bubble algae?
 

Just finished reading about bubble algae on another thread and am wondering if that is what I'm dealing with. I have what I would call clear or silvery bubbles starting to attach to the live and dead rock. There isn't a lot. Tank is only 8 days old...no fish...4 hermit crabs and 1 turbo (I think) snail. Do I leave the bubbles" alone or try to get rid of them? I started to knock a few off the rock with a tooth brush...very gently...and then decided I better check it out with those in the know.

I wouldn't think bubble algae would appear that fast unless it was already on the live rock you started with. Do not disturb the bubble algae. If it is popped it will release spores and spread like crazy. The only thing that will eat it is emerald crabs

Hi there.
If you buy some coulerpa This will compete with the bubble algae And help it under control also When your tank is ready for some fish a surgeonfish will also keep In check good luck

Sounds to me like you are talking about cyano algae. It creates bubbles which can look silver. Bubble algae is green and not easily disturbed. If your tank is just now cycling, that is my bet.

You definitely don't want to add caulerpa into a reef tank, that stuff is about 10x more invasive than bubble algae and people end up having to take their tanks down because of it sometimes.

To the OP, it's not abnormal, probably just cyano or something along those lines that's common during cycling.