Please Help Bubble Algae Outbreak
- Thread starter JBJ45
- Start date
Don’t use chemicals for valonia, just physically remove it. You can use rigid tubing and cut a 45 on the end, connect to vinyl tubing (starts siphon) and drain it into your sump (into a filter sock). As you stab the bubble algae, it will drain into the sock, catching it all. Valonia grows by the tissue, so don’t worry about popping it, that’s a complete myth. There are no spores inside the bubbles, just water. If there were spores, then how do fish and crabs eat it without releasing the spores? The chemical I would use for algae is fluconazole for bryopsis.
Not saying not to use it... it has an algaecide in it take a look at this post for a good break down about it.
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/u...gaefix-polixetonium-chloride-busan-77.893292/
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/u...gaefix-polixetonium-chloride-busan-77.893292/
DO NOT USE VIBRANT!
It contains some pretty bad algaecide.. it will kill bryopsis, but not so too much bubble algae. it will kill chaeto and any macro algae. and it will stay in your system forever.
just put a few emerald crab. do manual removal if you can. takes time but they go away
Vibrant messed my tank chemistry for a good year or so.. continuous die off starting from macro algae and then nutrient explode
i buy my emerald crab from John at Reefcleaner. he guarantee his crab eats BA. they come in smaller sizes.
https://www.reefcleaners.org/aquarium-store/tank-cleaners/emerald-ruby-mithrax-crab-detail
It contains some pretty bad algaecide.. it will kill bryopsis, but not so too much bubble algae. it will kill chaeto and any macro algae. and it will stay in your system forever.
just put a few emerald crab. do manual removal if you can. takes time but they go away
Vibrant messed my tank chemistry for a good year or so.. continuous die off starting from macro algae and then nutrient explode
i buy my emerald crab from John at Reefcleaner. he guarantee his crab eats BA. they come in smaller sizes.
https://www.reefcleaners.org/aquarium-store/tank-cleaners/emerald-ruby-mithrax-crab-detail
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For chemicals, Fluconazole (Flux Rx, Reeflux) are likely the best + patience. Dose Flux at 4x the recommended dose, which is recommended for bryopsis. Take out carbon, turn off skimmer. Keep lights running regular throughout, as light is necessary for the Flux to work. First dose sits in your tank for 3 weeks. Water change, and then second dose, which sits for 3 more weeks. Then final water change and back to normal. Don't expect to see anything happening at all with your bubble algae until week 3 or 4, and then they will start to go pale and disappear. GHA and bryopsis will go white and disappear pretty quickly.
I run an airstone during the 6 weeks and I like to dose beneficial bacteria like PNS Probio (also to help with nutrient release) and small amounts of Fiji Mud or AF LifeSource (ask me about how I deal with magnetic volcanic particles if you use this).
Why is flux a better option?
Vibrant is basically Algaefix relabeled, a general algaecide. Can stir up some trouble and was followed by dino outbreak in my nano.
Flux is an anti-fungal that works specifically by preventing cell wall growth. Plants and algae have cell walls (bacteria too, but their cell wall is made of different material). They are affected by Flux. Animal cells (including fish, inverts, corals and nems) have plasma membranes and not cell walls. They are not affected directly by Flux. Side effects of flux like nutrient release from dying algae and knock-on effects might affect corals if you don't mitigate them. Dinoflagellates, which are also the photosynthetic symbionts inside of corals and give them their colors, have cell walls, but I don't know about their composition. I have noticed a few of my corals and a single RFA change colors a little bit during treatment, but otherwise no ill effects.
Any macroalgae you keep in the tank is toast. Move it over to a other tank while the treatment is ongoing and monitor them for bubble algae.
So again, why is Flux better? At least we know what it is doing.
Small tanks are tough because mileage varies with emerald and pitho crabs as your only natural route. And manual removal can just wear you down. I don't judge anyone who decides to throw in the towel and go the nuclear option.
I run an airstone during the 6 weeks and I like to dose beneficial bacteria like PNS Probio (also to help with nutrient release) and small amounts of Fiji Mud or AF LifeSource (ask me about how I deal with magnetic volcanic particles if you use this).
Why is flux a better option?
Vibrant is basically Algaefix relabeled, a general algaecide. Can stir up some trouble and was followed by dino outbreak in my nano.
Flux is an anti-fungal that works specifically by preventing cell wall growth. Plants and algae have cell walls (bacteria too, but their cell wall is made of different material). They are affected by Flux. Animal cells (including fish, inverts, corals and nems) have plasma membranes and not cell walls. They are not affected directly by Flux. Side effects of flux like nutrient release from dying algae and knock-on effects might affect corals if you don't mitigate them. Dinoflagellates, which are also the photosynthetic symbionts inside of corals and give them their colors, have cell walls, but I don't know about their composition. I have noticed a few of my corals and a single RFA change colors a little bit during treatment, but otherwise no ill effects.
Any macroalgae you keep in the tank is toast. Move it over to a other tank while the treatment is ongoing and monitor them for bubble algae.
So again, why is Flux better? At least we know what it is doing.
Small tanks are tough because mileage varies with emerald and pitho crabs as your only natural route. And manual removal can just wear you down. I don't judge anyone who decides to throw in the towel and go the nuclear option.
