Bubble Algae

[Tracy G]

So having a problem with bubble algae.... It's the green type and really spreading. Water quality seems to be pretty good as I run Carbon (change every 2 weeks), I run Bio Pellets and I dose Thrive Phosphate remover as needed. I change about 40% of my water every month and use 5 stage plus BRS RODI. Skimmer is working great with swabby). If you look at my signature shows you levels and normally pretty low (only use a few drops every few day). Nitrates stay around 5-10ppm. Manual removal looks like a pretty overwhelming task. I have used Emeralds in the past the do fairly well but have had them attack sleeping fish before (watched it happen and fish was healthy). So I have heard Yellow Tangs can eat them ( I have a Flame Tang) so not sure if they get along or even if yellow will work. Also heard about Foxface will eat them like crazy but may also eat Zoa's. Anyone have any advice or thoughts?

 

 

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[YHSublime]

Foxface if well fed will probably leave your zoas alone, no guarantees though!

[zygote2k]

scrub brush eats bubble algae like nothing else!

[Tracy G]

scrub brush eats bubble algae like nothing else!

Tried that but came back worse lol.

 

 

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Edited January 1, 2014 by Tracy G

[Sharkey18]

I have never had any tangs eat bubble algae. 

 

While your water does look good on "paper", if you have a growing algae problem there is definitely a nutrient issue.  

 

I have had several stints with bubble algae and the only thing that ever worked was manual removal combined with water quality improvement. If you fix your water, and kill the bubble algae that you can easily get to it will go away. I know people say remove it without popping it but I never worried about it. If emeralds kill it the first thing they do is pop it… If I can easily remove a rock and scrub it, I do. If not I just hit it with a  tooth brush as best I can. It wasn't as daunting as some make it sound. 

[Tracy G]

Maybe just give it time. Had new rock not to long ago so maybe still breaking something down. Will decrease feeding a bit and wait it out.

 

 

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[Sharkey18]

Good luck. 

[OldReefer]

Emerald crabs eat the stuff like crazy.

[mling]

.... So I have heard Yellow Tangs can eat them ( I have a Flame Tang) so not sure if they get along or even if yellow will work. Also heard about Foxface will eat them like crazy but may also eat Zoa's. Anyone have any advice or thoughts?

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My Yellow Tang never touches my bubble algae.  Only thing I know of that eats it is Emerald crabs.

I understand that you don't want to burst the bubble in the tank as that will spread it and make matters worse.  If that is the case, won't an emerald crab eating it cause it to also spread ?

Edited January 1, 2014 by mling

[s2nhle]

There was a discussion about this topic on wamas few month back. Tried to use kalk with tank water to create a thick paste then apply to the bubble algea. be careful to let it touch your coral.

[Origami]

Your signature says that your phosphates are at 0.36 ppm. The typical target cited in a reef aquarium is 0.03 ppm or less, so your phosphates are high. Natural surface sea water on the reef has 0.005 ppm typically. Scrubbing the smaller bubbles can work as they've normally not matured enough to have spores. I've heard, but can't confirm, that you can use Algae Fix Marine in conjunction with scrubbing to get rid of the existing algae and stop new spores from taking hold.

[Tracy G]

Your signature says that your phosphates are at 0.36 ppm. The typical target cited in a reef aquarium is 0.03 ppm or less, so your phosphates are high. Natural surface sea water on the reef has 0.005 ppm typically. Scrubbing the smaller bubbles can work as they've normally not matured enough to have spores. I've heard, but can't confirm, that you can use Algae Fix Marine in conjunction with scrubbing to get rid of the existing algae and stop new spores from taking hold.

When I tested it tonight it was a .22 so I added 4 drops of Thrive Phosphate remover as recomended. I will take a look at Algae Fix Marine and give it a shot. Appreciate all the advice I'm hoping that with some manual and time it should improve. Just wish their was a natural way (something eats it).

 

 

[MisterTang]

Any reason you're not using GFO instead of dosing?

 

Also, how did you scrub the bubble algae? In tank?

[Origami]

Also, how did you scrub the bubble algae? In tank?

