Aerinah Posted February 13, 2008 Share Posted February 13, 2008 I've got a bloom it would seem of aptasia and bubble-algae. I've tried "gluing" the aptasia into their holes (cause I can't reach them to cut them off) and it worked for a few of them, but they seem to be all over my tank now. Are there any inverts out there that will eat these? I already have one peppermint shrimp in the tank now and it does not seem to be doing much. Bubble-algae, same deal, I take my rocks out and take the bubbles that I can find off but when I go back the next day I always see more. Is there anything that will eat it and keep it at bay in the tank? I've got several emerald crabs but I've never witnessed them eating it. Any ideas would be wonderful, also of ways that I can get rid of it when it is near corals and other anemone's w/o harming the stuff I want to keep. Thanks for the help! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andy Posted February 13, 2008 Share Posted February 13, 2008 Here's a good article on bubble algae: http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2002-02/hcj/feature/index.php Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aqua-ed Posted February 13, 2008 Share Posted February 13, 2008 How long has the bubble algae been at it since you got the emerald crab? As far as I can tell, they don't pop and eat the big ones, they just eat the smaller ones as they form. It took my emerald about a month or two to get the bubble algae out of my tank. Also, do you have chaeto? A beneficial algae like that would use up the nutrients that are now feeding the bubbles. As far as aptasia, I've heard of injecting them with Kalk. Peppermint shrimp will eat them, but only small ones. Go to garf.com, they have a section on controlling aptasia. Keep up the fight! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jptrson Posted February 14, 2008 Share Posted February 14, 2008 Blue Life make an aptasia killer that works real well, no need to inject just a little squirt. Bubble coral on the other hand is a lot of work. If it's just a few rocks in extreme cases I have found that taking the rock out and spraying with a garden hose blasting it off. Probably not recommended, but has worked for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aerinah Posted February 14, 2008 Author Share Posted February 14, 2008 Aqua-ed: Bubble algae has been in there for a while, and I've had emerald crabs in our tank for a while. At least a good 6 months? Maybe I need a few more of them? I'm running a 135g system. We have 1 male and 2 maybe 3 females. As far as peppermint shrimps we only have one. I'm guessing I should have more? Jptrson: Squirts are fine but what if they are next to another anemone, I have to be sure it won't kill them first. Have you used this product before? Are there any warnings on using it near other corals/anemones? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aqua-ed Posted February 14, 2008 Share Posted February 14, 2008 I couldn't say for the aptasia, I've only had one show up in my tank on a piece of live rock about 6 months ago. I didn't know exactly what it was at the time, but knew it was bad, so I just turned that rock upside down in the sand and haven't seen him since I wouldn't recommend this as a method though, it's just to say I've only seen that one in my tank, so I've never had experience battling them. I have one peppermint in a 30g, so maybe that helped, too. I also only had one emerald crab in my thirty, and I had a lot of bubble algae. Mainly, what cleared up the already established infestation was a well running sump and scrubbing my rocks a couple times with the water change. I think the emerald crab just mowed down new sprouts of bubble algae. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smann Posted February 14, 2008 Share Posted February 14, 2008 Ive been using Joes Juice for the aptasia works good no harm to the tank, apply extremly small amounts just to the top and it wont float to your good anenomes. for hard to reach i put a piece airline tubing inside a straw and attach to the tip Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vanz Posted February 14, 2008 Share Posted February 14, 2008 Starve the peppermint shrimp and he will do wonders. Mines actually take down huge aiptasia. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aerinah Posted February 14, 2008 Author Share Posted February 14, 2008 vanz: Starve one shrimp in an entire tank??? How do you do that? I don't specifically feed the shrimp I have but they do well at finding their own food come feeding time Aqua-ed: How does one go about scrubbing rocks that have corals attached to them (softies)? Smann: Do you have any anemone's in your tank that you used the "Joes Juice" in? How close were they to other corals? I have some that are on the same rock as my other anemone's and some touching some of my mushrooms is why I am asking. Thanks for all the ideas Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vanz Posted February 14, 2008 Share Posted February 14, 2008 That's a good question. lol. How often do you feed your tank? What inhabitants do you have that require extensive feeding? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smann Posted February 15, 2008 Share Posted February 15, 2008 Yes I have a few bubble tip they dont seem to be bothered, if it drifts near them it may irratate and they will close up for a while but thats it. it works best when its new after the 3rd or 4th time it may begin to dry up and can clog the app but its cheap. it doesnt bother any coral Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aqua-ed Posted February 15, 2008 Share Posted February 15, 2008 To scrub rocks with the softies, I did a five gallon water change and saved the old water in a bucket. Fairly quickly, I took the rocks out and scrubbed them with a toothbrush inside the bucket of old water. This worked well because it was quick and kept things moist, and it didn't just scrub the junk back into the tank. However, I only have about 30 lbs of live rock, so it was a pretty easy job for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jptrson Posted February 17, 2008 Share Posted February 17, 2008 Aqua-ed: Paterson: Squirts are fine but what if they are next to another anemone, I have to be sure it won't kill them first. Have you used this product before? Are there any warnings on using it near other corals/anemones? I've had really good look with it. It's pretty think and comes with a little syringe. just shoot some in from of the aptasia and it sucks it in and is gone the next day, never had any collateral damage. John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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