Bubble....evil bubble

arizonagrace · 09-29-2008, 11:49 PM

I just found a small green bubble on the live rock that has my toadstool coral on it. It is small, but I just know I am going to see more of it.

My phosphates are at 1.0 and I have added phosban to the aquarium to try and bring this down.

What should I do at this point? I can't scrub the rock, as it is too small to reach, and it has the coral on it.

The phosphates are now at .5 since adding the phosban this morning. I am hoping it brings it down further.

Water parameters are good except the phosphate, which I think is still way too high.

I have crabs, peppermint/cleaner shrimps, watchman goby, pj cardinal, firefish, toadstool, star polyps, colt and a xenia in there, along with mushrooms that are popping up.

cbrownfish · 09-30-2008, 12:14 AM

I find that you can sometimes use a siphon tube and dislodge Valonia by gently pushing on them. If you can remove the rock or get to them in the tank, a sharp implement like a drafting knife and snip the "root" and they will float up where you can get them.

If they start to become a plague, you need to address excess nutrients just like you would for Cyano or hair algae.

CATALYST · 09-30-2008, 12:35 AM

Sometimes I can get them with some superglue on the end of a chopstick.

BigAl07 · 09-30-2008, 12:38 AM

the last couple I've had I literally got a chopstick behind them and popped em loose. Granted the FIRST time I did this it was in a water change bucket but it worked so well I've done it IN the tank a few times. I just let them get about the size of 1/2 a Tic-Tac and it pops loose and I net it up. I don't know how "Safe" this is as if you pop one you're spreading the spore throughout the tank.

sambrinar · 09-30-2008, 12:59 AM

I have a few of these and that stupid emerald crab is supposed to eat them,,, but NO!! I'm glad you posted this, will have to try the superglue thing... My luck I will pop the bad boy and it will spread like wild fire in our AZ desert (gotta have the visual

)

melusina · 10-02-2008, 11:49 AM

Boy am I glad to see this topic. I have one bubble - but it looks like a big ole Tahitian pearl. Since it's so large, do you think the same methods might work, i.e. superglue on a chopstick or popping it loose from the rock? I'm in the same boat - can't remove the rock that it's on.

arizonagrace · 10-02-2008, 11:52 AM

I ended up taking the rock the coral was on and keeping the coral submerged in change water while popping the bubble into the water. Then, I put the coral back in the tank. Wasn't hard, but just had to be careful to get it off and ended up using flashlight to check it thoroughly.

lcstorc · 10-02-2008, 01:52 PM

Here's one for the things that make you go hmm list.
Many people will tell you that emerald crabs will get rid of bubble algae but how do they do it without popping the bubbles.
This is something that has always confused me.

arizonagrace · 10-02-2008, 02:33 PM

I was watching someones crab yesterday working at some and never did see him actually get it off the rock.

Maybe they have those special pincers that snip it and seals it shut at the same time. Kind of like cauterizing roflmao

sambrinar · 10-02-2008, 02:37 PM

Wish mine would, lazy lil bugger

09-29-2008, 11:49 PM	#1 (permalink)
arizonagrace Cabbage Leather Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 364 View Gallery Karma Komment	Bubble....evil bubble I just found a small green bubble on the live rock that has my toadstool coral on it. It is small, but I just know I am going to see more of it. My phosphates are at 1.0 and I have added phosban to the aquarium to try and bring this down. What should I do at this point? I can't scrub the rock, as it is too small to reach, and it has the coral on it. The phosphates are now at .5 since adding the phosban this morning. I am hoping it brings it down further. Water parameters are good except the phosphate, which I think is still way too high. I have crabs, peppermint/cleaner shrimps, watchman goby, pj cardinal, firefish, toadstool, star polyps, colt and a xenia in there, along with mushrooms that are popping up.

09-30-2008, 12:14 AM	#2 (permalink)
cbrownfish Reef Lobster Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 1,626 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Bubble....evil bubble I find that you can sometimes use a siphon tube and dislodge Valonia by gently pushing on them. If you can remove the rock or get to them in the tank, a sharp implement like a drafting knife and snip the "root" and they will float up where you can get them. If they start to become a plague, you need to address excess nutrients just like you would for Cyano or hair algae. __________________ *Confucius Say: "best way to save face, is to keep lower part of face shut".* CURRENT SET UP -- 90 gallon display, 30 gallon refugium, 6 gallon pod breeder, 100 gallon sump (complete with frag rack), 2X250 MH 14K DE HQI, Vortech MP40w and Koralia #4 for flow, 2X Tunze 9010 Skimmers, Sequence Dart return, 2X Ranco Controllers w/Titanium Heaters, 150 lb LR (90 in display, 60 in sump), 5" DSB, Mixed reef - Softies, LPS, SPS, Clams.

