Bubble algae in ponape birdsnest: help

[Playapixie]

Help: I’ve never had Much of a problem with bubble algae (if I had it, it wasn’t that much of a hassle and was in places I could remove.) But now it’s taken over a ponape birdsnest, and because of the delicate tiny coral structures, it’s impossible to get it out, and it’s smothered half of this beautiful coral. What can I do?

 

[spieszak]

I was able to eradicate bubble algae in my tank by dosing vibrant. I didn't see any other side effects, and I dosed heavy (higher than recommended) Seems lots of folks have had good luck with it.

 

[wendellperkins]

I have had bad experiences with bubble algae I have been working to kill it off for three years and started a new reef in an effort to move past it.

Vibrant is the only thing I have not tried. I have tried all other possible biological and recommended algae eaters. Lowering my nutrients seemed to help, but did not end the problem.

There is a lot of conjecture about how to remove it and when to do it. In my experience the best thing to do is remove the piece and scrape the stuff off of it. Get a dental tool made for scraping or some other kind of pick like chisel or scraping metal thing (your dental hygienist probably has a broken one they would just give you) and physically remove all of it you can.

When it is done, get some tank water and mix it 4 parts tank water to one part Hydrogen peroxide (the 3% kind you get at the grocery store). Dip it for at least 5 minutes. I have had just the peroxide dip kill the bubbles without scraping them off. I have never had the dip kill one of my corals. I have dipped hammers and Candy canes but wouldn't do it again. It really stressed them out.

If you cant remove the coral, then just scrape off what you can in place. There are times that I have turned off all the pumps and shot peroxide into the effected area and let it bubble for a while. I cant remember how well it worked but it was better than not doing anything.

In my system with my with my ponapi and all of my birds nests, bubble algae would get in some place and slowly kill the coral as it grew and took over. I can't say that the bubble algae puts out specific toxins that pocillipora respond badly to, but my largest bubble algae outbreak was directly related to my largest pocillipora loss. When I scraped off all the bubbles in they system and removed them in a filter sock, my pocillipora quit dying.

I would not hesitate to frag a couple nice chunks off of that piece and just throw the rest away. There is more than one strain of bubble algae and people have several different experiences with it. My experiences were not good in any way. I would do what I needed to do to get it out of my system.

 

[Randy]

Help: I’ve never had Much of a problem with bubble algae (if I had it, it wasn’t that much of a hassle and was in places I could remove.) But now it’s taken over a ponape birdsnest, and because of the delicate tiny coral structures, it’s impossible to get it out, and it’s smothered half of this beautiful coral. What can I do?

View attachment 56048

I would remove the Ponape to a small quarantine tank and add several emerald crabs. They should consume it in a short time. Good luck

 

[Playapixie]

I would not hesitate to frag a couple nice chunks off of that piece and just throw the rest away. There is more than one strain of bubble algae and people have several different experiences with it. My experiences were not good in any way. I would do what I needed to do to get it out of my system.

Thanks For the thoughtful and detailed answer. I don’t think I can remove the piece to dip it as it’s very grown into its neighbors. But I think I will try to break out all of the infested pieces and I may try the peroxide.

 

[Playapixie]

I would remove the Ponape to a small quarantine tank and add several emerald crabs. They should consume it in a short time. Good luck

Unfortunately, I can’t remove it. It’s very grow into its neighbors. The whole tank is very mature and grown out. I think I’m going to have to break out the infested pieces and try to eradicate the bubbles somehow so they don’t come back.

 

[Randy]

Unfortunately, I can’t remove it. It’s very grow into its neighbors. The whole tank is very mature and grown out. I think I’m going to have to break out the infested pieces and try to eradicate the bubbles somehow so they don’t come back.

It’s a fast grower. Whatever you salvage will make a speedy comeback. In the past I have used a siphon with all water circulation off while doing the deed. May need a extra pair of hands.