Is some Bubble Algae 'ok' and 'normal' ???

Andrew Schubert · Oct 11, 2018

I have a 120 gallon with 30 gal fuge setup for about 4 months now. I noticed a 'little' bubble algae growing on one of my zio frags, so I took it out and scrubbed the algae off. Now, (about 4 days later) I see one or 2 little specs of it in about a dozen different places on the rocks.

My nitrats and phosphates are at 0. I'm growing chaeto in my fuge and running a protein skimmer. So I wonder, is it normal to have 'some' of this or should I be worried. I so don't want this to cause an outbreak and ruin my shinny new tank?

I've also noticed some kind of course hair algae growing on some rocks this week for the first time too. So I'm not sure if this is just evidence of a new tank still running its initial course or if something else is going on? I just placed a flame angel and rabbitfish in my DT today. I also have 2 tangs in QT for the next month. So I'm hoping they will help eradicate these before they do become a problem.

nautical_nathaniel · Oct 12, 2018

Bubble algae is one of the harder alga to get rid of, I've always recommended getting rid of it as you see it.

My method for removal has always been taking the affect rock out of the tank, maybe during a water change or something, removing the bubble part carefully and immediately rinsing the rock/affected area off before putting it back in the tank. I get bubble algae most of the time on frag plugs, so I usually wait around 2-3 weeks before gluing a plug or coral in to see if anything of nuisance is going to grow on it.