Green Bubble Algae Invasion

[marinelife]

I am trying to help out a buddy with his alge issue. Here is his deal:

I just recently set up a new tank. The tank is a 150g deep dimension. I decided to use Pukani rock which I purchased from a reputable reef shop. The rock had been in his system holding vats when I purchased it. So, I take the rock home and cure it for about a month in my 40 breeder QT tank. I then placed this rock in my new 150 set up and ran for approx two weeks before adding my sand. I then began lighting the tank with two 150w MH that I had used on my previous tanks with brand new bulbs installed. I transfered my existing rock from my 30g finnex and the corals over a period of 2-3 weeks to the new tank. I am using the ESV salt mix and had great results in my 30g with it. That is the rundown.
About a month ago I noticed bubble algae beginning to appear on the Pukani rock, so I researched this algae and started manually removing the bubbles. I did make the mistake of not having my fuge set up with macro algae to compete with nuisance algaes. Needless to say, Every piece of the Pukani rock is covered with bubble algae. My Tonga Kaelini rock that I transfered from my 30g shows no signs of bubble algea. I have tried everything that has been suggested to me thus far. Fuge has cheato, running a Octopus sss1000 cone skimmer, carbon, phosban, water changes, addition of emerald crabs and a Kole tang, I have a large CUC and change filter sock twice a week.
Does anyone here have any advice, experience, knowledge of what I can do to erradicate this pest algae? Short of removing the rock and starting over, which I am seriously considering.
All comments and suggestions are welcome.
Thank you
Andy

 

[returnofsid]

First, let's make sure it's identified correctly. Is it Bubble Algae or Grape Caelurpa?

Either way, Manual removal is going to be the best bet. However, be careful not to rupture the bubbles, in the tank. Bursting the bubble will release spores, spreading it even more.

While doing a water change, with the siphon hose, rupture the bubble, sucking up the spores, in the siphon hose. Large bubbles can be twisted, carefully, to break them free of the rock, without rupturing them.

Emerald Crabs are hit and miss. I've always had exceptionally good luck, utilizing them against bubble algae. Others don't always have such good luck.

 

[marinelife]

it is bubble algae. He has been doing that during water changes but they seem to keep growing, we are trying to understand what is fueling them.

 

[returnofsid]

Any excess nitrates/phosphates are going to fuel them. The problem is, with a large algae problem, getting accurate nitrate/phosphate test results can be difficult, as the algae consumes both, sometimes giving you a false "low" test result. He might try using one of the phosphate reducing pads, like Phosban, or something similar.

Manual removal is going to require a lot of time and energy. I think he'd need to spend time, every day, removing as many as possible, until he gets a handle on it.

Just reread your original post and see that Phosban is already in use. Is it being changed often enough?

Is there an RO/DI unit being used?

 

[Herefishyfishy]

I constantly run carbon, use a 6 stage RO-DI unit, occationally run phosban, and have an amazing and oversized skimmer.

I never had any valonia issue until I started dosing with vodka pellets a few months ago. That was the only change to the tank either from or for. The other tank with the only difference being no pellets has no bubble algae. Well there is one difference, the sea-horse tank also has emerald crabs. The larger display has a reef lobster (target pistol shrimp) that was given to me as a gift 8 years ago from my son. It eats all inverts...

Put a bunch of emerald crabs in your tank, they might fix the Valonia issue.

 

[user 26995]

Emeralds dont do that great of job. Once the bubbles get so big they dont eat it. IMO. I do pop some off in the tank and my tang eats them but once they get so big he doesnt eat them either. You probably already know you do NOT want to pop them open in the tank. It will spread like wildfire if you do. If you can pull the rock out of the tank and pop them off without popping them open, its your best bet to battle them.