bubble algae removal.?

[4angel]

I have to put my majano drama on the back burner and think of other worries. I was at my LFS today and talking to someone about a suggestion I had received in removing bubble algae. I got a reply on an old thread about getting an emerald crab for the job. I have a piece of rock that they all have started to congregate on (a lot of them) and he suggested (short of bleaching the rock)that I pull out the rock and scrub the area free of the buggers. He suggested two buckets of tank water for scrubbing and rinsing then placing the rock back in. How does this sound to you folks. Id appreciate any imput.
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Honda GL500

 

[danmhippo]

Larger one's you can just pinch it off the rock by fingers. For all other smaller one's if it's only congregated on a few rocks, and the rocks has no other corals on it, you can scrub them clean under tap water, rinse them in a bucket of tank water and back to the tank.

If the rock has corals on it that you need to salvage, then prepare 2 buckets of tank water as your LFS suggests. One for scrubbing, and the other for rinsing.

I ususally find hard bristle scrub pads and small flat head screw driver do the trick in removing them.

 

[4angel]

A torch (euphyllia glabrescent) and a leather (Sarcophyton sp.) The torch I epoxyed a while back I don't think it would be trouble The leather I pushed into a crevice about a year ago. Do you think I should pry out the leather and torch or dunk them as I scrub.
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Honda CHF50

 

[wildbill]

If your tank is not established then you can try to remove coral and clean it. I wouldn't use bleach. If your tank is established I'd add a few emerald crabs. They really do a good job, and I've never seen them harm any coral.

Bill

 

[4angel]

Tanks estabilished Bill but I think for this infestation I would need a small army of crabs.
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failing banks

 

[wildbill]

How bad is it? I've seen an army of 6 do a number on a tank that has a problem. Maybe you can remove and clean some rock and add a few emerald crabs. I would use a tooth brush and a dental scraping tool.

Bill

 

[4angel]

I bought a small scrub brush and basin. I have to figure out what to do with a leather that's attached. It looks like I'm scrubbing this weekend. I have to give some thought about adding a crab afterward for maintenance.
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South American Forum

 

[wildbill]

Fill the basin with tank water and put the rock with the leather in it.Your not gonna be able to get all of them so I still reccomend getting some emerald crabs. I've always kept one or two in my tanks.

Bill

 

[4angel]

do the crabs grow big or mess with the corals or fish.?
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Ferrari 456

 

[wildbill]

I've never seen them bother any of my sps's or soft corals. In my opinion they don't get too big. I have seen them eat a snail or two which was lying upright. They don't bother the snails in general. My tank is very dense this why I use them.

 

[danmhippo]

Wilbill, I disagree. Emerald, in my exerience, are content when the body is smaller then a nickle. But anything about that size and larger packs the ability to wreck hovac in the tank. Anything from nipping on coralline, to munching on polyps and sleeping fish. Emerald crabs are temperamental. Just like pygmy angels, you may be lucky to have one as model citizen, or you maybe unfortunate to have one that's a pain in the butt.

4angel, scroll to the top, click on the "search" function, type in "emerald crab" on the search subject line, check on "display Post" box, and hit OK. This should yield thousands of threads about emerald crab, and many of those are distress calls.

 

[4angel]

Thanks DH I was leaning towards manually removing the guys and getting started as we speak. I'm starting with some easy to access small live rock eventually leading up to a big piece that about a foot wide. Its on this guy where the most bubbles are concentrated. Which brings me to another question. The big piece of rock was given to me. at the time it was bleached white. I put it in my tank and now its covered with coraline. Any way the question is could these bubbles have been present on this piece (living while white) before being placed in my tank.? I had been keeping up with the tank trying to maintain reasonably low levels of nutrients
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BMW 7 Series

 

[wildbill]

I haven't had this problem keeping them but it seems other have. Learn more about how bubble algae(Valonia) reproduce. this is why I've choose in my tanks to deal with them two fold. I also don't like the idea of tearing my tank apart. Years ago it was considerable easier do to the lack of coral density. But now it would really stirr up my tank.

Bill

 

[4angel]

WHEEuuh There has to be a better way.!! Man after going through what I went through today I just don't know. I'm sure that the bubble algae will re occur I picked and I scrubbed my way through a lot of nooks and crannies. My small apartment smells like an inlet. This is definitely the part that has to be love. A forty breeder 4 gallons changed a week. I'm planning to upgrade my skimming what else can I do to keep this in potential problem in check.
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Health insurance Forum

 

[esmithiii]

Personally I leave the algae alone. I think it is cool looking, and it hasn't caused problems yet. In times past I have used emerald crabs, and a few will rid even a large tank in time. Two cleaned my 55G tank in about a week.

Ernie

 

[wildbill]

Once you have them they multiply. At first there no big deal but they will harm corals. As you can see cleaning you rock is a pain in the butt. Never mind now you will have to deal with some organic dye off which could result in an increase in nitrates. Hey try one Emerald crab. At least you can keep an eye on him and if he becomes a problem remove him. I don't think he is gonna cause as much harm as having to remove your rock.

Bill

 

[4angel]

I may just try a small one(tiny if possible) I have six gallons of fresh ready to go for tommorrow. I have some ESV carbon That I will place in the tank tommorrow as well. Additional 3 gallons at the end of the week just to try keep the nitrates under control.
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Payment protection insurance Forum

 

[esmithiii]

At first there no big deal but they will harm corals.

How exactly do they harm corals?

Ernie

 

[wildbill]

Ernie,

I can tell you first hand that they harm corals. About 5 years ago I had large green stylophora that lost about half of its structure. They also effected other corals but I eventually was able to get rid of them. Basically as they Multiple(very fast I must say) they encroach on living coral tissue. The affected coral then receds and over time this will kill the coral. If you have a copy of Coral Reef Aquarium Vol 1 pg 271 will say this with better detail than I can. I've seen them affect bubble coral, hammer, stylophora, pocillopora and numerous other sps's.

Bill