Coral Rx & bubble algae

[Moby da Goby]

Afternoon! Just looking for some opinions here before I do anything!

I've been fighting with bubble algae for at least the past year. Almost every weekend is about an hour for cleanup to pull off, scrape and net out of the tank. After all of this, I have the urge to break everything down, move the fish and inverts to a temp tank, and restart with new rock and sand. However, I have some soft corals, ricordia, and some other little goodies that I really would like to save for the rebuild.

Do you think that if I make sure to really scrub any small rock bases clean and dip everything in Coral Rx that I would be able to successfully eradicate the spores? I haven't found much information specific to bubble algae and its use although I have read of success with bryposis and other algaes though.

Thanks in advance!
deanna

[Slyguy00]

When you pop or scrape bubble algae off it just releases tons of spores and spreads even faster. I dip all of my corals with coral RX and it never really seems to kill the bubbles. I know emerald crabs do eat the bubble algae if that helps. I would maybe try getting 1 or 2 of those.

[Moby da Goby]

Thanks Sly...I have emerald crabs...apparently I got the ones that would rather not eat bubble algae...Pfffttt on them!

[matt_C]

Desjardini Sailfin Tang is my greatest weapon on bubble algae

[Moby da Goby]

yeah....tang police will show up with stun guns for me :) My tank is just way too small. i'd like to say I could just upgrade but the budget just doesn't allow for it.

[spit.fire]

Desjardini Sailfin Tang is my greatest weapon on bubble algae

+1

Also what has worked well for me is a 4:1 tank water:hydrogen peroxide dip for 5 minutes after popping all the bubbles (remove rock from tank to pop)

I would do a rock a day

The dip won't hurt sort corals but will kill algae, inverts, pods, and nudis/flatworms but not their eggs

[Moby da Goby]

Thanks spit! I have used hydrogen peroxide to treat hair algae. I'll use your ratios and give it a go (after the flooring upstairs is done or I'll be shot).