This is embarrassing

Decided enough was enough. Rolled up my sleeves and pulled out 90% of the bubble algae that has infested my tank. I've been battling this stuff way too long now. I've beaten hair algae and cyano, but in comaprison this stuff is like Rocky Balboa - I might beat it down, but its never out!

I've tried just about everything. My top off and water change water is 0 TDS. Phosphates and Nitrates read a solid 0 on the Hanna Photometer and Salifert tests, respectively. I run GFO and carbon. MB7 and BioFuel for months now but just recently stopped since I noticed my corals lightening a bit. This stuff is resilient

Heres a very satisfying video of some I pulled out in early December, suffering and popping in fresh water

Any tips to knock this stuff out for good?

 

That LOOKS SOO NASTY!!!!

Looks like you got alot out though.

and i have no clue on how to get rid of it permanently..I have never had a problem with algae once in any of my tanks.

 

i had a small outbreak of it once from a piece of coral i brought home, i got a lawnmower blenny for hair algae, and he took care of the bubble algae for me. they dont always but mine did

 

Get mithrax crabs. They will usually eat it. Although judging by how much you had... get 12!

 

bahaha, DIE!!! I would think a tang or some crabs would do the trick no? Other than that you i would tell you to do all the things you seem to have already done. Maybe lessen the feeding..?

 

Most bubble algaes can exist in low nutrient environments. In other words, your common algaes might starve out but bubble algaes will still be going strong.

These work portable torch - Google Search However, you have to re-aquascape if you use this method. (After the bubbles pop, rinse off the rock with new saltwater.

 

Indeed it does and indeed I did!

Consider yourself lucky if you've never had it. I never had an algae issue the first year my tank was running either. I guess I must have brought it in on a frag or something. I never saw any physical bubbles or hair algae on anything I've added but I'm guessing the spores were still there. grr..

I also had a lawnmower blenny for awhile. Originally got him to eat some hair algae I had. Never touched the stuff. As for the bubble algae, he liked to perch up on large clusters of it and stare at me haha

 

Is that a 5 gallon bucket???

 

I picked up two of these guys from my LFS and plopped them on some clusters awhile ago. I was told they were Mithrax crabs at least. That plan fizzled out also. I had them for a week and they were never interested in the algae, rather they had a sweet tooth for some of my softies. A duncan and some zoas.

Perhaps I need to try the green variety of mithrax crabs as the red ones didn't work out to well for me. I usually feed 3 or 4 times per week. Not much more than the fish usually eat. This annoying algae is the only real indicator I might be feeding too much, but I don't know based off tests.

This is a really good idea. I might give this a shot when I have to break down my tank and move in a couple months. All the rocks will already be out of the tank and algae easy to get to. Thanks!

 

My chocolate chip star ate all of the small outbreak i had, it had little bloom like things on it.