View Full Version : Controlling Bubble Algae
VoodooChild
04-08-2003, 9:16 AM
Does this stuff actually pose a threat to my corals and coralline algae and if so what is the best way to get rid of it? I only have a few bubbles so far but I'd like to hit it early if it needs to be hit. Thanks folk.
OrionGirl
04-08-2003, 9:33 AM
We've never had a problem with it, but I've heard of it taking over people's tanks. There are lots of fish and crustaceans that eat it--emerald crabs really like it. The only place it survives in our tank is in the overflow box--anything in the tank is eaten quickly. It's a macro algae, so if you have caulerpa, it will probably grow about the same as the caulerpa (another thing that will not grow in our system).
Bubble algae (Valonia) won't pose any threat to your corals, coralline, or fish - it's mostly just an annoyance algae.
Unlike Orion, I have no trouble growing it in large numbers :( I introduced three Emerald (Mithrax) crabs into my 100g and my Valonia is under control - not gone, just under control. The crabs eat the smaller bubbles, but I have still have to carefully pick off the bigger ones by hand. Be careful when removing them by hand; if you pop one, the spores will settle all over the tank and create more valonia. They say the smaller ones (pea size and smaller) won't spread spores, but I'm still very careful when removing them.
Yea, Emerald crabs do an awesome job on it.
VoodooChild
04-08-2003, 10:02 PM
Whoops. I'll remember the don't pop part next time. Thanks for the info guys. I may get a mithrax soon. I dunno yet. On a related but not really note, is it ok to peel cyano off? Thanks.
votek
04-08-2003, 10:53 PM
I know this much, I was down at my LFS, and they had a tank with a bubble algae breakout. This one little mithrax had cleaned about a 10lb rock since the time I was there which was a little over an hour......they just eat and eat and eat and rip all of that off the rocks and glass :) Really cool looking too.
OrionGirl
04-09-2003, 8:37 AM
Peeling cyano is the best way to remove it. Any stray bits should be cleaned up as well, since they will grow wherever they land.