Green bubble algae question?..

[r22wink]

reef tank approx. 1 year old
salinity 1.023-1.024
ammon,nitrite,nitrate - 0
First question is why do I seem to be having a green bubble algae bloom, and secondly how do I get it under control?
I have (2) emerald crabs in the tank to help, they can't seem to get ahead of it and I dont want to add too many for fear that they will eventually pick at the soft corals.
Any suggestions??

 

[btldreef]

Unfortunately it only takes one little bubble to turn into many.
Emerald crabs do a good job at keeping it under control when there isn't a lot of other algaes for them to eat. You could try more emerald crabs and slowly weed them out as the amount of bubble algae decreases. Other than that, you can take the rocks out and scrub the bubble algae off, or epoxy over them.

 

[flower]

Green bubble algae like all macroalgae, is a good thing. As you remove the bubbles you remove nitrates and phosphates. The bubble algae is growing so well because there is enough extra nutirent in the water to feed it. As long as you have the extra, you are fortunate the bubble algae is feeding on it and not hurting your coral or inverts. I like bubble algae, they look like marbles, very pretty.
If you do get rid of the bubble algae, you would be smart to replace it with another macro that you like, so you can maintain the balance of nutrients..

 

[snakeblitz33]

Bubble algae is a good thing?

 

[r22wink]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Flower http:///t/389075/green-bubble-algae-question#post_3435968
Green bubble algae like all macroalgae, is a good thing. As you remove the bubbles you remove nitrates and phosphates. The bubble algae is growing so well because there is enough extra nutirent in the water to feed it. As long as you have the extra, you are fortunate the bubble algae is feeding on it and not hurting your coral or inverts. I like bubble algae, they look like marbles, very pretty.
If you do get rid of the bubble algae, you would be smart to replace it with another macro that you like, so you can maintain the balance of nutrients..
Bubble algae is good? By covering the rocks, it is keeping coraline from spreading and is over taking any other forms of growth from the live rock. Any suggest on how to eliminate it? Do rabbitfish feed on the stuff?

 

[btldreef]

Bubble algae is NOT a good thing. I think Flower just meant that she likes the look of it more than some other nuisance algaes.
I don't know of any fish that eat bubble algae. Cut down on nutrients (possibly adding a desired macro algae) and use more emerald crabs is really it besides taking out the rocks and scrubbing them.

 

[snakeblitz33]

You can carefully remove them manually, but if you pop just one, it spreads everywhere. Bubble algae is a single celled algae. One of the largest.
Reduce your nutrients. Improve your water quality. Use more emerald crabs. There are a lot more complex methods, but you get the idea.