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YABAT (Yet another bubble algae thread)


DurocShark

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OK, I'm stumped.

 

My rock is all cemented together, so pulling it is nearly impossible. In fact, I don't plan on doing it until I replace the Visio glass tank with the Advanced Acrylics tank I'm having made. But it'll be mid January at the earliest before I can do the migration.

 

But it's all COVERED in green bubble algae. I spent a bunch of time when there was just a little bit manually removing it, but it outpaced my abilities.

 

I first bought a foxface, but it died after just a few days. (I've since had other new fish, wrasses, and they're fine.) Then I bought 5 emerald crabs. 2 died almost immediately, and the other 3 aren't really having much impact. They occasionally will pop one to eat whatever's inside, but that's it. I bought a rock boring urchin (that'll have to go when I get the acrylic tank... probably to my 17) but it's not doing anything except eating any green macro it can find.

 

 

If the rocks were smaller I'd pull them out and treat them. But they're cemented and huge. Like 20+lbs each. Ugh.

 

Any other thoughts? Ideally I'd like to have this solved before I move to the new tank. Treating these huge rocks will not be fun, and I'd rather just move to tub-swap tanks-move to tank.

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Yes I have a fantastic idea

 

Spotlight for Santa Monica time~

 

http://www.nano-reef.com/topic/301547-lowest-cost-way-to-eliminate-green-hair-bubble-turf-and-slime-algae/page-14

 

 

 

Duroc,

 

SM has taken the liberty to post on a thousand threads that ATS systems will cure any algae issue

 

 

 

If it works I give you my word I'll refer a scrubber potential for any valonia tank I see online thereafter

 

It's a cheap CFL, plastic dinner plates and cross hook plastic

 

 

Twenty bucks of supplies w big claims of fixing valonia.

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My phos is zero and my nitrates are hovering around 5 now. I have lots of macros in my fuge that are growing nicely. I'm not sure a scrubber will help much. :(

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My phos is zero and my nitrates are hovering around 5 now. I have lots of macros in my fuge that are growing nicely. I'm not sure a scrubber will help much. :(

I'm pretty sure Brandon was being sarcastic due to the link he provided. Santa Monica seems to think an ATS is the answer to all things relating to pest algae, which we all know in reefing there is never a simple answer....

 

Honestly, I think your best bet is going to be to wait until it is time to do the transfer and just swap rock. If it is infested as bad as you say, you are going to have a very hard to beating it. If you are already doing a tank swap, it is the best time to start over with new, quality live rock.

 

I am saying this as a person in the same shoes as you. I have a scape full of bryopsis and bubble algae right now. I am planning on moving my tank and starting over with new, quality LR sometime in January as well. I plan to set up a temporary frag tank some time in the next couple weeks to start the process of removing all my coral to new, clean frag plugs. I plan house the frags in the frag tank so it makes it easy to do routine dips in H2O2/tank water to kill off all the pest algae on the frags. I will leave the frags in the frag tank for a couple weeks or so to monitor to make sure it doesn't grow back before moving it into the display again, once my new scape is set up.

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You won't deal with cycling if you seen your new rock in the old tank - just make sure it doesn't touch.

Try another foxface or rabbitfish.


Edit: I just realized that when the BA pops, the spores can end up anywhere so scratch the cycle new with old idea - sorry.

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I already think peroxide is not helpful for full on invasions of it, it's only helpful as cursory prevention its rather embarrassing to not be able to post a prediction fix date. To compensate for that ill feeling I've now called on SM only 3/10ths sarcasm but really its my only idea of a possible, he deserves a chance to reinforce his technique and id promote it well if we can get a valonia challenge tank up for him to work.

 

 

Be sure and YouTube the time lapse threads online of valonia tanks being eaten clean by several mithrax its at least a brainstorm of helpful items

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I think the 3 crabs that I have are a combination of too small and too few. I bought 5, but the two largest died almost immediately.

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I have a vid of it

 

 

 

but Murphys law says buy this crab, put him in valonia challenge tank, he stops accepting anything shy of steak and loaded bp

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I don't want to deal with cycling again. :(

I totally understand and agree, but I personally feel that this may be your best bet. The way I plan to deal with this is to buy my new rock ahead of time, work out a scape on a piece of wood/cardboard that is cut to the same footprint of my display, and then cycle the new scape in a rubbermaid container in the garage for a couple weeks before I break down the current display. Then when it is time to set up the tank again, all I have to do is drop the new scape into the tank that is already partially full of saltwater and sand and its ready to go. It's a lot of work, but it will be worth it for me. You have to ask yourself if it is worth it for you.

 

Side note: I have been dealing with bryopsis, bubble algae, and turf algae for over 6 months, probably close to a year at this point. I have tried EVERYTHING, including dumping about 2 cups of 3% H2O2 straight into my display, removing rock/frags and treating with straight 3% H2O2, a couple iterations of Tech M dosing mag up to 2000+, lots of mexican turbos, a lettuce nudi, multiple emeralds, the list goes on. If there is a thread that mentions it on the internet, I have tried it. This is my last resort. Take it from me, don't waste your time. I am almost ready to give up on this hobby, but I know I can have a tank that looks good so I am going to put the effort in and reboot and retry.

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Well, honestly, if the stupid bubbles didn't try to grow ON my corals, I wouldn't be too bothered.

 

I'm thinking that if I can physically remove the algae during the tank transfer, I'll have a good chance of keeping it down with the emeralds and/or a rabbitfish.

 

I was just hoping not to have to go through that. But if I gotta, I gotta.

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I think reef cleaners guarantees their emeralds are BA cleaners. Check their site.

Hate to throw John under the bus, but they are also known to have very clean dry rock.....Ill give you one guess where my rock came from.....

 

Come on kitty kat, there is no way he can claim to only sell emeralds that eat BA... :slap:

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Well, I have seen mine eat bubble algae. But they also eat macros (expected) and rip my corals off the rocks (not expected). And their impact on the BA is miniscule.

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Hate to throw John under the bus, but they are also known to have very clean dry rock.....Ill give you one guess where my rock came from.....

 

Come on kitty kat, there is no way he can claim to only sell emeralds that eat BA... :slap:

emerald_ruby_mit_4f933cc9be335_120x120.j
$4.50
Our crabs are guaranteed to eat bubble algae or we will refund the cost to you.
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emerald_ruby_mit_4f933cc9be335_120x120.j
$4.50
Our crabs are guaranteed to eat bubble algae or we will refund the cost to you.

 

Yeah, I did end up going on the site and reading this last night after I made that post. I meant to apologize to you for that comment as he does in fact claim that.

 

I still feel that his claim is ridiculous though. Everyone else out there, and I mean everyone, will tell you it is really hit or miss when it comes to emeralds eating BA. I really cannot think of any way he can possible ensure that the emeralds he supplies will 100% eat it. Seems like a BIG marketing ploy to me. How can you prove to him that they are not eating it to actually get the refund?

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I would just get another foxface since your infestation is huge. It will eat your macro if you have any though.

 

I really wish foxfaces came in pygmy nano friendly sizes.

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I would just get another foxface since your infestation is huge. It will eat your macro if you have any though.

 

I really wish foxfaces came in pygmy nano friendly sizes.

+1

Wish ORA would breed them to be small

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