Bubbles Growing in my Tank?

[Reefer135]

I have a 135 reef tank and latly I've noticed several bubble like forms growing on some of my live rocks. I don't know what it is, or if it is of any danger to my tank. They are the size of a marbale, and there color is like the color of the led in a pensele. Dose anyone know what this is and if I should take it out or not?

Thanks,

Reefer135

 

[Anonymous]

most likely valonia. i had a couple a few months ago so i took the rock out and pulled them off. if they break they'll release spores and possible cause more. in my case, one came off easily and stayed intact. the other broke; so i'm glad to removed the rock first.

 

[NasotheHutt]

I had an outbreak several months ago, when the bubbles got big (about the size of a nickel) I pulled them off. I still have maybee 5 in my 120, but just stay on top of them, remove them with your regular cleaning, and it shouldn't be a problem.

HTH
Scott

 

[Reefer135]

I can not take the rocks out. I have coral glued to some of them, and they are big rocks. Any more ideas?

 

[smokin reefer]

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Reefer135:
<strong>I can not take the rocks out. I have coral glued to some of them, and they are big rocks. Any more ideas?

</strong><hr></blockquote>

Get a couple of emerald crabs, they love the stuff.

 

[danmhippo]

I concur yanking them off with your fingers. I had bad experiences with emeral crabs and would not recommend them personally. If you indeed decided to get them, 1. get small ones (hopefully, less possible destructions) and 2. keep an eye on them. The first sign of damage, remove them.

HTH

 

[chris1]

I had a pretty good outbreak of them.

People recomended that I get emerald crabs. They didnt even give the valonia a second look!

Someone said to check my ALK, it was probably low. I checked, it was, I buffered it and within a couple of weeks it had all gone away.

HTH,

c

 

[Chucker]

These and many other ID questions are answered in the Hitchhiker's FAQ. To supplement what can't be found in the FAQ, there is a forum just for questions like this- I encourage everyone to use it.

 

[polyp]

Here's what I'd do:

1) Reach in and yoink 'em off the rock. In order to prevent popping, get as much of your finger/thumb combo around them as possible (this presents the most surface area between skin/valonia and distrubutes the tension on the bubble's surface) and then twist and lift. If they break, they break - don't let it bug you, it happens.

2) Encourage the growth of coraline algae. Get your calicuim levels up. Get your carbonate hardness to the correct range as well. Heavy coraline growth is dependent on both, and likewise, will deplete calcium and carbonate levels. Use Kalkwasser or the equivalent (Calcium reactor would be good too -there are other options as well...). Keep an eye on your calcium levels. Once you've got a lot of nice coraline algae in your tank, the valonia can't take hold as easily.

3) Minimize the amount of phosphates in your tank. Keep an eye on the N03 levels as well. (i.e. test for PO4, and NO3 levels). You want these nutrients to be low (they are OK in small amounts, the smaller, the better). If you've got problems, do a water change - or two, or three...

3) Maybe get the Emerald crab... I dunno. Could be good, could be bad. My tank started off as a 'house tank' with some roomates (not a good idea, in retrospect)... one of my roomates was really into crustaceans. They can be mean little dudes when they want. I've learned much from these armored SOB's since then and have decided to keep the crustacean contingency towards agro behavior a minimum. (yet still, I really like 'em).