Bubble Algae Outbreak

RedLion

RedLion

AC Members
Aug 25, 2009
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Houston, TX
I have been battling bubble algae for a couple months now. I added 1 emerald crab to help combat the algae. I want to add more, but I am not sure how many to add? This is for a 30gal reef. Any suggestion on other critters that may be helpful would be welcomed as well.
 
Not much else is guaranteed to eat bubble algae. You might just have to keep removing it by hand.

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If you remove it manually, be careful not to break them open. Any little broken particles left in the water will attach and grow into a new clump.

Adding something to compete for the nutrients would likely help--a form of macro algae that's easier to manage/remove, perhaps?
 
Removing the bubble algae without breaking the sacs is nearly impossible. The emerald crab seems to be helping as long as I take out the big pieces.

How many emerald crabs should I have in a 30gal to help with a bubble algae problem?

As for the macro algae I would have to look into it, I don't have fuge. Do any corals compete for similar nutrients?
 
Perhaps pulsing xenia, but you'd need to harvest it regularly or it can take over. I've never had much luck having more than 2 emeralds together in a smaller setup--they target each other during molts. Try more frequent water changes first, that's usually the easiest means of exporting excess nutrients...and cut back feeding.
 
IME, algea issues just seem to disappear when nutrients get put in check. Remove whatever you can but check your PO4 and NO3 and work on getting them down if they're high. I've read that high PO4/NO3 can be "masked" in some tanks due to the algea taking it up as fast as it comes into the water column. In other words, your test kits read zero but there actually a significant NO3/PO4 source leaching into the system.

What kind of filtration are you running? Remember that mechanical filters such as bioballs, filter socks/sponges, etc. can become nitrate factories if not periodically cleaned/replaced.

Greech also gave me a great maintenance tip a long time ago that I still use to this day. Before a water change, take a turkey baster and blow off the rocks. The first few times I did this, an astonishing amount of crap started filling the water column. This will help to remove some of the detritus that has settled on the rocks which ultimately will reduce PO4/NO3 in the water.

If it's really bad, consider running some GFO to reduce phosphates.
 
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