09-30-2008, 12:35 AM	#3 (permalink)
CATALYST Reef Lobster Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: SoCal Posts: 1,442 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Bubble....evil bubble Sometimes I can get them with some superglue on the end of a chopstick. __________________ _.:Bonni:._

09-30-2008, 12:38 AM	#4 (permalink)
BigAl07 Do I look as lost as I am Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Waynesville, North Carolina Posts: 21,549 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Bubble....evil bubble the last couple I've had I literally got a chopstick behind them and popped em loose. Granted the FIRST time I did this it was in a water change bucket but it worked so well I've done it IN the tank a few times. I just let them get about the size of 1/2 a Tic-Tac and it pops loose and I net it up. I don't know how "Safe" this is as if you pop one you're spreading the spore throughout the tank. __________________ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~ *Live Rock Rubble will do the SAME thing as Bio-Balls and is NOT a suitable replacement for BIO-BALLS in a Reef System! It's ALL gotta go!!* Nitrate (NO3) reduction is directly proportional to percentage of Water Change. Allen's home-made formula...currentNO3-((%WC.01)currentNO3)=finalNO3 (thanks Luukosian) This means if you change 50% of your total water volume (That's EVERYTHING) you'll get a net reduction of (NO3) somewhere around 50%. Ask me about how to increase your REEF budget without going without FOOD!!* Big Al's 10g Julie's (BigAl's Gal) 6g NanoCube Gone but not forgotten BigAl's Slow 90g Tank Chronicle Allens OFFICE 12g Nano-Reef

09-30-2008, 12:59 AM	#5 (permalink)
sambrinar recovering overfeeder Join Date: May 2008 Location: Arizona Posts: 6,415 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Bubble....evil bubble I have a few of these and that stupid emerald crab is supposed to eat them,,, but NO!! I'm glad you posted this, will have to try the superglue thing... My luck I will pop the bad boy and it will spread like wild fire in our AZ desert (gotta have the visual ) __________________ Brenda Those who dance are considered insane by those who cannot hear the music ~ George Carlin Original member of http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...eef-holic.html My addiction 75 gal glass http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...ce-sanity.html

10-02-2008, 11:49 AM	#6 (permalink)
melusina Midas Blenny Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Florida Posts: 91 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Bubble....evil bubble Boy am I glad to see this topic. I have one bubble - but it looks like a big ole Tahitian pearl. Since it's so large, do you think the same methods might work, i.e. superglue on a chopstick or popping it loose from the rock? I'm in the same boat - can't remove the rock that it's on.

10-02-2008, 11:52 AM	#7 (permalink)
arizonagrace Cabbage Leather Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 364 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Bubble....evil bubble I ended up taking the rock the coral was on and keeping the coral submerged in change water while popping the bubble into the water. Then, I put the coral back in the tank. Wasn't hard, but just had to be careful to get it off and ended up using flashlight to check it thoroughly.

10-02-2008, 01:52 PM	#8 (permalink)
lcstorc Sunshine Reefer Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Cocoa Fl Posts: 26,433 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Bubble....evil bubble Here's one for the things that make you go hmm list. Many people will tell you that emerald crabs will get rid of bubble algae but how do they do it without popping the bubbles. This is something that has always confused me. __________________ Peace LYNN Lynn and Franks saltwater adventure Lynn's 20g clown tank Lynn's 90g of sunshine Lynn's frag tank experiment A reef tank is like a race car. The faster you go the harder you crash.

10-02-2008, 02:33 PM	#9 (permalink)
arizonagrace Cabbage Leather Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 364 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Bubble....evil bubble I was watching someones crab yesterday working at some and never did see him actually get it off the rock. Maybe they have those special pincers that snip it and seals it shut at the same time. Kind of like cauterizing roflmao

10-02-2008, 02:37 PM	#10 (permalink)
sambrinar recovering overfeeder Join Date: May 2008 Location: Arizona Posts: 6,415 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Bubble....evil bubble Wish mine would, lazy lil bugger __________________ Brenda Those who dance are considered insane by those who cannot hear the music ~ George Carlin Original member of http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...eef-holic.html My addiction 75 gal glass http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...ce-sanity.html

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