Bubble algae outbreak

[Anonymous]

Anyone have a good way to remove the aggressive form of bubble algae (the smaller bubbles that mat). My tank is really starting to get taken over by the stuff and it is not getting any better. I already added 4-5 emerald crabs, but I only see 1-2 on occasion and it doesn't appear they are doing much to the algae. Is this simply going to be one of those things where I have to pull out all the rock and do a massive scrub down? Thoughts would be appreciated.

 

[Ben1]

My vote goes to pull all the rock and do a massive scrub down. I have some subble algea in my tank at work and when I do a water change i suck up as many as I can, its only a 10 gal though so its not an issue.

 

[Anonymous]

Yeah taking them out, scrubbing them then rinsing is my suggestion as well. IME, the emeralds seem to pick over the remaining growth (after you scrub) more than if you leave the bigger bubbles intact.

 

[Anonymous]

Water change with a large hose, and put the hose over the algae and pull them off one a bunch at a time, sucks spores and algae in one shot.

 

[Anonymous]

Water change with a large hose, and put the hose over the algae and pull them off one a bunch at a time, sucks spores and algae in one shot.

+1. That's the main thing, making sure you get up the spores that are released when the bubbles are broken. This is also one of those times when a UV sterilizer is genuinely useful on a reef.

 

[Anonymous]

Water change with a large hose, and put the hose over the algae and pull them off one a bunch at a time, sucks spores and algae in one shot.

Problem is, these small guys are stuck pretty well compared to their bigger brothers out there. I will try this first though and see what happens.