[lynnvangsnes]

Howdy folks! I have just identified what I believe is green bubble algae...the Valonia variety. My tank is now just over a month old, and I noticed a week ago that I had a pencil-eraser sized dark green bubble on one of my chunks of LR. Last night, I noticed I have two more...the original one is now larger than a regular size marble. I've been reading about the emerald green crabs..mithrax sculptus. They supposedly feed naturally on this type of algae. Does anyone have any experience with this type of crab? I have also read that they can get kinda tough on little shrimps if they run out of algae. Other than a crab, it looks like careful vacuuming is the answer to the bubble algae, as they can burst open and release a whole passle of spores.

[rlcline76]

I had an emerald but he attacked my star polyp. He was a larger crab, though...I heard those can be worse. I target fed mine for awhile...I think someone else on this site suggested tossing in a piece of table shrimp here and there to keep it away from your livestock.

[lynnvangsnes]

yeah, that's what I was afraid of. Perhaps I'll just go the vacuuming route instead of theorizing natural predators.

[glampka]

I had an emerald - never once did it touch the bubble algae. Much preferred the shrimp & imitation crab that I would toss in the tank.

[lynnvangsnes]

Yep, you two have confirmed my doubts then about emerald crabs. So, that's what we are becoming then? Finding someone or something to do the dirty work for us? Heck no! I'll pull the dingdang bubbles out myself. They can keep their emeralds then. thanks, you two.

[rlcline76]

I see what kind of day this is going to be. The "dingdangs" huh? LOL

[lynnvangsnes]

I have to be very careful of my language. We have to set examples, right Becky?

[rlcline76]

Originally Posted by lynnvangsnes

I have to be very careful of my language. We have to set examples, right Becky?

Hmm
I don't know what kind of examples I am setting...I hope noo ne ever grades me on that.
I do have to say that I woke up cranky for the past week, "dingdangs" actually made me smile. I needed that!

[CyberJester]

Originally Posted by rlcline76

Hmm
I don't know what kind of examples I am setting...I hope noo ne ever grades me on that.
I do have to say that I woke up cranky for the past week, "dingdangs" actually made me smile. I needed that!

Oh, I know this one teacher.
"That no soap box is ever to high to climb onto"

[rlcline76]

I hope no one grades me on my spelling either!
Jeremy, I know, I'm bad. My behavior sometimes makes me worry about what my children will be like. I do not make for a good role model.

[reefnoob1991]

Lynn if it's possible try using a turkey baster to suck the bubble algae out, just be very careful to not pop them.

[lynnvangsnes]

I'll be using one of them there giant vacuum tubes attached to some 1/2 tubing, with a toothbrush attached to it so I will loosed the algae, then suck it out....I'll do it when I do the next water change.

[Cela Vie]

Can't that piece of LR be taken out of the tank (assuming no corals are on it) and cleaned outside of the tank to make sure none of the bubbles burst in the tank releasing the spores? I am asking because I have a couple of pieces of LR with one or two bubbles. I figured I can take them out of the tank, remove the bubble algae rinse them really well in fresh saltwater (or maybe old saltwater during a water change) and put them back in the tank. Thoughts?

[reefnoob1991]

Well it's possible but you have to be careful not to pop the bubbles when your moving the LR out

[glampka]

You could take the rock out - just be sure to get all of the broken bubble off the rock once it breaks. Depending on the size of the bubble, it may not have too good of a grip on the rock. The sooner you can try to siphon it off the easier they generally are to get off without bursting them.

[lynnvangsnes]

That's a great idea celavie...I would only have to remove 2 or 3 more large chunks of LR, take it out, then remove it. I will do that. Thank you! My tank is so tall that I can barely touch the bottom even with my long arms...and I am 6'2". It's a tall tank.

[Cela Vie]

Originally Posted by lynnvangsnes

That's a great idea celavie...I would only have to remove 2 or 3 more large chunks of LR, take it out, then remove it. I will do that. Thank you! My tank is so tall that I can barely touch the bottom even with my long arms...and I am 6'2". It's a tall tank.

My new tank is 24 inches deep and I'm 5'6 1/2" (5'7" on a good day) so I think when I work on the tank, I will put on a pair of "wifebeaters" so don't get my slevees wet...

[lynnvangsnes]

Ok, well I pulled the chunk of rock out and removed the three algal bubbles. Not as easy as one might think. Those bubbles stick to the rock like super glue, and I broke all of them prying them off. I brushed all the pieces away, then rinsed with fresh r/o water. I'm gonna have to keep my eye on that rock for a while. This is how we learn right?

[rlcline76]

LOL
better you than me, Lynn! I am in charge of three tanks right now, and if I saw green algae bubbles I would probably cry first. I have a bubble question: Is there a timeframe as to when I can stop thinking I will ever have this problem? All in all, the rock we have in our home has been here for 5 months or longer. I figure I have seen most of our hitchhikers, but not all.

[lynnvangsnes]

My rock is almost to the day 1 month old in the tank. I would guess that if you haven't seen it by now, it may not happen; but I reserve the right to be wrong. I had some rock for over a year before I had a patch of mushroom coral appear....and then the aiptasia came too. ok then I retract my first statement..anything can appear at anytime and that's cool 'cause I never pass by my tank without spending at least 5 minutes examining it to see if anything has changed since my last observation, which was usually 10 minutes ago. I find new stuff every day; mostly featherdusters these days.

[rlcline76]

Thanks, not reassuring, but thanks!

[lynnvangsnes]

I am honored that a person of your massive wisdom and knowledge would ask lil' ol' me. Your Welcome!

[rlcline76]

Please, massive, my butt! You've been doing this far longer than I.

[lynnvangsnes]

Becky, modesty does not become you. Take the credit you well deserve and run with it!

[rlcline76]

Dearest, I need to be modest, I have only been doing this for 6 months! Your mouth would hang open at all of my blunders, I just don't post them, I go straight to glampka with those!!! LOL