Coraline algae out o'control!

renouart · 08/07/2006, 08:14 PM

I'm new to this, but I think I got some pretty good live rock since my 45g tank with a goby and cardinal, zoa and kenya tree, and 9 (surviving) hermits and a dozen snails seems to be very happy in its second month, with never an ammonia or nitrite spike, and nitrates just now to about 5-10ppm. But the coraline algae is starting to grow on the front glass. Even though it is a pleasing shade of pink, I'd like to be able to see whats in the tank. How do I scrape it off, and is it a sign of something good or bad?
Thanks!

sammy33 · 08/07/2006, 08:30 PM

I would just use a Kent Pro Scraper or the likes to remove the coraline.

If your Calcium and Alkalinity are at or above the recommended levels then your coraline will continue to grow.

Coraline is usually a good sign of a tank capable of supporting hard/encrusting corals.

mg426 · 08/07/2006, 09:56 PM

A razor blade works pretty well.

ReefWreak · 08/07/2006, 09:59 PM

A razor blade is the best way that I've found to do it. My nano is making it like crazy, especially after I do a water change. I've got to scrape the glass every week or so. I just started up a 120, and I wish that it had more coraline! It came with LR that's surface was pretty decimated from being in a disgusting FOWLR tank for a lot of years, so it's bouncing back now, but I'm sure it'll take time to grow more coraline and stuff.

How old is the tank that it's already growing coraline on it? And what kind of lighting?

itz frank · 08/08/2006, 01:16 AM

Alot of people try credit cards. Claim it helps keep the bills down.

renouart · 08/08/2006, 04:12 AM

Thanks for the suggestions - I likek the credit card idea. I have a coralife 10,000K daylight and blue actinic compact flourescents, both 96w. They are on about 9h/day.

clord · 08/08/2006, 08:15 AM

why not 12h/day ?

Sheol · 08/08/2006, 09:02 AM

I'm having the same problem lately. My LFS owner suggested switching the position of my actinics. I'm gooing to try it, since I want it to grow. But I want it to grow on the LR & back of the tank. Like him, I'm starting to get reduced visibility in the front..

Matthe

Puffdragon · 08/08/2006, 10:16 AM

I just bought a algea scrapper with a razor attachment from Premium Aquitics and I love it. It is on their front page. Cleaned all of the algea and coraline off of the front of my 90 and 65 in 30 minutes
and did not get my hands wet.

Safir · 08/08/2006, 12:15 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by clord
why not 12h/day ?

I can't speak for OP, but i cut back my photoperiod to 7/day (5PM-midnight) for two reasons - first because in the hot weather we've been having i need to do what i can to keep temp down during the day and second just to save some electricity - my photosynthetic organisms do not seem to be sufering from the truncated photoperiod.

08/07/2006, 08:14 PM	#1
renouart Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Connecticut Posts: 91	Coraline algae out o'control! I'm new to this, but I think I got some pretty good live rock since my 45g tank with a goby and cardinal, zoa and kenya tree, and 9 (surviving) hermits and a dozen snails seems to be very happy in its second month, with never an ammonia or nitrite spike, and nitrates just now to about 5-10ppm. But the coraline algae is starting to grow on the front glass. Even though it is a pleasing shade of pink, I'd like to be able to see whats in the tank. How do I scrape it off, and is it a sign of something good or bad? Thanks!

08/07/2006, 08:30 PM	#2
sammy33 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 346	I would just use a Kent Pro Scraper or the likes to remove the coraline. If your Calcium and Alkalinity are at or above the recommended levels then your coraline will continue to grow. Coraline is usually a good sign of a tank capable of supporting hard/encrusting corals. __________________ Sam Current Tank Info: 125g Reef (TEK/IceCap T5 & TLP LEDs, Tunze 6055/Controller, Reef Octopus NWB200, ReefDoser Quad)

08/07/2006, 09:56 PM	#3
mg426 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: maryland Posts: 6,923	A razor blade works pretty well. __________________ I found a way to make a small fortune running a reef tank. Start with a large fortune. Unofficial President of the SEACLONE haters club Current Tank Info: 125 mixed reef 110 lbs LR, 1x250watt XM 20K MH 2x175watt XM 20K MH on Magetics 2X96 watt actinic PC, 220 watt VHO actinic, 30 gallon refugium, closed loop system powered by Sequence Dart MSX 200 skimmer 38 gallon sump, Oceansmotions squirt

08/08/2006, 10:16 AM	#9
Puffdragon Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Indiana Posts: 297	I just bought a algea scrapper with a razor attachment from Premium Aquitics and I love it. It is on their front page. Cleaned all of the algea and coraline off of the front of my 90 and 65 in 30 minutes and did not get my hands wet. __________________ The definition of an expert "Someone who has done something for so long that they can not see a new way to do things." Current Tank Info: 350 gallon mixed reef system

08/07/2006, 09:59 PM	#4
ReefWreak Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Astoria, NYC Posts: 10,159	A razor blade is the best way that I've found to do it. My nano is making it like crazy, especially after I do a water change. I've got to scrape the glass every week or so. I just started up a 120, and I wish that it had more coraline! It came with LR that's surface was pretty decimated from being in a disgusting FOWLR tank for a lot of years, so it's bouncing back now, but I'm sure it'll take time to grow more coraline and stuff. How old is the tank that it's already growing coraline on it? And what kind of lighting?

08/08/2006, 01:16 AM	#5
itz frank Gives Bad Advice. Join Date: May 2006 Location: Ft Lauderdale, FL Posts: 2,168	Alot of people try credit cards. Claim it helps keep the bills down.

08/08/2006, 04:12 AM	#6
renouart Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Connecticut Posts: 91	Thanks for the suggestions - I likek the credit card idea. I have a coralife 10,000K daylight and blue actinic compact flourescents, both 96w. They are on about 9h/day.

08/08/2006, 08:15 AM	#7
clord Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Langhorne Posts: 904	why not 12h/day ?

08/08/2006, 09:02 AM	#8
Sheol Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Waxahachie, Tx. Posts: 3,610	I'm having the same problem lately. My LFS owner suggested switching the position of my actinics. I'm gooing to try it, since I want it to grow. But I want it to grow on the LR & back of the tank. Like him, I'm starting to get reduced visibility in the front.. Matthe