Bubble Algae issue

[cb747]

The issue is that i have a decent amount in the tank. What fish/inverts eat it? Thanks for the help

 

[jhale]

emerald crab, but they are hit or miss.

 

[meschaefer]

emerald crabs will eat it, but the tend to ignore the very large ones. If you can manually remove as many of the large ones as possible without bursting them it will help allot.

 

[cb747]

Do Fox Faces eat it? I think i remeber that they do. I dont have a ton but its enough to be noticeable and annoying.

 

[meschaefer]

... When I had a bubble algae problem, I would go at them when doing a water change. I would burst them with a siphon hose nearby so that the spores in the bubble would get sucked out of the tank. That and a couple of emerald crabs took care of the problem to the point it wasn't at nuisance levels anymore. I will admit it was time consuming.

 

[jhale]

I'm about to put a UV filter on my tank to combat bubble algae. it's that annoying.

fox face do not eat it, there are no reef safe fish I have heard of that will eat it.

 

[cb747]

Well i guess i know what im doing this weekend *sigh* Manual plucking! Ill order some Emeralds as well. Thanks for the help and advice

 

[SI REEF]

I had a good amount of bubble algae in a 30 frag tank. I put two emerald crabs in and the algae as far as I can see is gone.Took 1 week. The crabs were large.

 

[Killerdrgn]

how about turbo snails (both mexican and astrea), hermit crabs (blue leg or scarlet reef). And i've tried fighting and queen conch but they don't do too much damage on the algae.

 

[tunicata]

I just got a huge turbo from HOF at the swap. I SAW the snail trampling over the purple bubble algae on a rock. When I looked the next day...the majority was gone. I'd say where there were at least 50 mini bubbles only 10 remained.
The only new additions to my tank other than corals were the giant turbo and an algae blenny.
Turbo from HOF
and blenny from Michael Stern
both are cute and doing a fine job of getting all types of algae under control

 

[qy7400]

My sailfin tang seems to love the stuff, I've heard this from a few others as well.

 

[Jasonanatal]

Hello Everyone, in my personal opinion and experience the most efficient method of eliminating or at least reducing a Bubble Algae problem within your Aquarium would be the addition of Emerald Green Mythrix Crabs. Their pinchers provide them with not only the strength but capability to burst the Bubble and Feed on the algea from information that I have studied and personally observed. I remember passing over some documentation concerning the inability of the majority of Snails to feed on Bubble Algae which is directly related to the construction of their mouths. Also as everyone else has stated manual removed by hand and syphoning will also provide another effective method. Personally though I would choose the first option that I stated. I hope this helps.