green bubbly things

[Dangerdoll]

hmmmm.... not really a newbie here but I haven't the slightest clue when it comes to my sisters' SW tank so I figured, since I need more detailed info, I'd ask in the SW newbie forum.... ok, so with that in mind, my sister has had this tank up for a good part of a year and on her LR are these green bubble things. Can someone explain what they are to me.... she's got 3, 1 is pretty big, about the side of 2 tick tac's and the other 2 are pretty small, more the size of a cichlid pellet.

[Kurt]

Called Valonia, a species of Algae. The bubbles will slowly grow larger and sometimes often can become a nuisance in the aquarium if there becomes too many of them. I have heard that Emerald crabs will eat them but have yet to see mine do anything to them. Does anyone else have any ideas for controlling this.

[geno7]

Here is a good web site that will help with your question. Just scroll down to Valonia.

http://www.saltreef.com/pests.htm