Bubble algea
 

I just ran across this on reef central and found it very interesting in that I have always wondered how the heck emerald crabs managed to eat bubble algea without popping it. Now it seems that it does not matter if you pop it because the spores are not likely ready to reproduce.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...hreadid=673908
from Dr. Ron...



quote:
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The crab does pop the bubble. Such bubbles are single cells. If the alga in question is nearing reproductive status such "popping" may release spores. If the bubble isn't - and at any given time most are not, then all that the popping does is to gently release the cellular contents. The crab will eat some of these, the rest will disperse without harm.

Popping most of the bubble algae in a tank would probably not increase any bubble algal population.
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Learn something new everyday!

Yeah, it's the few that are reproductive that get popped that cause the massive outbreak afterward :evil:

After trying several unsuccessful ways to rid tanks of bubble algae, I now remove the rock(s) in question and chisel off the small piece of rock the algae is attached to. The bubbles don't break and there are no tiny pieces left on the rock to regenerate.

I am getting an outbreak of bubble algae.. what do you think I should try first?? (the easier method, the better ! )

Well I am not sure. I have one bubble (that I can see) in my 230g so I am just going to leave it. I think the first thing to think about is why you are having an outbreak. I am pretty sure that mine is the result of a period of high nitrates that seems to be in control now that I have removed most of my sponges.
I think if I could I would remove the rock and try and wedge it out without breaking. If it broke - or even if it didn't - I would scrub the area it had been in with a toothbrush and then put it back in. If I couldn't get the rock out I would just try and remove without breaking but if it did break I don't think it is any big deal - unless like Beverly said it happens to be in a reproductive stage.

I used to have a lot of Bubble algae. I got me a couple of Emerald Crabs, and don't see a lot of bubbles now. I have seen the crabs eat the algae, so I guess I have some good ones. :mrgreen:

My Magnificent foxface ate all my Valonia. I was removing them by hand previous and it worked well, I found them tough to pop if you got at them when they were small.

i've only seen one or two large ones show up. Usually the clown fish knock it off the rock and play with it for a couple days before I take it out. It is usually the size of a marble, always intact. It sure is funny watchin them play their version of water polo with a large bubble algae.