How to Get Rid of Bubble Algae

Bubble algae are several species of rooted algae that form bubble-like bladders on rocks in a marine aquarium. They can be remarkably invasive and overwhelm other sessile inhabitants such as corals. Bubble algae are also prolific, with one "bubble" containing thousands of spores, all of which could develop into new bubbles given a chance. If bubble algae have taken over an aquarium, you can keep the algae under control, although eliminating it might be almost impossible.

Things You'll Need

  • Butter knife
  • Flat-headed screwdriver
  • Bowl
  • Marine herbivores
  • Marine filter feeders
  • Nitrate and phosphate testing kits
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Instructions

    • 1

      Remove all small rocks from the tank. Put the rocks in a bowl with some aquarium water and manually take off as many bubbles as possible. Twist them off carefully with your fingers or chip them off with a flat-headed screwdriver or butter knife. Try not to pop any because this will release spores. Return the rocks to the tank, without water in the bowl.

    • 2

      Chip off any bubble algae on rocks that are too big to remove. It is better not to twist these bubbles off, since you probably will burst them.

    • 3

      Introduce more herbivores. Bubble algae are resilient and some herbivorous fish and invertebrates are not effective at controlling them. However, mithrax crabs, rabbit fishes and sea urchins are good at tearing off and consuming these bubbles.

    • 4

      Introduce filter-feeding organisms such as coral and tubeworms remove bubble algal spores from the water.

    • 5

      Test nutrient levels using phosphate and nitrate test kits. Too much nitrogen and phosphate encourages bubble algal growth. There should be undetectable amounts of phosphate and very low levels of nitrate (ideally less than 10 parts per million) in your tank. Monitor levels weekly and replace some of the water when they get too high. Watch out for dead fish or invertebrates and remove them immediately.