Bubble Algae

is not really necessary to double post.

Thanks for your help, I will try to post a pic.  I have some bubble that are about 5 inches tall and 3 inches around. I dont care if those stay I think they look cool as well. Its the little bubbles that grow in clusters of hundreds that bother me. I bought a emerald crab two days ago and he ate the biggest bubble (the five incher). I hope that he keeps it up.

I don't know if this will make any sense, and I mean no disrespect, but the hobby is made up of mostly new hobbyists. When those new hobbyists choose to raise their voices, all we can hear are the fears and rumors coming from the mouths of new hobbyists. The din of all those voices overpowers and overworks the few voices of experience and reason.

It's my personal observation that Valonia Algae grows better in some tanks than others. I believe it has less to do with reproduction(spores) and more to do with other variables, like pollution and lack of consumers. Actually, the major variable is the hobbyist.

Hobbyists that allow large patches of Valonia to grow before taking action may not mind the look at first, but when that look takes over prime real estate it's time to bring in the "big guns". In those cases, the Unicornfishes are best answer. Naso Tangs are in that family.  For all other tanks, the Emerald/Mythrax Crab is a necessary part of the cleanup crew. For me, at the first sign of several Valonia bubbles, I will add at least one Mythrax for every 50 gallons of tank capacity.

I believe that Valonia release reproductive gametes from around the outside base of the bubble. I have not noticed any increase in Valonia growth when the inner fluid is released. If I'm not mistaken, the inner fluid is lower salinity water trying to get out. Osmotic pressure is what makes the bubble act like a rubber ball. (Who here hasn't played bounce the Valonia Ball?) Popping the bubble disturbs the base which may releases a few more gametes, but so what! The real key is to destroy the Valonia. The more Valonia bubbles can be destroyed, the less gametes will be produced. For me, it's too much trouble to remove them by hand. I simply pop them and let herbivores clean up the remains. All herbivores, even Snails will help clean up the remains.

Snails cannot be overemphasized. The need, in most tanks, for a grundle of Snails is self evident. Snails eat the algae when it's just a nubbin. When there are enough snails eating new sprouts, algae will not become a visible problem. It's unfortunate that we often fail to replenish a declining snail population until it's too late and the algae has become a plague.

Yes, I love the Rabbitfishes. They are ravenous algae eaters. Thanks for pointing that out.
The Zebrasoma Tangs (Yellow, etc.) because of their mouth shape, will eat small Valonia and tear up the popped Valonia.

For anyone having a problem with their fish, keep in mind that no herbivorous fish will eat algae if it is too well fed by it's keeper.