How to get rid of bubble algea?

tony098 · 06/19/2006, 07:10 AM

I start seeing bubble algea on some of the rock. How do you get rid of it? Thanks.

PrangeWay · 06/19/2006, 07:35 AM

I've had 3 ways to combat and beat bubble algae.

1) Manual remove with siphon everytime you do a water change (weekly). The improved water quality will also help.

2) Had the smooth shelled 'Mexican Turbos' eat/dislodge them all when they run out of other algae to eat. As a side note I've had turbos dispose of just about every algae people say nothing eats, once they run out of other preferred foods.

3) Zeovit, they stop growing, coralline covers them.

I'd recommend going with a combo of 1 & 2.

lessans · 06/19/2006, 08:31 AM

When I saw my first bubble alga (this is the singular form), I took a plastic disposable spoon like the kind you would use @ a picknick and very gently and slowly pryed the bubble off the rock. If you use this method pry the bubble at the site of attachment and not just scrape it off from the side of the bubble as this could result in tearing the bubble (even though it has a tough membrane) in turn dispersing the bubble's contents into the water column. The hardest part for me was removing it from the tank b/c I was too lazy to turn off the pumps and powerheads, but I managed to get it out. then I had a little fun it let is sit outside the tank for a couple days to watch what would happen. The results: It dried out. There hasn't been a single bubble algae incident since and this incident took place in Fall 2005.

Sk8r · 06/19/2006, 09:01 AM

The more coralline you have, the less bubble algae: it doesn't tend to grow where coralline is.

smatter · 06/19/2006, 09:04 AM

Congratulate yourself, you are growing one of the largest unicellular organisms on earth. Their appearance in your tank is an indication of outstanding water quality. You must have nitrate and phosphate free water.

tony098 · 06/19/2006, 12:56 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by smatter
Congratulate yourself, you are growing one of the largest unicellular organisms on earth. Their appearance in your tank is an indication of outstanding water quality. You must have nitrate and phosphate free water.

Is this a joke

? I removed all the fish a month ago because of ick. Only have corals and snails. Only feed lightly 5 times in a month.

ian ryan · 06/19/2006, 01:14 PM

GET AN EMERALD CRAB THEY LOVE THAT STUFF AND THERE CHEAP

crazyfingersmike · 06/19/2006, 01:16 PM

There is only 1 true way to control any type of algae: keep your nutrient levels under control. Period. 0 nitrates, 0 phosphates. Problem solved.

How do you do that? Well, it takes a long time and a lot of husbandry to get to that point. Good skimmer, refugium, water changes, no overfeeding, macro algaes, etc...

06/19/2006, 07:10 AM	#1
tony098 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 161	How to get rid of bubble algea? I start seeing bubble algea on some of the rock. How do you get rid of it? Thanks.

06/19/2006, 07:35 AM	#2
PrangeWay Duke of Monte Fisto Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Fort Worth, TX Posts: 722	Bubbles I've had 3 ways to combat and beat bubble algae. 1) Manual remove with siphon everytime you do a water change (weekly). The improved water quality will also help. 2) Had the smooth shelled 'Mexican Turbos' eat/dislodge them all when they run out of other algae to eat. As a side note I've had turbos dispose of just about every algae people say nothing eats, once they run out of other preferred foods. 3) Zeovit, they stop growing, coralline covers them. I'd recommend going with a combo of 1 & 2. __________________ Dumbest Quotes Ever..... "Great color, great growth" closely followed by "all water parameters fine"

06/19/2006, 08:31 AM	#3
lessans Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Decatur, GA Posts: 913	When I saw my first bubble alga (this is the singular form), I took a plastic disposable spoon like the kind you would use @ a picknick and very gently and slowly pryed the bubble off the rock. If you use this method pry the bubble at the site of attachment and not just scrape it off from the side of the bubble as this could result in tearing the bubble (even though it has a tough membrane) in turn dispersing the bubble's contents into the water column. The hardest part for me was removing it from the tank b/c I was too lazy to turn off the pumps and powerheads, but I managed to get it out. then I had a little fun it let is sit outside the tank for a couple days to watch what would happen. The results: It dried out. There hasn't been a single bubble algae incident since and this incident took place in Fall 2005. __________________ "Oh, Mother, I come baring a gift. I'll give you a hint. It's in my diaper and it's not a toaster" -Stewie Griffin Current Tank Info: current tank: 20 gal reef; former tanks: 65 gal reef, 10 gal freshwater

06/19/2006, 09:01 AM	#4
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	The more coralline you have, the less bubble algae: it doesn't tend to grow where coralline is. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

06/19/2006, 09:04 AM	#5
smatter Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Madison, WI Posts: 2,055	Congratulate yourself, you are growing one of the largest unicellular organisms on earth. Their appearance in your tank is an indication of outstanding water quality. You must have nitrate and phosphate free water.

06/19/2006, 01:14 PM	#7
ian ryan Moved On Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: California Posts: 23	GET AN EMERALD CRAB THEY LOVE THAT STUFF AND THERE CHEAP

06/19/2006, 01:16 PM	#8
crazyfingersmike Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Langhorne, PA (Philly burbs) Posts: 650	There is only 1 true way to control any type of algae: keep your nutrient levels under control. Period. 0 nitrates, 0 phosphates. Problem solved. How do you do that? Well, it takes a long time and a lot of husbandry to get to that point. Good skimmer, refugium, water changes, no overfeeding, macro algaes, etc...