getting rid of bubble algea

[dschflier]

Does anyone know what creatures will take care of bubble algea the best. The stuff is pretty invasive. Crabs, fish ect.

[Scott_LM]

Does anyone know what creatures will take care of bubble algea the best. The stuff is pretty invasive. Crabs, fish ect.

 

 

Emerald crabs are supposed to eat it, but I have never had much luck.

 

Scott

[treesprite]

The crabs have to break them to eat them, which makes it get worse not better, so that is probably not a good idea.

[davelin315]

The problem with emerald crabs is that they do eat it, but they also pop it to eat it. This in turn spreads the spores out. I (knock on wood) have never had an over infestation of bubble algae and have actually encouraged it in past tanks where it didn't cause any problems with encroaching on other things. Got some pretty neat growths of it as well, where it would build towers on itself, layer upon layer. It looked especially cool when it got covered in coralline. That said, the best way to get it out is to manually remove it without popping it. If you are gentle enough, you can even just rub it back and forth and it will come loose without popping. Then it's simply a matter of scooping it out of the tank.

[extreme_tooth_decay]

That said, the best way to get it out is to manually remove it without popping it. If you are gentle enough, you can even just rub it back and forth and it will come loose without popping. Then it's simply a matter of scooping it out of the tank.

 

That's what I've done when it's been a problem (but it's never been that big a problem)

 

tim

[lanman]

That's what I've done when it's been a problem (but it's never been that big a problem)

 

tim

 

It's a pretty major problem in my frag tank, for some reason. But I've taken to pulling the frags out once in a while, and cleaning all the bubbles off. So only the permanent fixtures in there are getting big piles of the stuff.

 

bob

[extreme_tooth_decay]

It's a pretty major problem in my frag tank, for some reason. But I've taken to pulling the frags out once in a while, and cleaning all the bubbles off. So only the permanent fixtures in there are getting big piles of the stuff.

 

bob

 

 

Once when I had a big infestation I used a siphon tube to both dislodge, and suck them up (some of them broke)...but it's better to take them out one at a time without breaking.

[Rascal]

The crabs have to break them to eat them, which makes it get worse not better, so that is probably not a good idea.

 

They have worked like a charm for me in the past. I've also had a yellow tang that loved the stuff.

 

I agree that manual removal is best, but for complete eradication it wouldn't hurt to try something that will eat it. There will always be someplace you can't reach.

[lanman]

They have worked like a charm for me in the past. I've also had a yellow tang that loved the stuff.

 

I agree that manual removal is best, but for complete eradication it wouldn't hurt to try something that will eat it. There will always be someplace you can't reach.

I've added a couple of crabs; can't hurt

 

bob

[Gadgets]

Ask Rik Leishman. I'm sure he could help.

[gastone]

Ask Rik Leishman. I'm sure he could help.

 

 

Are we talking aptasia or bubble algae?

[dmward99]

I had an outbreak in my tank and cleared it manually and with the help of emerald crabs.Once they got rid of them I didn't see them come back in my display tank( did see some in sump).So If the spores did spread I guess the crabs keep them in check.

[Lee Stearns]

I have seen bubble completely take over a tank, (not mine)- It is not pretty, as it out competes a lot of stuff for space, even corals- Which is why I would manually get ANY I could out of there at the first sign- On the popping or not popping- there is some discussion on whether there are spores in the smaller bubble algae - and that there are no spores in them until they get to about an inch in size- I need to mention that there are several different forms of bubble algae- but the ones that grow to large round spheres many times in excess of 2 inches, appears to be the dominant form I have seen in many aquariums in this area-

In my tank I have found it almost impossible to get them out of many cracks and crevices with out popping- So I use a dental pick and pull them from their location when ever I have seen one- Over time, we are talking a couple of years I have reached the point where I never find them any more-

Just be extremely careful with what ever you import into your tank- inspect it carefully, and maybe you will not fight this battle.

[dschflier]

Thanks everyone for your advice. I will get a couple of emerald crabs for my fuge and frag tank. I think they are kept out of my main tank because of the tangs or maybe the lawn mower blenny. I have been manually removing them and I think I am gaining ground. I will let you know.

 

One other thing. How large do the crabs get and are they knwon to eat fish in the tank?

[Leishman]

Ask Rik Leishman. I'm sure he could help.

 

 

Are we talking aptasia or bubble algae?

 

 

Hey now, easy on the Rik bashing

[yauger]

Hey now, easy on the Rik bashing

 

you know we all love you RIK!!!

 

[dmward99]

Thanks everyone for your advice. I will get a couple of emerald crabs for my fuge and frag tank. I think they are kept out of my main tank because of the tangs or maybe the lawn mower blenny. I have been manually removing them and I think I am gaining ground. I will let you know.

 

One other thing. How large do the crabs get and are they knwon to eat fish in the tank?

I think the crabs get about 1.5-2".Atleast thats was the size of mine before I sold them.I got them at about .5" and they grew to that size.Never had a problem with them eating any fish .They mostly scavenged and ate the bubble algae.

[Rascal]

One other thing. How large do the crabs get and are they knwon to eat fish in the tank?

 

Of the first 3 that I bought, one got pretty big after about a year. By big I mean about 2" in diameter. After its last molt it was a very shiny green so I called it The Incredible Hulk. I saw it take a couple of swipes at nearby fish but never caught any. I started to suspect it was munching on zoas at that point (had never seen it do that before). I thought about removing it but then it just disappeared.

 

About 6 months later I bought 2 more. Similar experience. For most of their lives they seemed model citizens - eating all types of algae and detritus. One was a casualty of interceptor, but the other lived through it and got to that same big and shiny green point. Again I started to worry it was eating some zoas, then it disappeared.

 

I never actually saw it eat any zoas, and it may have just been picking scraps of food from b/n the polyps.

 

No crab is entirely risk free, but I would put these with sally lightfoots on top of the "reef safe" list - at least unlike hermits they won't eat your snails.

Edited November 26, 2007 by Rascal

[davelin315]

I agree that they are opportunistic... I have seen emerald crabs in the past eating everything in sight, but that is not the norm. That said, you cannot predict what a crab will do. I recently bought my first emerald crab because my kids wanted it... One thing I noticed about it is that it's claws are not made for piercing, but rather for grabbing as they have flat surfaces on them. This bodes well for its diet and what it will go after in general, but again, a crab is a crab and who knows what it might do.

[lanman]

I saw one of my emeralds feasting on green bubbles tonight. He was picking at the tiny tiny ones around the edge of the infestation. But then - he's a pretty small crab, still.

 

bob