bubble algae,help

ok i have bubble algae and its spreading.i tried manual removing and its to hard to get it all and some is attached to well to pull off rocks without breaking it and then it will spread faster.i tried 2 emerald crabs but i can't find them big enough to make a difference and i think one killed the other.i'm wondering if a sea hare will eat it if it has nothing else to eat?i'm open to suggestions.

 

i have both the small kind and the big kind.there is no possible way to get it all manualy in my tank.

 

if you cant do manual use some emerald crabs, just be aware not all types of bubble algae will get eaten by anything, the larger stuff they wont eat, the smaller stuff they will

 

If you manually remove them you risk them releasing there "spores" into the water only worsening the problem. If you so choose manual removal, make sure its during a W/C and have the siphon over the bubble to siphon out the spores(at least most of them) while you pluck the bubbles out.
Sea hares will most likely NOT eat the bubble as I have never seen or heard of one doing so. Desajardini Sailfins are known to eat it(Red Sea Sailfin) as are a few rabbit fish. A member in our club had a purple tang eat it but he is most likely an exception not a rule.
Without sounding redundant but nutrient export will help as with water changes BUT bubble algae CAN definetly be stubborn. If you try emeralds you will need a small army in a 55. most likely a half dozen if not more.

Good luck and happy Reefing!

 

Well Frag, this is the third post today I've seen you in. Good to see you "chiming in".

 

O.k. here is one of my inventions..http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj46/unclejed_bucket/55gal.jpg
I used a diatom filter and I kind of sharpened the blue tube and use it to "chisel" the bubble off the rock and it is immediately sucked up. Works great. I have since converted this little Nano filter; Tom Rapids Nano Tank Canister Filter
The nano is a easier to use, I added stiff tubing and use that for the "chisel". The nano is much cheaper than a diatom but I already had the diatom so it was the first experiment. If you are a sand cleaner, the nano is perfect, not a lot of suction so you can control it better.

 

If you use emarald crabs, they will go after the little valonia bubbles. The large ones are harder to deal with. My LFS has large ones, the size of quarters, and they just leave them alone. They said it's not worth risking the breakage and having them spread. If they are on rock, you can pull the rocks out and try to remove them by hand. I had one 2lb rock that was covered with valonia. I bought and emerald and he ate himself to death and it didn't even dent the algae. I pulled it out of the tank, and pulled it off by hand. I then scrubbed the remainder with a nylon brush until it was all off. I had a power head on the side of my rubbermaid tub (with 3/8" tubing submerged in the water) that was blowing water on the rock the entire time to blow off any spores that may get onto the rock. It's been over a year and I haven't had another outbreak of the stuff. I know it's not as easy if you have any coral on the infected rock. If you don't, you may want to try that.

 

Here's a good bubble algae link:
'Bubble' Alage: Selected Descriptions, Controls and Comments by Horge Cortes-Jorge, Jr. - Reefkeeping.com

 

here's the 2 types i think i have.Ventricaria ventricosa and Valonia aegagropila the Ventricaria ventricosa is mostly at the bottom level and in caves.as you can see from the picture,pulling rocks out of my tank is not an option.my tank is very mature and the rocks are held together by algae,coraline,and most of all,corals.thanks for the links.i will continue to look for a solution before it gets out of control.