Bubble Algae

[jonesreef]

OK, when I had some bubble algae in the past I could just pull out the piece of rock and throw it out. I now have some that is not that easy. How can I safely get rid of this pest? I know not to burst the bubbles, so...

[luv4qt1004]

emerald crabs

[jasonp87]

Emerald crabs, they will eat it up. Just make sure you get enough crabs that they can find it if you have a larger tank. It's going to take a single crab a while to stumble across it in a bigger tank.

[ReEfErAdDiCt]

Ya I've got a little growing on a zoa rock. Going to go the emerald crab route. All research points to them to be the best for bubble algae. Only thing I found in my research to be careful of is that there's some types of "false" emerald crabs on the market that won't eat it.

[slicktoppomp]

Emeralds are every hit and miss as to which ones will actually go after bubble algae. I've gotten some in the past that show no interest in it. Kind of luck of the draw on those guys.

[LotsaFishies]

Smaller emerald crabs are more likely to actually eat the algae than larger emerald crabs.

Also, if you feed your fish a lot and the emeralds have easy access to leftover fish-food, they will prefer to eat that over the algae... Meaning be very careful to not over feed.

[davocean]

I'm not sure why these guys are so hit or miss, but I've had good luck ordering from these guys, and they gaurantee them to eat valonia/bubble algae.
Give em a try.

http://www.reefcleaners.org/index.ph...id=4&Itemid=58

[jonesreef]

Thanks Guys, I will go get some Emerald's today. Only a 60 gl tank, so no more than 2 I think.

[LotsaFishies]

2 will take a long time to make any noticeable difference... Get 6-10 to see results

[AFUreef]

2 will take a long time to make any noticeable difference... Get 6-10 to see results

I agree and small ones are the key as well. Also when it's time for a water change start a siphon with a hose and siphon them out as you giggle em loose from the rocks. That way if it pops you siphon out majority of spores in the water. This worked well for me along with adding 19 small emerald crabs to my 225 display.

[grimey]

every time I have had a outbreak emerald crabs do the trick. last time I got 7 for my 60G and they took care of
the bubble algae and some other weird vine algae in about a week.

[Kyevey]

I've been considering an emerald crab for taking care of a small outbreak of bubble algae. How many crabs for a 28G nano cube?