finch6013 Posted December 25, 2009 Share Posted December 25, 2009 I have noticed a few bubble algaes pop up lately and I have no idea how to get rid of them. I am not even sure why they are there because the rest of my tank stays very clean and rarely grows even algae on the glass. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reef165 Posted December 25, 2009 Share Posted December 25, 2009 My suggestion is if you only see a couple, when ya do a water change, and are siphoning out the water get the hose close to the bubbles and then with the other hand, using a toothbrush lightly brush them off and suck them into the hose. That Way if they pop you still are getting all the pieces and even if they don't pop they don't float away and land somewhere else. Get them before they become a problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
finch6013 Posted December 25, 2009 Author Share Posted December 25, 2009 I suppose I could get them by hand before they pop and spread. I just dont understand what the root problem is that caused them in the first place. My perams are spot on and I keep low nutirents and a low bioload on the tank. As I said the rest of the tank rarely grows even the slightest bit of algae. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reef165 Posted December 25, 2009 Share Posted December 25, 2009 They may have come in on a frag you have gotten, or just have been dormant for a while and once given the right opportunity the emerged. If having a reef has taught me anything it's that there are exceptions to every rule and nothing is predictable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ciao Posted December 25, 2009 Share Posted December 25, 2009 Get some emerald crab. They eat them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
siskiou Posted December 25, 2009 Share Posted December 25, 2009 Not all of them, unfortunately! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andy Posted December 25, 2009 Share Posted December 25, 2009 Here's a good read: http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2002-02/hcj/feature/index.php Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coralreefer Posted December 26, 2009 Share Posted December 26, 2009 B--emerald crabs...DrMerle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fpd4308 Posted December 26, 2009 Share Posted December 26, 2009 Scribbled rabbits eat bubble algae like crazy. I had a little outbreak, put a scribbled rabbit int tank and it was all gone in a matter of days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pledosophy Posted December 26, 2009 Share Posted December 26, 2009 Did the rabbit bother your LPS? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick Posted December 26, 2009 Share Posted December 26, 2009 I used an emerald crab to get rid of it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
finch6013 Posted December 26, 2009 Author Share Posted December 26, 2009 Dont emerald crabs have issues of their own? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Byrd Posted December 26, 2009 Share Posted December 26, 2009 Dont emerald crabs have issues of their own? I have kept emerald crabs with no problems other than they steal food when I target feed my Dendro & Acans. For that reason I pulled the 2 largest (and they were BIG) and traded them in-I now have one and it has never bothered a thing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThePremiumAquarium Posted December 26, 2009 Share Posted December 26, 2009 Emeralds are a great bubble algae eater. I have sold them to many people that loved the results. Most emerald crabs, say 98% of them will not bother anything else in your tank. Just like any crab, there are exceptions to the species but rare. I would think that trying a few might be a good idea. They aren't too hard to get out of the tank if one does become an issue though I doubt you would get one of the "bad" crabs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick Posted December 26, 2009 Share Posted December 26, 2009 Dont emerald crabs have issues of their own? Yes, they can however as Garrett mentioned they are pretty easy to get out if they do. I had one big one that was up on a rock trying to catch fish (managed to take a chunk out of one before I took it out) and then another one that I caught eating my GSP. Currently I do not have any but I wouldn't hesitate to get one for a bit of bubble algae and then I would put it in the sump after it was gone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
finch6013 Posted December 27, 2009 Author Share Posted December 27, 2009 Maybe I will try one. I have been against crabs for a while now after seeing more than one of my blue leg hermits taking chunks out of my sps. It seems that crabs are always knocking things over and causing some sort of problem Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CA2OR Posted December 27, 2009 Share Posted December 27, 2009 I have heard on several occassions from high ended coral keepers that the general or safe rule is "no claws in the tank". With that being said I have 8 or so emeralds and love them. No problems. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
undrtkr_00 Posted December 28, 2009 Share Posted December 28, 2009 I caught an emerald munching on my big pagoda one day and banished him to the sump. But, I've had others in there with no known problems, and would probably get one to deal with a specific outbreak like you are facing. Then just move him out after it is dealt with, like other folks are suggesting. Unlike a rabbit or other fish, they won't be able to deal with any that grows on overflows or high up areas, so you may have to do some manual removal. Bubble algae doesn't mean that you have high nutrients. It can live on very little. Waves had some in one of their display tanks that was otherwise pretty pristine. It is kind of a PITA to get rid of, but on the upside, it doesn't really do anything too harmful, either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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