Bubble Algae and Aiptasia

[env788]

Well, I have a ton of bubble algae which seems to provide the perfect spots for aip to rear their ugly head from. So now I am trying to kill off both. Its horrible!!! I have some polyps that I am worried about getting chomped up by peps, and I can't find berghia anywhere. As far as the valonia goes, should I go out and get a emerald crab??? The last one I had didn't seeme to eat anything but maybe thats cuz it was only eating the small ones.
Tips PLEASE!
Scot

 

[Aquatic Noggin]

The Peps do work- they love aiptasia. Yes they sometimes pick at my mushrooms but they never caused any permanent damage.

I had a bubble algae outbreak in my 55g and manually removed as many as I could without popping them (they can relaese spores and spread when you pop them- so I heard). Then I added 4 small emerald crabs and they seem to have helped control any new outbreaks.

 

[DaZe]

wow, your tank sounds just like mine

i was gonna ask the same ? , i've had no luck getting rid of either, i took every single piece of rock outta my tank and scrubbed everything off , think i even took some of the coraline algae of

its been about a month and a half now and the bubble algae is starting to take over the tank again, and the aiptasia is starting to come back, though either is not as bad as before, i fear they'll be worse soon.. i have no luck at any of the LFS around me finding peppermint shrimp, though this weekend i'm gonna take a trip to Harbor Aquatics this weekend , so maybe i'll have some luck there.
and i have one ? also, whats the best parameters to help the growth of coraline algae, its used to grow pretty well, now it barely grows, think its even disappearing. my calcium level is around 500 and my sal is about 1.024, any responses would be appreciated

 

[env788]

Out of curiousity, I read on a web site while trying to kill the bubble outbreak that this was actually a sign of good water parameters. I think my biggest problem came from the fact that I had popped quit a few large (as in the size of golf balls) while trying to remove them. I am guessing this sent spores all over the tank! Live and learn I guess.
Now, where can I get some peps and emerald crabs...I need a reliable source seeing that the store here is no good IMHO.
THANKS SCOT

 

[mariner]

Harbor Aquatics has peps for $5 each!

 

[Ben1]

Try manual removal of the bubble algea, if the aptasia is attached to the bubbles then you should be able to get rid of both in one shot.

Get a pep, they will not eat corals. I believe when you here people complain of this is because they have camel shrimp and not true peps.

Kalk paste also works, make a thick paste and suck it up in a test kit syringe and leave chunks of paste on the aptasia. If you do it right they wont return.

Fix any water parameters that are causing your bubble algea to go crazy, check Nitrate and Phosphate.

HTH

 

[AuroraDave]

I have had to deal with valonia (bubble algae) a few times and have had success with a combination of the advise given above.
Emerald Crabs work great! I have had several good experiences with www.premiumaquatics.com.
They sell Emeralds for $5 or 4.50 ea if you buy 5. After the crabs each the Valonia they will still need food or they will die off.
#2) I try to manually get rid of as much as possible. Some rocks can be removed and scrubbed with a toothbrush in tank water. Or you can use a wooden shish Kebab skewter to pick them off. I have seen Tangs, especially Sailfin and Kole tangs eat free floating bubble algae. Even following me around as I pick them off. However, I would not suggest buying a tang just for that purpose since they do not all have a taste for Valonia.
?? Shish Kebabs... That has to be the first time someone typed that on the board

[ January 16, 2002: Message edited by: AuroraDave ]</p>

 

[scubamook]

try adding a foxface - mine seem to eat the varments

 

[MedicineMan1]

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by scubamook:
<strong>try adding a foxface - mine seem to eat the varments</strong><hr></blockquote>

Which varmints are those? Aiptasia? My foxface doesn't TOUCH aiptasia but chows down anything green, including hair algae! Too bad I don't have a shrinker so I could put him in my 40 gallon...

 

[dattack]

Just wanted to add that my peppermint shrimp also does a good job of clearing my sand bed of bristleworms and it appears my pod population hs dropped down when I introduced it into the tank also.