Bubble Algae

M

Meli

I'm getting a nice batch of bubble algae growing. So far I don't like the recommended ways to remove it. I'd hate to take my rock work apart so I could scrap the bubbles off, knowing that it will probably come back. I don't want to add an emeral crab. I finally got a clean up crew that's working and keeping everything in check. I don't want to feed my snails to some crab. I've read about the tang, but I've only got a 42, no way I'm adding a tang. I've also read about injecting the bubbles with air, which I've considered, but don't have an insulin needle to do that with and it'd be a continual upkeep type of deal on my part. I'd prefer to add a critter to take care of it. Is there any other known critter that will eat the bubble algae? Thanks.

Melissa
 
Hi Melissa,

Good questions... Is there a real way to maintenance bubble algae? I had a really bad outbreak on some rocks last year. I ended up removing all of them and manually scraping them off. So far i've only seen a few return. I too don't want an emerald crab. Problem with siphoning is that you run the risk of breaking them open while trying to extract them, which only makes the problem worse.
 
I'm concerned about multiplying my problem if I can't get it siphoned out quickly enough. It's very frustrating since I finally got the GHA taken care of and the cyno gone, and now I'm stuck with bubble. :roll:
 
I know you already said it's not what you want, but I wanted to at least put in a positive plug for Emerald Crabs... I had a medium bubble algae problem. I did the pluck/siphon method for all the bigger ones, and added 8 Emerald Crabs to pick up the smaller ones and any spores that attached from removing the bigger ones.

(Knock On Wood) I can't find a single Bubble Algae in my tank at this point. And, I've literally got hundreds of snails in my tank, the Emeralds have never bothered anything, and I kept a close eye on them for ages.
 
I too have had luck with emerald crabs, but just like everything else in this hobby, they can be hit or miss. My only concern with the emeralds is that they become very large, you either need to remove them or keep a close eye on them. I've never actually seen one eating/killing anything I didn't want it to, but have my suspicions. On a good note though....if you have one that does munch on bubbles, when all the bubbles are gone, you can always give/sell it to someone else who needs one.
Good luck
Charley
 
I tried an emerald crab and then another and then another....after 3 of them all I had was 3 emerald crabs and increasing patches of bubble algae.

Mine was in impossible to reach places. So I added a Foxface and PRESTO CHANGE-O....all the bubble was gone in 2 days. Haven't seen a trace of it in months and months now. Go for a Foxface.
 
I have some emeralds as well. It did actually eat some bubble, but left alot of the patches alone. I did manually remove some when I had the rock out, and I've also used the siphon method. I do have patches left here and there on rockwork that is hard to get to so maybe I will really look into getting a Foxface. Has anybody had problems with keeping/caring for the foxface and have they been a model citizen in a reef tank?
 
Anthony said Magnificent Foxface (Siganus magnifica) eats bubble algae. Pretty fish too.
If you have big fish tank, a few days ago we saw some at Exotic Aquatic and Plano Pet in Plano.
 
WEll I have read about your problem and have had it before when I first transferred over to saltwater. Everyone here has given great methods in removing the algae. The only other thing that I can think of is the following.......


Let them grow. Once they get to a substancial size.. Dime and larger, you can successfully twist them off the rock with out breaking them. This takes some practive and skill. I have done this succesfully before in my adventure and the smaller ones were taken care of by a "Emerald".

Good luck..
 
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