How to remove bubble algae

[Stephen P]

How is bubble algae removed from a reef tank?

I found out too late that the way to remove them is to take the rock out and scub the algae off. It now has a foothold on every piece of live rock I have.

Are Emerald Crabs reef safe?

Stephen

 

[John G]

Yellow Sub,

I had a problem with bubble algae a while back. Yes, emerald green crabs are reef safe and are supposed to eat the bubble, but the ones I added to my reef never did..or maybe the very small bubbles. I eventually went the rout of removing my rock and scrubbing it. It's inconvenient but not too bad. I have a bit comming back now, but I think a small amount is actually ok cause its sort of pretty. You can try to pull the larger bubbles off with your fingers, but be CAREFUL - they are aolt like dandelions that have gone to seed - don't break the bubble or you will release spores and create a bigger problem.

Maybe someone else can suggest a better method, but at least the scrubbing method works!!

Good Luck!!

 

[Anonymous]

A good extra step while plucking the Valonia from your rock is to have a siphon hose ready. That way if the bubble bursts, you can suck up the spores with the hose.

 

[Stephen P]

thanks John for the reply...

the problem is that I already tried to pull out some of the bubble algae out and poped them in the tank. A couple weeks latter its every where on every rock.

If I take out the rock and scub it, I would need to rinse it off in water(fresh water, since I don't have a large enough supply of salt water) to remove any spoors that were released.

Now the question is wouldn't this be harmfull for the other critters as well? There are corals, sponges, worms etc all over them.

Unless its safe for the other critters I don't see scrubbing as a safe alternative.

I agree with you, that a little looks nice but its reaching plague proportions

Stephen

 

[AnotherGoldenTeapot]

The variety of snail I collect locally eat this. They are called "cats eyes".

It also eats all the undesirable algaes that I've ever come accross. It does not have a noticeably negative impact on coraline.

As a rule of thumb, if it's not pink it eats it

Perhaps the similar species that you might be able to get are as good?

Here's some more detail on them anyway:

Nerita melanotragus
(L: Nereus= god of the sea, belonging to the sea; melano= black; tragos= goat) (E A Smith, 1884)
Size: 25 mm. Maori name: matangarahu
Description: The family is typically a tropical group. A related species in the West-Indies is the well known 'Bleeding Tooth'.
There is something fascinating about the black dull surface when wet or dry, and the contrast with the curiously porcelain pellucid blue-white inner surface. The columella lip inside the opening extends inwards and part of the way across the opening as a white partition, reducing the size and shape of the mouth opening to a half-circle. The operculum is rather beautiful: granulated and marked in orange and mauve, semi-circular in shape, with a curious process on its inner surface.

Habitat: In the Hauraki Gulf, Nerita ranges from the littoral fringe down to the bottom of the barnacle zone, and in the far north, where it reaches its maximum, it extends plentifully to low tide.

Biology: Like the periwinkles, Nerita can when necessary breathe in damp air, and it lives by scraping up algae and organic debris with its strong, broad radula. The eggs are deposited under stones in high tidal pools, clustered in tough capsules, forming small greyish-white patches.
Its main predators are the white (Dicathais orbita) and dark (Haustrum haustorium) rock shells, which rarely leave the water of nearby rockpools.
Nerita is essentially a 'crash helmet' with a low profile and a wide foot, offering secure attachment. This shape offers least resistance to waves and moving debris like sand and rocks. When suddenly prized from the rock, and turned, it draws its operculum close, releasing a large droplet of water, its 'survival package' against drying out. Its gills, while wetted by water, are capable of breathing air, thus enabling it to live high up the shore, out of reach of its predators. Neritas are often found huddling together in moist recesses, usually facing away from the sun. In this manner they can withstand large waves, while being close enough to exchange spawn. This behaviour also traps more moisture in between them.

Distribution: Nerita is a warm water snail, common on Australian coasts from Queensland to Perth, and at the Kermadec and Norfolk Islands. Even at Auckland, its range is far more limited than in Northland, and it is there almost absent from harbours. It is found at Taranaki and Hokianga, but is elsewhere almost lacking on the west coast. South of East cape it is a rare shell, and at Cook Strait is hard to find even one.

 

[platylover]

I had a large desjardin sailfing tang once that helped me rid a bubble algae problem. She ate it like candy.

Steve

 

[John G]

Yellow Sub,

I'm sure somebody will shake their head, but I used tap water. My tank is setup such that most of my corals are not attached to rocks, so I was able to move them all to a tub. I was careful to run the tap water over the area of the bubble algae, not the entire rock. As far as any rocks with polyps, sponges, etc, I again tried not to get tap water on them, but I'm sure I wasn't 100% successful, but in the long run I've noticed no detrimental effects. I guess my main goal was to get rid of the bubble algae, all remnants and to make sure I rinsed all spores off the rock. If I lost a very small percentage of microscopic life, coraline algae, that was the price to pay.

I originally started by using a tub full of tank water (old water from a water change) but after cleaning a few rocks it seemed the water was fairly mucked-up and I wasn't sure I was getting a thorough rinsing.

Anyway, just my method. And it has seemed to work just fine.