Bubble Algae

[Poseidon]

Last Week I spent HOURS picking Bubble Algae off of live Rock and the bottom of the Tank... Now its back just as bad if not worse. I've read on a few Web Pages Mythrax or Emerald Crabs will eat Bubble Algae. My question is 2 fold, Do Emerald Crabs eat enough to make a dent ? And What can I do to prevent Bubble Algae in the first place ? Thanks for any help... Mike

[scubadude]

I Have some emerald mithrax crabs as well as some bubble algae in my tank, I have noticed one bubble got popped one morning...Im not 100% sure that it was the mithrax crabs but it wouldnt surprise me....I wouldnt rely on them to eat the bubble algae, but they may in your system because it is more so dominant. I would be skeptical though because I have heard from others that once the bubbles are popped then they release spores which can multiply....It hasnt gotten to plague porpotions in my tank...thank god...I just have 2 or 3 of them. I think one of your best bets, if at all possible to take the rocks that are overwhelmed w/the algae out of the tank and scrub them with a soft bristle tooth brush and after they are clean real good then rinse them with some of your tank water, and do a w/c (killing 2 birds w/one stone) Also try and put some other more appealing macro algae in your tank...like maybe Feather Caulerpa, and if you put in a good amount it will outcompete the valonia (bubble algae) You might want to check out this thread too if you havent already.
HTH

http://www.reefland.com/cgi-bin/foru...&threadid=6210

[clown-t]

i fought bubble algae for a year. the best way is to remove your rock and pick it off and rinse with salt water. i have 2 emerald crab and if it wasn't for my wife they would be gone, they like my sps polyps. do you use a refuguim, protien skimmer, and ro/di water. it will be a fight but you will win. good luck

[Ryn]

I had one that gobbled 90% of my bubble up in a few days, then vanished to that great LR in the sky.

I have one now that I got for hair who just picks at my macro and other specs among the rock. It's just a matter of personality IMO

[Poseidon]

Thanks for the Ideas, I think I'll end up with a few Crabs and also the " Pluck and Rinse " method. I did notice when I had more Macro Algae the Bubble was alot smaller only a few spots but since I weeded the Sea Grapes out the Bubbles are back. It seems Algae does extremly well in my Tank, I use PC and the blues are on from 6 am till 6:45 then I add the Whites, both are on all day until I turn the Whites off @ 9:00 and the Blues go off at 10:00 pm. Does this light Schedule contribute to my Algae outbreak and will less time hurt my Corals ? I have mostly softs, Xenia, Anthelia, Capanella, Green and Yellow Polyps. I also have a Couple Hard Corals like Blastamoussa and Galaxia, and 1 "mystery" sps that I can't remember the name of. All are doing very well but the "green marbles" are so ugly...
Thanks Again, Mike