Bubble algae are one of the nuisance hitchhikers that we sometimes find in our marine aquariums. Bubble algae belong to the phylum Chlorophyta. We most commonly first notice this algae as small green nearly translucent bubbles that crop up on our live rock.
There are many different species of bubble algae, all with different characteristics.We can basically divide the bubble algae into two types:
The macroalgae known as bubble algae forms a single fluid-filled bladder known as a 'thallus' and has a single attachment to the live rock. These are single celled and can grow up to 1-2". The tough outer cell wall made of cellulose is what makes it uninteresting to local grazers.
Types
These algae can grow singly or in groups and reproduce both sexually and asexually. Many of these algae can be identified by their growth patterns on our live rock. Types include:
Valonia macrophysa: usually grows as large bubbles, densely packed so that the algae is club shaped. Usually easy to manually remove.
Valonia aegagropila: typically grows bubbles 3X as long as they are wide. Dense clustering makes manual removal difficult.
Valonia utricularis:forms sausage-shaped bubbles. These are easily ruptured when manual removal is attempted.
Ventricaria ventricosa: the most commonly found in our aquariums and usually grow singly and can grow up to one inch
Dictyosphaeria: this type can be quite aggressive as it forms mats and follows the contour of the live rock and can keep corals from attaching. It has a rough surface.
Another similar but unrelated species is Colpomenia, a brown algae in the phylum Phaeophyta. This algae is typically slow-growing, hollow and rubbery and grows in nutrient-rich environments.
There are many other types of bubble algae including even a red one from the phylum Rhodophyta, however, reviewing all of them would be redundant.
Control
There are only three ways that we can control bubble algae. These include:
Pulling and screwdrivers can be used. I prefer a surgical instrument called a curette. Some use a siphon in the other hand to remove any bubble materials or spores that maybe released during extraction.
Bubble algae can survive in very low lighting and many times you can even find them growing in crevices. They can be removed gently by pulling them off from the bottom, but, care must be exercised. When the bubble matures and gets larger, it can contain spores. Rupturing them can release these spores into the water column leading to further 'infestation'.
Herbivores
Animals theorized to eat valonia include:
Clean water and competition...always a repetitive theme in marine aquarium keeping. Reduce nutrients. Use refugiums and macroalgae. Mat colonial polyps and encouraging coralline algae growth can help.
HTH. SH
There are many different species of bubble algae, all with different characteristics.We can basically divide the bubble algae into two types:
- Smooth: Valonia and Ventriculata
- Rough: Dictyosphaeria
The macroalgae known as bubble algae forms a single fluid-filled bladder known as a 'thallus' and has a single attachment to the live rock. These are single celled and can grow up to 1-2". The tough outer cell wall made of cellulose is what makes it uninteresting to local grazers.
Types
These algae can grow singly or in groups and reproduce both sexually and asexually. Many of these algae can be identified by their growth patterns on our live rock. Types include:
Valonia macrophysa: usually grows as large bubbles, densely packed so that the algae is club shaped. Usually easy to manually remove.
Valonia aegagropila: typically grows bubbles 3X as long as they are wide. Dense clustering makes manual removal difficult.
Valonia utricularis:forms sausage-shaped bubbles. These are easily ruptured when manual removal is attempted.
Ventricaria ventricosa: the most commonly found in our aquariums and usually grow singly and can grow up to one inch
Dictyosphaeria: this type can be quite aggressive as it forms mats and follows the contour of the live rock and can keep corals from attaching. It has a rough surface.
Another similar but unrelated species is Colpomenia, a brown algae in the phylum Phaeophyta. This algae is typically slow-growing, hollow and rubbery and grows in nutrient-rich environments.
There are many other types of bubble algae including even a red one from the phylum Rhodophyta, however, reviewing all of them would be redundant.
Control
There are only three ways that we can control bubble algae. These include:
- manual removal
- herbivores
- environmental
Pulling and screwdrivers can be used. I prefer a surgical instrument called a curette. Some use a siphon in the other hand to remove any bubble materials or spores that maybe released during extraction.
Bubble algae can survive in very low lighting and many times you can even find them growing in crevices. They can be removed gently by pulling them off from the bottom, but, care must be exercised. When the bubble matures and gets larger, it can contain spores. Rupturing them can release these spores into the water column leading to further 'infestation'.
Herbivores
Animals theorized to eat valonia include:
- emerald (mithrax) crabs
- Naso tangs
- Red Sea Sailfin
- surgeonfishes: need large tank space as they grow large; aggressive
- rabbitfishes: grow large; venomous
- urchins: can lay waste to your coralline algae
Clean water and competition...always a repetitive theme in marine aquarium keeping. Reduce nutrients. Use refugiums and macroalgae. Mat colonial polyps and encouraging coralline algae growth can help.
HTH. SH
