Red Bubble Algae

[injektion]

about 2 months ago i took a rock with a few red bubble algae growing on it and picked them off one by one. i guess in the process of picking them out i popped one because now my rocks are covered with this stuff. it really doesn't bother me that much because they're not as unpleasant to look at as the green ones are, but i don't want it to get out of hand.

do green emerald crabs (mithrax crabs) take care of these? what else would?

 

[fish_tank0311]

The green emerald crabs eat the green bubble algae, so they will probably eat the red bubble algae as well. Not sure what else will eat it.

 

[steelhealr]

There is only 3 ways to stop any bubble algae growth:
1. Manual removal of the problem alga
2. Suppression via appropriate herbivores
3. Denial of resources

Mithrax are not that great at it. Urchins might eat it but they eat coralline algae too. Turbos are eh.

SH

 

[john.o]

I have had this problem and it is a royal PITA,
the mithrax crabs will eat the green bubbles but they don’t wont to know when it comes to the red , if you don’t deal with it now, it will soon over run your tank and corals . The bubbles expand till they burst then they release more spores into the water Colum. I have found in the past that the best way to remove this, is by keeping your water parameters very tight {even if this means doubling up on your water changes ,twice a week instead of once ect} till you get on top of the problem I would also recommend you take any infected rock out of the tank before removing the bubbles then try to slice through the stem with a sharp knife once you have removed the bubbles careful without bursting any you want to take a sharp chisel and really dig away at the rock where the bubbles where this will remove the roots then finally scrub the rock in the old water from a water change then plop the rock back in your tank cross your fingers and hope you have got it all
Hope this helps and good luck

 

[injektion]

unfortunately the reds have already found a home in pretty much all of the rocks so i don't think i can or want to look for each individual bubble and pick them off.

i guess the crab is no longer a good solution.
i'll do water changes but i don't expect to see changes in the short term, which is what i want.

I've also read that scopas tangs have a good enough reputation taking care of bubble algae. is this true? and if it is does it only apply to the green ones?

#40## these red bubbles! they look so neat yet they're so annoying!!