Green bubles

[schippy]

I had a green colored lookedlike liquid filled bubble attacjed to a piece of LR. I left it alone for a while. One day when I was doing a water change i popped it with the vaume and sucked it up. Now I have boticed a few new bubbles scattered around the tank, Are these harmfull, if so what can i do??

 

[crazy4reefs]

i believe its called bubble algae.. by popping it will spread through your tank.. you can try to take them out by hand, very cafefully so you dont pop them.. if you have lots i do believe that emerald crabs will help get rid of them..hth

 

[iechy]

DO NOT POP IT!! Buy a couple of emerald crabs. They should do the trick and they are cool too.

 

[nm reef]

Valonia algae(bubble algae) can become a major pest if not kept under control. There are a few natural predators...emeralds are one ... they can also be removed manually but do take care to not allow them to burst. The spores released when they burst will start new bubbles.
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[slofish]

I dont know if anyone else has has the same experience, but when i had bubble algae, my astrea turbos actually took care of it. Kinda weird. I didnt have a emerald, but the bubble algae dissapeared. Then again, i did have about 20 snails and 15 crabs in a 26 gal.

 

[ags]

Bubble algae began sprouting up in my tank recently as well. I was at my LFS this past weekend and asked him the best way to handle the problem. I am posting it here to see if anyone can elaborate or refute what he suggested. Essentially he said starve it to death and decrease its food source. Like all nuisance algae its presence is due to an increase in nitrates and phosphates. I have battled red hair, slime and diatom blooms and successfully eradicated them much in the same manner as my LFS suggested I treat the bubble algae. My predicament is now I have live stock that relies on dosing things like DT's. I can stop feeding my fish on a regular basis no problem but how long can feather dusters survive without food?
So I guess the answer my LFS suggested is to starve the algae to death. I plan on cuttng back on the feedings and dosing phytoplankton. Anyone know any reason why this is not a good idea?

 

[schippy]

I know if you pop the bubble it will spread, does it still spread if you don't pop them?

 

[ags]

I have not popped any of mine and the problem has only gotten worse in the one spot in my tank where it is growing. So, in my situation, yes and no. The algae just hasn't taken over my tank just in that one spot.

 

[melissa v.]

i don't mean to sound stupid or anything, but when the emerald crabs eat it, they pinch it until it pops, then eat the outer casing of the alge, so how does their popping it and your popping it differ? i removed mine by hand, i only had two rather large bubble alge's one popped when i was removing it, and the other did not, i starved the tank for 2 weeks and feed very little, (feed the feather duster a little with a turkey baster) and very little food for the rest of the guys(you have to feed them something, you don't want them going at each other) and no more bubble alge, (that was about 8or 9 months ago)
hope this helps, and good luck
Melissa V.

 

[krishj39]

Melissa, I agree, emeralds pop the bubbles and release the spores into the water. IMO, adding an emerald is no different than just going in and popping the bubbles yourself. Sure, the emerald eats the popped bubble, but the "spores" spread through the tank. There is no difference than if you did that yourself. Plus, emeralds won't always eat it, I know mine never did.
Also, I have always been skeptical that popping bubbles releases spores into the tank. I am not a horticuluralist or a marine biologist, but from what I understand about plants and algae, they just don't work like that. Is there any proof that the insides contain these spores? To my knowledge, fungus is the only thing that even HAS spores, but that's another issue. I have ALWAYS just popped the few bubble algae I have had in my tank, and I have yet to have an epidemic. I think the popping the bubbles in your tank this is just an urban legend. IMHO, someone popping a bubble of algae and then having an epidemic of bubble algae is not proof that popping that bubble had anything to do with it. Yet, this is the most scientific of an explanation I have heard in support of this belief to date. Anyway, maybe I'm wrong, someone give me some real evidence and I'll change my mind.

 

[melissa v.]

Also, I have always been skeptical that popping bubbles releases spores into the tank. I am not a horticuluralist or a marine biologist, but from what I understand about plants and algae, they just don't work like that. Is there any proof that the insides contain these spores? To my knowledge, fungus is the only thing that even HAS spores, but that's another issue. I have ALWAYS just popped the few bubble algae I have had in my tank, and I have yet to have an epidemic. I think the popping the bubbles in your tank this is just an urban legend. IMHO, someone popping a bubble of algae and then having an epidemic of bubble algae is not proof that popping that bubble had anything to do with it. Yet, this is the most scientific of an explanation I have heard in support of this belief to date. Anyway, maybe I'm wrong, someone give me some real evidence and I'll change my mind. [/B]
The only thing i can add to that is AMEN
Melissa V.

 

[krishj39]

Schippy, I don't believe anyone has told you yet that bubble algae can do no harm to your tank. The only problem with it is cosmetic, it can quickly become an epidemic and cover large areas. I think a few of those bubbles look kinda cool, but it doesn't look good when it covers everything. Also, I'm giving this a bump cause I want to get to the bottom of this bubble algae thing as I mentioned im my last post.

 

[inigomontoya]

Hmmmmm, maybe all of the bubble algae that is gone out of others tanks has gone through some sort of third dimension phase and popped into my tank! I have tons of Bubble Algae in mine that I incurred from the LR I purchased at the LFS. I did buy a Emerald Crab the other day. I was worried he wouldnt eat it like I have read in so many posts, so while he was acclimating I dropped in a couple bubbles. Within the two hours during acclimation, the EC had eaten them. I guess in my mind I was hoping he would acquire a taste for it.... He is doing a great job now and I am thrilled with him!! I went in today to pick out a little of the bubble algae myself and popped a couple big ones by accident. If any huge outbreak happens, I will let you know!!
By the way, I have also had a few non-fish people see my tank and say "What are those cool bubbles?"