Who's actually had something eat Valonia?

[npaden]

double post

 

[npaden]

I think there are even more different types of "minthrax" crabs than there are types of valonia.

Horge did an article on valonia control in one of the first reefkeeping.com articles. Here is the link: http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2002- ... /index.htm

FWIW, Nathan

 

[Mouse]

You may all think that the emerald crabs arn't eating it, i thought the same too. But when mine died, the explosion of valona was immense. I think they prefer the juicyer younger buds than the stale old fat ones. But im still not sure if there worth the risk after having an emerald do a number on a coral or two.

 

[Carpentersreef]

Keep in mind that there are two distinct types of "bubble algae". One is Valonia, but the other is part of the life cycle of Derbesia (hair algae). They look absolutely identical.

Matt, it's my understanding that Derbesia and Bryopsis are "identical". Do you know how long Derbesia resembles Valonia before it turns to the hair algae appearance version?

My foxface ate all the valonia/derbesia I had initially, but the nusiance algae came back in a volume that was to much for him/her to keep up with.

I've since kept up with detritus control, and I think that's the main reason that I don't have bubble algae any more.

Mitch

 

[esmithiii]

npaden's link is great information. I would highly suggest reading it.

Ernie

 

[npaden]

Leonard,

Here is a quote from Horge's article.

Certain sacoglossan slugs have been reported as occasionally feeding on bubble algae, including the popular Tridachia crispata. A recently described species, Ercolania endophytophaga (Jensen 1999) seems to target Valonia algae particularly, somehow entering a vesicle without rupturing it, and then consuming tissue and spores from the inside(!).

With your ability to get some interesting fish and corals a little old sacoglossan slug should be a breeze for you to get. Why don't you try it out and get a supplier lined up and let the rest of us know how they work out!

I guess I've just been lucky as I've never had a problem with bubble algae or "Ventricaria ventricosa" before. (they changed the scientific name from Valonia ventricosa to Ventricaria ventricosa in 1988 per Horge's article) I have a few large ones scattered around but they grow very slowly and the ones that are attached to well I just leave alone. I've even got coraline algae growing over some bubble algae.

Oh well, FWIW, Nathan

 

[MattM]

Matt, it's my understanding that Derbesia and Bryopsis are "identical". Do you know how long Derbesia resembles Valonia before it turns to the hair algae appearance version?

My reference (Marine Plants of the Caribbean by Littler, Littler, Bucher & Norris) says the following:

Bryopsis - Branchlets resemble delicate feathers in one or two rows from base to tip, generally on only one side of the upright. Or, fine featherlike branchlets in two opposing rows, depending on species.

Derbesia - Dichotomously branched, i.e.; single branch splits into two successively.

As far as the Valonia-like stuff, it is listed as the "Halicystis stage" of Derbesia osterhoutii. It is in this stage first then it turns to hair algae later. It doesn't say how long.

The Derbesia floats in seawater. True Valonia (or Ventricaria) is denser and sinks in seawater.

 

[Greg Hiller]

I can't comment about the hair algae that has a stage like Valonia (or the new name, whatever it was!). I have however dealt with two different forms of 'bubble algae'. One had bubbles up to 1/2" in diameter, and seemed to be quite easy to control, even by just removing them manually every so often. Another form consists of much smaller bubbles, that tend to occur in clusters. This form can really be a problem. I tried the Mithrax crabs (thought I had the right type, but who knows) which had no effect. Later I found that both a blonde Naso tang and a red sea sailfin tang make very quick work of this algae. The only bits left are in deep crevices where the tang(s) cannot get to.

> If anyone knows of anything that eats Botryocladia, let me know (it's a red bubble macro that is shaped like an upside-down teardrop). I
just harvested about 1 qt of that stuff. <

I had a problem with this algae as well. I found the long-spined blue-eyed Diadema urchins would eat it, but they also took a liking to my Xenia. I did not try either the blonde Naso tang or red sea sailfin tang on this, but I'd guess they might work.

- Greg Hiller

 

[Adam1]

Hi all,

There are anectdotal reports on this board that foxface will eat valonia.

The rub is that there are two species of foxface... one with and one without a black spot on the rear 1/3 of it's body.

Supposedly, the one with the spot is a reliable valonia eater, and the one without the spot is not.

HTH

Adam