Fighting with bubble algae... tips?

[Jeff000]

Not sure why, but I can not get rid of this bubble algae. My biggest problem is that it loves to grow on my power heads, seems like I will just look one day and there will be a 1"x1" patch on a power head out of no where. I scrape it off as nice as I can. I only ever have a tiny bit on the rocks, I think the couple emerald crabs keep the rocks pretty good.

But how do I get rid of it once and for all?


My water is good. SPS dominated tank. Don't overfeed.

[Bandsaw]

I'm gonna tag along. I don't have a real bad problem with the bubble, but it has gotten worse since losing my foxface. When I had him, he loved chowing down on bubble when it was just a tiny thing.

[Zappo]

I've never seen or heard of a way to truly be rid of it once and for all. As you noticed, emeralds like to eat it. Tangs and other herbivorous fish will eat it as well. But there's no stopping it from growing in some places where the fish and crabs can't reach it. It's like hair algae. Once it's in your tank it never completely goes away. All you can hope to do is keep it under control by keeping a few critters around that like to eat it.

[spazthecat]

Agreed. Once it's in your tank, you just have to control it. I've had it for over 5 years. I've tried all manner of eradication short of removing all of the rock and cooking it.

When it starts to become more noticeable I buy another emerald crab or two because the over growth probably means my current emeralds all all dead.

--Andy

[Jeff000]

When it starts to become more noticeable I buy another emerald crab or two because the over growth probably means my current emeralds all all dead.


Hmm, might have to buy a couple more now then as it seems less in control then it was a few weeks ago.
My chevron tang doesn't eat it, nor does my blue hippo.

Is there anything else that eats it besides emerald crabs?

[slapshot]

Foxface

[Pcrain]

Every time I do a water change I work on mine looks gone but still find a bubble here an there every week mrsaltwater tank did a good video on it worth looking up

[Reefing Newbie]

Not sure if I have gotten rid of all of mine or not, not visible on the parts of the rock work I can see at least. All I did was a 3 day lights out(I had red bubble algae and some really bad green hair algae on this rock). I saw more red bubble come back about a week later, so I did a three day lights out again. Since I have not seen any red bubble. My green hair algae is reduced to one rock now and it is the very short stuff so I hope my turbos and other snails are keeping it from spreading too much.

[captainsmitty]

After having a big problem with it I got a foxface and more emeralds. The Foxface has really chowed down on it and has just about removed all from my tank. Remember that when removing them to not pop the things wish will spread them. And in that thought, if the foxfce and crabs are eating them they must pop them when consuming them. So i guess they are just keeping up with there regrowth. maybe the little ones are more tasty.
I also started using a phosphate absorbing material and i think that has also helped.

[BFG]

I have good experience with the use of a juv vlamingi tang. I did not purchase but was given to me from a colleague who bought it on impulse, he see my tank as a dumping ground for his unwanted fish. A 4ft tank infested with bubble algae cleared in less than 2 weeks. The tang grow a lot and become fat. Gave it away to my local lfs as it look big and I do not like large fish.

[alton]

GFO and patience. I tried everything, GFO was the only thing that got it under control, everything else is a lawn mower and temporary fix. Starvation is the only thing that works.

[bearpeidog]

I'm lucky - my foxface munches it right up whenever I uncover some. Without him I'm not sure what my tank would look like.