Green bubbles on live rock

[Andy O]

I found 2 small green bubbles (look like sacks) on my live rock. They are very close to each other. Any idea what these may be? One is light green and to the left of it is a darker green -- they are almost centered in the photo. I don't know how to highlight it. Hopefully people can see what I am talking about.

 

[smcnally]

Bubble algae. Pluck it off before it spreads and try not to pop it.

 

[jebar777]

ok first off what is that writing on the rock?????? secondly ...get a mithrax crab or 2 they will eat that algae...assuming therer isnt a top of food in the tank...they are also good at helping with other algae in the tank.

 

[smcnally]

The writing looks lik the writing on a HOB skimmer showing through the glass.

 

[smcnally]

...get a mithrax crab or 2 they will eat that algae...assuming therer isnt a top of food in the tank...they are also good at helping with other algae in the tank.

They can also pick at your corals...mine did

 

[Andy O]

The writing is on the bak pak 2 pump in the tank. What will bubble algae do and how do you get/prevent it and what happens if it spreads? What is the best way to remove it without popping?

 

[smcnally]

I just pick it off with tweezers when I see it. It spreads pretty bad if you don't take care of it.

 

[Aquaman_68]

looks like valonia. Try not to break or "pop" the spheres when removing. Otherwise you will introduce loads of babys to be dispersed throughout your system.

 

[Jill & Brian]

Be careful taking it out not to pop it. I popped one and I have been picking out mini valonias ever since

 

[Andy O]

will it pop on its own. I am actually setting up my 90 gallon this weekend. Besides the mithrax crabs is there anything else that eats it?

 

[Moe_K]

IME mithrax crabs won't eat it. I've not read of any biological control agent that's 100%.
Plucking worked for me in my old 55.
Even then some grew where I couldn't find them.

 

[NateHanson]

I've always had some valonia in my tanks, but it's never been a problem, or spread much. I'd expect like any other nusiance algae that it is best controlled by nutrient control. I kept Emerald Crabs, and can't say whether or not they ate it, but they never bothered my corals.

I've picked out some larger ones, but otherwise I just let them go. In my 65g they disappeared on their own when it was running good. I believe that tank had very good nutrient control though. Very low fish load, large water volume, strong skimmer, decent sized fuge.