The technique that I've seen usually uses piece of hard tubing and hose to set up a siphon, using the hard tubing as a tool to dislodge and remove the water near the algae (just in case there are spores). Otherwise, some will just use a stiff-bristled brush to break the bubble algae cell.

[Jason Rhoads]

I highly doubt that a yellow tang will touch the stuff. Mine has not in the 4 years I have had it. I also had a fox face that never gave BA a second (or first) look. I agree with the above, manual removal is the only thing I have ever used with any success (never tried an emerald crab). I have never been able to clean the BA outside the tank, and personally have never seen that popping it causes further spreading. I also agree with Laura, the water is the problem, fix that and the BA will be manageable.  

 

Do you siphon detritus when you do your monthly WC? I would try that if you are not. 

[Tracy G]

Any reason you're not using GFO instead of dosing?

 

Also, how did you scrub the bubble algae? In tank?

I used GFO in the past and just found it made a mess. I'm sure it was tumbling too much but I followed all the steps and ran it for a few months. Just did not really like it. Maybe will have to try it again at some point but went to Bio Pellets instead and have had good luck with them.

 

 

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[Tracy G]

I highly doubt that a yellow tang will touch the stuff. Mine has not in the 4 years I have had it. I also had a fox face that never gave BA a second (or first) look. I agree with the above, manual removal is the only thing I have ever used with any success (never tried an emerald crab). I have never been able to clean the BA outside the tank, and personally have never seen that popping it causes further spreading. I also agree with Laura, the water is the problem, fix that and the BA will be manageable.

 

Do you siphon detritus when you do your monthly WC? I would try that if you are not.

I water change about 15% each week and I do try to siphon off what I can but I normal don't see much. This tank has only been going for 2-3 months (transferred from my old tank) and I have added new Sand and new Rock. Is it possible it's still a little bit of a cycle? I also think you and Laura could be correct because my Chaeto grows like mad. Maybe I should follow the manual removal, lower feelings, and bump up water changes just a little bit (every 4 days vs 7) for a little while. Any chance that could help out?

 

Also thank you guys for all the great advice!

 

 

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[MisterTang]

The technique that I've seen usually uses piece of hard tubing and hose to set up a siphon, using the hard tubing as a tool to dislodge and remove the water near the algae (just in case there are spores). Otherwise, some will just use a stiff-bristled brush to break the bubble algae cell.

 

Due to the stories of "infestation" I heard when popping BA, I tried a technique where I removed all of my rock, plucked the BA with tweezers, and then scrubbed the grow site with a toothbrush, rinsed in buckets of salt water, and then put them back in. Since I tried that, I have had a single BA cell pop up on a rock.

 

Maybe it's just coincidence with the cycling or maturation of my tank, but manual removal outside the tank worked wonders for me.

[JR-Tanked150]

The couple of rocks that had bubble algae on them, we took them out and used a toothbrush and scrubbed the heck out of them, and dipped them in difference bucket of saltwater and placed them back in the tank. Haven't seen any more in the past month or so. We also bought the smallest emerald crab we could find. So the scrubbing worked or the crab did.

[Tracy G]

Put some work in tonight and did like origami said (watched Mr Salt water tank video) and spent around 1 hour doing it. Made a huge dent and got about all I could see and did a 17 gallon water change while I was at it scrubbing the rock at the same time. Hopefully that will get me closer to removing them.

 

 

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Edited January 2, 2014 by Tracy G

[gmerek2]

Keep up the good work. Yea I would agree that water quality can fuel the fire especially since your tank is newer. However somehow I think BA finds a way to suck up the nutrients before they can get to the skimmer or chaeto. I have had undetectable nitrates and low bio load and still find one here and there. It also requires very little light and they seem to grow in the most hard to reach locations. My tang eats it but it's not on his fav list so he doesn't go out of his way to get it. When I find one I clean it off and I see the tangs swallow it. I would think adding a fish would help worsen water quality and bio load. I would recommend it if a fish of similar size removed. Manual removal no doubt the best. Check overflows also!