dano September 21, 2010 Share September 21, 2010 On one of my rocks I have a small colony (growing) of a few dark green/blackish balls that look like little pearls. Anyone know what these are and if they are harmless? Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vadim September 21, 2010 Share September 21, 2010 bubble algae? http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2V_z-617aI0/SUOcseSXouI/AAAAAAAABts/q1NQRLusiss/s400/Bubble%2BAlgae.jpg&imgrefurl=http://hafa-adive.blogspot.com/2008/12/mystery-balls.html&usg=__-wTr5pRC7-PJggXVDn5YtOHu2Sg=&h=377&w=400&sz=26&hl=en&start=0&sig2=bbCmGzP0oRb-7U0YGEm6dA&zoom=1&tbnid=YihXaDge9KX4-M:&tbnh=160&tbnw=162&ei=r_iYTJvBNoHGlQe5oOz5Dw&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dbubble%2Balgae%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DX%26rls%3Dcom.microsoft:en-us%26biw%3D758%26bih%3D824%26tbs%3Disch:1%26prmd%3Div&itbs=1&iact=rc&dur=266&oei=r_iYTJvBNoHGlQe5oOz5Dw&esq=1&page=1&ndsp=12&ved=1t:429,r:9,s:0&tx=39&ty=117 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chad September 21, 2010 Share September 21, 2010 Do a google image search for valonia... I think that is what you have. They can become a nuisance if left unchecked, but I have always found them relatively simple to deal with. Wait until they are large enough to get your fingers around (1cm or so) and gently pry it off the rock. Be careful not to pop it as they multiply by releasing spores into the water column. Sometimes foxfaces and/or emrald crabs eat it. Good luck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dano September 21, 2010 Author Share September 21, 2010 thanks much... though I wish it weren't so, because I like the way they look, it looks like Valonia - Green Bubble algae is the correct id. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aurora September 22, 2010 Share September 22, 2010 If you can't get to them with your fingers and pry them off the rock, you can inject them with kalk. Kills everything inside the bubble. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dano September 23, 2010 Author Share September 23, 2010 thanks... will try to take rock out today and pry off with razor blade and if I can't get it out of the tank I will try injections. They are spreading!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chad September 23, 2010 Share September 23, 2010 Before using a razor blade, I would try to gently pry them off with your fingers... often you can work them off and get all of it in one piece without popping it. Using a razor blade, I would be concerned about cutting the bubbles and spreading the spore about. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onux20 September 23, 2010 Share September 23, 2010 On one of my rocks I have a small colony (growing) of a few dark green/blackish balls that look like little pearls. Anyone know what these are and if they are harmless? Thanks My three yo calls them blueberries! I know they suck, I have a tank full of blueberries! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quazi September 24, 2010 Share September 24, 2010 As a long time suffer of valonia, emerald crabs and foxfaces will generally work. Sometimes other rabbit fish will work, too. With my new 90 tank setup using the contents of my 20 year old 55, I had a mega outbreak of valonia and other nusiance algae. I got a valonia eating foxface, 4 emerald crabs (one is the size of a small bus now!), and a media reactor using GFO. I am now worried that the foxface and crabs will not have enough to eat! I find this a good problem to have. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BowieReefer84 September 24, 2010 Share September 24, 2010 As a long time suffer of valonia, emerald crabs and foxfaces will generally work. Sometimes other rabbit fish will work, too. With my new 90 tank setup using the contents of my 20 year old 55, I had a mega outbreak of valonia and other nusiance algae. I got a valonia eating foxface, 4 emerald crabs (one is the size of a small bus now!), and a media reactor using GFO. I am now worried that the foxface and crabs will not have enough to eat! I find this a good problem to have. I had 2 emerald crabs in my old 29 gal. They destroyed my bubble algae is less than 2 months, but passed on shortly after it was gone. I am assuming lack of food. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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