bubble from its mounted location they will indeed need to eat it in pieces.
And not all emeralds will necessarily eat it.

Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk

jgraz · 02/08/2019, 12:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kevin21

Supposedly, the way their claws are, they can scoop and eat the bubble algae without actually popping it and releasing the spores.

Let's say they manage to do as you suggest. How then will they ingest said bubble without popping it?

Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk

Joe0813 · 02/08/2019, 12:52 PM

Following.... My wife is getting bubble algae and we need it gone

murphreef · 02/08/2019, 01:01 PM

Best way to deal with it is try an emerald to help out and then manually remove as much as you can as delicately as possible using a pair of tweezers.

kevin21 · 02/08/2019, 01:29 PM

I am not suggesting anything. I said "supposedly". I have own read from others experiences that emerald crabs can eat the algae without pooping and spreading the spores. I am sure others will chime in with their emerald success or failure. I personally never had an emerald that ate the stuff, but I have read of plenty of people who did have them that ate it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jgraz

Let's say they manage to do as you suggest. How then will they ingest said bubble without popping it?

Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk

ReefWreak · 02/08/2019, 02:12 PM

The short answer is that it depends on who you ask, and while there is probably an exact answer out there, you'll likely spend the rest of your life sifting through opinions to find it.

Some emeralds help, some don't. I was starting to get a nasty bubble algae infection in my brand new tank (it was problematic in my old nano, and must have transferred on my ONLY SURVIVING SNAIL). So I started losing my mind, and bought 6 emerald crabs, as well as dosed vibrant. I don't know which worked, but honestly I'm leaning towards the Vibrant.

In a 100g tank, I started with 18mL/week of Vibrant for the first few weeks, then 10mL per week after that, and used almost the entire bottle. Bubble algae was gone after 4 weeks, and never came back.

I still question whether it did the trick, because I would hate to be duped by snake oil, but honestly, I'm still leaning towards that Vibrant was what killed the bubble algae. It also spiked my nutrient levels (~25ppm Nitrate) because there was no algae to take it up. I had to move to carbon dosing and water changes after the vibrant to bring down nutrient levels and keep them low. But, no algae has come back, only slight green on my sand bed.

I had a hard time keeping corals for a while too, probably because of the nitrate fluctuations. Now I'm doing okay though, and am bubble algae free.

jimbow · 02/08/2019, 02:20 PM

They worked for me.

rffanat1c · 02/08/2019, 02:44 PM

Emeralds always work for me. Worth the $20 shot

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

devimik · 02/09/2019, 07:26 PM

Emeralds never worked for me, but a One-Spot Foxface got rid of it all in relatively short order.

WVH · 02/09/2019, 08:01 PM

Emeralds have not worked this time around for me. Had a terrible outbreak in a newly restarted tank. I know I am a newbie here, but was at this for a long time years back. Here is the best I have found , plus it helps with partial water changes. Tubing no bigger than 3/8th id. Big enough to suck them up the little buggers but not so big as to drain down a 5 gallon bucket too quickly. Cut the end at a acute angle, the point will pop them lose and even if a few burst you are sucking up their spores. If there are ones you can't dislodge this way use a pointed tip taped or glued to the point to aid in suck them up. Atnantitage is after a few buckets full of water you partial is done for the week and the little buggers are in your thrown away water.

02/08/2019, 11:52 AM	#1
Frost_Hydra Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 151	Emerald Crabs vs. Bubble Algae I'm starting to have an issue with Bubble algae in my tank recently, and a lot of people have told me that emerald crabs would eat them. The part that I'm confused about is how this fixes the problem. To my understanding, when bubble algae pop it releases all its spores. So wouldn't an emerald crab trying to eat it just spread the algae even more? am I suppose to use them in combination with another method or medication?

02/08/2019, 11:57 AM	#2
kevin21 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Long Island, New York Posts: 2,208	Supposedly, the way their claws are, they can scoop and eat the bubble algae without actually popping it and releasing the spores. __________________ Kevin Current Tank Info: Waterbox 50g, Tunze 9004 dc skimmer, Vortech mp10, Kessil ap700

02/08/2019, 12:52 PM	#5
Joe0813 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Boston strong Posts: 2,766	Following.... My wife is getting bubble algae and we need it gone __________________ Joe and Jenny Current Tank Info: 180 reef

02/08/2019, 01:01 PM	#6
murphreef Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: simi valley Posts: 3,208	Best way to deal with it is try an emerald to help out and then manually remove as much as you can as delicately as possible using a pair of tweezers. __________________ Justin Current Tank Info: 25G cube (finally back in the hobby in a small way)

02/09/2019, 07:26 PM	#11
devimik Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: KC, KS Posts: 637	Emeralds never worked for me, but a One-Spot Foxface got rid of it all in relatively short order. __________________ Mike D Coral Beauty, Green Filefish, One Spot Foxface, Springeri Dottyback, 2 Ocellaris Clowns, Yellow Watchman Goby, Flame Hawkfish, Spotted Mandarin Current Tank Info: 90g Softie Reef, 150# live rock, 30g sump w/refugium, Tunze Osmolator 3155 ATO, Octopus NWB 150 Skimmer, Mag 950 return, Maxspect 120w Razor 10K LED light X2, BRS Phosphate Reactor; Apex Lite

02/08/2019, 02:12 PM	#8
ReefWreak Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Astoria, NYC Posts: 10,159	The short answer is that it depends on who you ask, and while there is probably an exact answer out there, you'll likely spend the rest of your life sifting through opinions to find it. Some emeralds help, some don't. I was starting to get a nasty bubble algae infection in my brand new tank (it was problematic in my old nano, and must have transferred on my ONLY SURVIVING SNAIL). So I started losing my mind, and bought 6 emerald crabs, as well as dosed vibrant. I don't know which worked, but honestly I'm leaning towards the Vibrant. In a 100g tank, I started with 18mL/week of Vibrant for the first few weeks, then 10mL per week after that, and used almost the entire bottle. Bubble algae was gone after 4 weeks, and never came back. I still question whether it did the trick, because I would hate to be duped by snake oil, but honestly, I'm still leaning towards that Vibrant was what killed the bubble algae. It also spiked my nutrient levels (~25ppm Nitrate) because there was no algae to take it up. I had to move to carbon dosing and water changes after the vibrant to bring down nutrient levels and keep them low. But, no algae has come back, only slight green on my sand bed. I had a hard time keeping corals for a while too, probably because of the nitrate fluctuations. Now I'm doing okay though, and am bubble algae free.

02/08/2019, 02:20 PM	#9
jimbow Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Idaho Posts: 217	They worked for me.

02/08/2019, 02:44 PM	#10
rffanat1c Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: Kenosha, WI Posts: 693	Emeralds always work for me. Worth the $20 shot Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

02/09/2019, 08:01 PM	#12
WVH Registered Member Join Date: May 2018 Posts: 61	Emeralds have not worked this time around for me. Had a terrible outbreak in a newly restarted tank. I know I am a newbie here, but was at this for a long time years back. Here is the best I have found , plus it helps with partial water changes. Tubing no bigger than 3/8th id. Big enough to suck them up the little buggers but not so big as to drain down a 5 gallon bucket too quickly. Cut the end at a acute angle, the point will pop them lose and even if a few burst you are sucking up their spores. If there are ones you can't dislodge this way use a pointed tip taped or glued to the point to aid in suck them up. Atnantitage is after a few buckets full of water you partial is done for the week and the little buggers are in your thrown away water.