Bubble Algae

BigA · #1 07-05-2008, 04:29 AM

Hey everyone. Got home from work today and noticed that I have some bubble algae growing in my tank. I figure it's because I have been slacking with my maintenance routine over the last couple of weeks. Can't get motivated to do it when all that sunshine is calling my name outside.

It's a 29gal tank that has been running for 3 months, with 35lbs live rock, 2 ocellaris clowns, 1 lawnmower blenny. 30" dual coralife pc lights - 130watts I think, 1 10,000k bulb, 1 actinic. Kooralia 1 powerhead and ehiem 2224 canister filter.

Anyway, I read the articles in the library about getting rid of it, but I was wondering what everyone on here has has success with? Manual removal? Predation? Chemical? What is the best way to get rid of it and make sure it doesn't come back? (Besides being more diligent with my maintenance)

Thanks for the help.

marie · #2 07-05-2008, 04:43 AM

I've found manually removing it to be the best course of action. Emerald crabs are reputed to be good but in my experience they are kind of hit or miss.

MikeP · #3 07-05-2008, 04:44 AM

Manual removal is difficult but possible. When I had some in my nano all it took was an emerald crab and it was all gone in no time and stayed that way.

untamed · #4 07-05-2008, 05:11 AM

Do you think that you introduced it to your tank? I doubt it. It has probably always been there. Go back to what you were doing before and don't worry about it.

BigA · #5 07-05-2008, 05:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by untamed

Do you think that you introduced it to your tank? I doubt it. It has probably always been there. Go back to what you were doing before and don't worry about it.

No I don't think I introduced it. I haven't put anything new in the tank in about a month or so. It was probably there, just never noticed.

Myka · #6 07-05-2008, 05:24 AM

My tank has had bubble algae since about the 2nd month. I haven't been able to completely be rid of it, but having pristine water conditions and dedicated manual removal during EVERY weekly waterchange is enough to keep it in check.

Bugsy · #7 07-05-2008, 06:08 AM

I had it a few years back and I removed it very carefully with a sharp knife. They say if you pop them they will spread in the tank, but I found them really easy to remove.

hummer · #8 07-05-2008, 06:46 AM

I had it once. Emerald crab cleaned it all up for me.

Chin_Lee · #9 07-05-2008, 05:18 PM

I had a bad infestation in my tanks (probably in excess of 1000 bubbles). I did three things to get rid of it:
- set up 40g refugium with GREEN macroalgaes (prolifera and Chaeto), red macro (gracilaria) and the lights are on 24/7
- sailfin tang
- rabbitfish

Emeralds didn't do anything for me - threw in 8 of them and they slowly died one by one. And unfortunately the last two fishes both usually get too big for most people's tanks.