Aiptasia & bubble algae

I know that these topics have been covered 1,000's of times on the internet, but I was really wondering what worked best in your personal experience. For the aiptasia, I've read about peppermint shrimp, aiptasia-x, boiling water, epoxy, & lemon juice. I purchased a pair of peppermint shrimp about a week ago online. Unfortunately, one of the little guys didn't make it. The other has not touched the aiptasia. I dunno if I should be patient, or maybe purchase some more peppermint shrimp. After researching online, I am certain that I do have a peppermint shrimp, and not another variety like a camel back. I would prefer to use as natural methods as I could in my tank. Any help, would be appreciated.

I don't have a photo of the bubble algae, but it's just a single bubble that appeared, and it is almost like hard plastic. I have not had much time to research it yet, but I did notice some people use screw drivers and a syphon hose. I was wondering if I reduced my feedings (I feed frozen rod's), if that would help. I had a problem with cyano, b/c I was feeding heavily, I reduced the feedings to every other day, and used a syphon hose. It has reduced the problem by 99%. I only have corals, snails, blue legged crabs, and shrimp in my tank. So I thought if I reduced the feedings even more, if that might help. (But I don't want my blue legged crabs going all crazy and eating everything either).


But any advice would be appreciated. My tank is about 10 months old, so sometimes these things pop up. I just want to try and stay on top of the maintenance of it, before it becomes a major problem. I am planning on going to Little Rock tomorrow, and if I can pick up anything there, that would help. (I don't have a lot of options in Batesville, other than ordering online).

 

Just pull the bubble algae out as you see it. You'll hear folks tell you not to pop it cause its filled with spores which is a myth. The spores are actually on the outer skin of the bubble.

I've used Aiptasia X with moderate success.

 

I agree, Aiptasia X is good if you catch it early, but not too successful if you have a large infestation. Bubble algae never seems to get to the problem stage in any tanks I have had. I have never seen a reason to try to get rid of all of them. When they get big enough just pull them off and throw away. These are things that seem to occur naturally in a reef tank and add the the natural look that I personally like. There are other ways to get rid of them if you want to use emerald crabs for bubble algae or Klein's Butterfly for aiptasia. The best way is to be careful where you get your livestock, quarantine everything, and always dip anything new. Hope this helps you.

 

Thanks everybody. The aiptasia is really not bad at all. About 5 small ones. (And one larger one that looks different than the others). I just want to try to stay on top of it before it gets out of control.

The bubble algae is just a single one. It is on the same rock as my goniopora. I'll try to post a photo tonight or tomorrow.

Neither is causing any issues, but I just want to make sure to stay on top of it. The only dip I've done my corals in is freshwater ro. Mainly just the zoas. I was unsure about doing it to the Lps. Thanks everyone!

 

I don't trust AptasiaX I've used it in a cup with a coral. Watched it suck back into itself squirt out gametes, come back later only to find super tiny baby Aptasia growing. The only sure fire way to get rid of them is to remove them completely and carefully while on the rock if possible.
I have also experimented with super gluing them outside of water then using accelerator then running water over that area it works but you have to be careful, coralline algae will cover it up over time so it won't be an eye sore for too long.
The use peppermint shrimp in large groups and the addition of berghia nudibraches seem to be the only way I see to get rid of these pests. Majano are a bit of a different story. This is my honest opinion.