Novice who needs help identifying these gooey balls?

[eboretz]

These black gooey balls are appearing on my live rock more frequently now... can any body tell me about these and should i be worried, if so what to do?

 

thanks,

 

ed

[Neebles]

Looks like bubble algae

[eboretz]

and should i be worried about them, they are multiplying .....

[Newtybar]

Bubble algae...and yeah I have it too. What a pest!

 

I bought two emerald crabs to get rid of these and they don't even touch it.

 

I may try the Kalk paste method if they don't start getting it.

[Mariaface]

Yehp, be concerned. Valonia's pretty invasive. My roommates thought it looked cool, but I knew better >>

 

Try leaving the tank pumps/circulators/whatever off and injecting 3% peroxide in/around them, then leave it be for at least 10 minutes while they fizz. It melts my pest algae enough to make it yummy to my CUC.

 

Also, make sure you're not overfeeding and your rocks aren't letting out phosphates and other organics.

[Cencalfishguy56]

and should i be worried about them, they are multiplying .....

Hell yea you should be worried! Bubble algae can run amok in your tank and multiply if popped!

[ajmckay]

Read this carefully: http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2002-02/hcj/feature/

[eboretz]

Thanks to everyone for the informative feedback,, just picked up an emerald crab and will watch to see if he is effective. Will also remove the ones i can with tweezers being carefull to not puncture the little balls.

 

thanks again.

 

ed

[Mariaface]

Remember to feed the emerald crab meaty foods once in a while. They're omnivores, and they're not above going after tank inhabitants, coral or otherwise immobile.