Anyone tried using boiling water to spot kill bubble algae?

mfp4073 · 12/10/2006, 04:29 PM

I have rock that is infested with the bubble algae. Unfortunatly I have 3 RBTAs that are attached to it. I have tried several different things with sucess in other tanks. I have cleaned my 5 gal of aptasia and of the bubble algae using joes for the aptasia and picking off the bubble algae, but in my 20 (with the btas) its harder to do that and I am guessing something busted one of them.....went from one or 2 here and there to a tank full of em in a week. I was treating for aptasia recently and dribbled some joes juice on some of the bubbles and they responded by the green clear fluid "sucks down" and its a little button in the bottom of the bubble. Dont know if this killed it or what it did because the bubble stayed "full", but with clear liquid and the shrunk green. I also was working on dousing areas that I popped ones I was trying to pry off with boiling water and tried treating several areas with boiling water and a syringe. They turn a bright green..I cannot imagine they could survive 180 degree water? Any thoughts?

bertoni · 12/10/2006, 11:42 PM

That might kill them. I don't see any harm in trying. I mostly just crush and remove them, personally.

lessthanlights · 12/11/2006, 12:15 AM

emerald crabs worked great for me

mfp4073 · 12/11/2006, 12:46 AM

The crabs seem to be so hit and miss that I cannot call it a definate cure. I have not seen any neg to trying the boiling water...figure if I can cook the spores they cannot reproduce.

dippin61 · 12/11/2006, 01:44 PM

generally, the smaller ones will not have spores. they only start releasing spores, when they are 3/4 their "adult" size.

and i figure, if i just leave em, they'll grow big and pop anyways. so i just grab em and pull em out and not worry about popping them. at least by popping them i get rid of the bubble, and the spores have to travel through my tank, all my filters, socks, skimmer, huge flow, AND have to find a spot on my rock to settle.

/shrug

12/10/2006, 04:29 PM	#1
mfp4073 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Winter Park, FL Posts: 1,506	Anyone tried using boiling water to spot kill bubble algae? I have rock that is infested with the bubble algae. Unfortunatly I have 3 RBTAs that are attached to it. I have tried several different things with sucess in other tanks. I have cleaned my 5 gal of aptasia and of the bubble algae using joes for the aptasia and picking off the bubble algae, but in my 20 (with the btas) its harder to do that and I am guessing something busted one of them.....went from one or 2 here and there to a tank full of em in a week. I was treating for aptasia recently and dribbled some joes juice on some of the bubbles and they responded by the green clear fluid "sucks down" and its a little button in the bottom of the bubble. Dont know if this killed it or what it did because the bubble stayed "full", but with clear liquid and the shrunk green. I also was working on dousing areas that I popped ones I was trying to pry off with boiling water and tried treating several areas with boiling water and a syringe. They turn a bright green..I cannot imagine they could survive 180 degree water? Any thoughts?

12/10/2006, 11:42 PM	#2
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	That might kill them. I don't see any harm in trying. I mostly just crush and remove them, personally. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

12/11/2006, 12:46 AM	#4
mfp4073 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Winter Park, FL Posts: 1,506	The crabs seem to be so hit and miss that I cannot call it a definate cure. I have not seen any neg to trying the boiling water...figure if I can cook the spores they cannot reproduce. __________________ Bristle worms are evil and need to be eradicated, at night they creep out of the tank and charge internet porn to your credit cards....ask me how I know. Anyone else notice that anthelia smells like fresh cut water chestnuts? ....they call me chad Current Tank Info: 1 crashed 75 gal..it was really beautiful while it lasted.

12/11/2006, 01:44 PM	#5
dippin61 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Oregon Posts: 1,897	generally, the smaller ones will not have spores. they only start releasing spores, when they are 3/4 their "adult" size. and i figure, if i just leave em, they'll grow big and pop anyways. so i just grab em and pull em out and not worry about popping them. at least by popping them i get rid of the bubble, and the spores have to travel through my tank, all my filters, socks, skimmer, huge flow, AND have to find a spot on my rock to settle. /shrug __________________ Reefers Law: It can take about 48 hours to brown, and 48 weeks to color back up! Current Tank Info: 55 Gallon BB Low Iron Glass, Dual 110w VHO Actinics, 250w PFO MH 20k XM

12/11/2006, 12:15 AM	#3
lessthanlights Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Duluth, MN Posts: 606	emerald crabs worked great for me