Coralline algae on glass - unusual?

renouart · 09/24/2006, 06:39 AM

I have a 45gal tank that I stocked with 50lb of cured rock. The rock was well covered with coralline, and it has continued to spread, which is great. But this inlcudes the fron glass, which I have to scrape every two weeks if I want to be able to see into the tank! Is this expected, or does anyone think I have something out of whack with my setup or water parameters? The calcium level ranges about 350-400. Thanks.

fsn77 · 09/24/2006, 06:47 AM

Coralline algae will grow wherever it can / wants. There's really not a way to prevent it from growing on the glass. Most of us are just forced to scrape it off the places we don't want it.

Hoggn · 09/24/2006, 08:19 AM

Welcome to the world of SW... we all scrape glass to see into the tank....

DrBDC · 09/24/2006, 08:54 AM

Be glad you get to go 2 weeks between scrapings!

rigleautomotive · 09/24/2006, 09:01 AM

if you have subdued lighting it will grow fster than if you have intense lighting.it grows better in shaded areas of brightly lit tanks.it grows everywhere in tanks lit totally by floresants

sir_dudeguy · 09/24/2006, 09:33 AM

ya if your calcium and mag levels (i think its mag) are in the right ranges, then the coraline is just gonna take off.

You could also get an urchin, which one of its main foods is coraline. However then you risk it eating the stuff on the rocks too.

courtneyclv · 09/24/2006, 01:08 PM

My silicone is bright green, like coralline algae. How can I get the stains off? I scrape, but the silicone is still bright, neon flourescent color.

sir_dudeguy · 09/24/2006, 01:28 PM

dont scrape the silicone. That could ruin your tank for sure if you break the seem from scraping it lol. But you more than likely wont get it of. Sometimes urchins will eat it off that, other times it will just die out. I'd just leave it.

09/24/2006, 06:39 AM	#1
renouart Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Connecticut Posts: 91	Coralline algae on glass - unusual? I have a 45gal tank that I stocked with 50lb of cured rock. The rock was well covered with coralline, and it has continued to spread, which is great. But this inlcudes the fron glass, which I have to scrape every two weeks if I want to be able to see into the tank! Is this expected, or does anyone think I have something out of whack with my setup or water parameters? The calcium level ranges about 350-400. Thanks.

09/24/2006, 08:54 AM	#4
DrBDC Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Ballwin, Missouri Posts: 10,358	Be glad you get to go 2 weeks between scrapings! __________________ Some drink at the fountain of knowledge, some just gargle, but most are rabid. Current Tank Info: 180g sps+75 softy/lps on one system tunze's, seio's, mjmods, aquacontroller w/add ons, 2X400 XM10000 and 3X160 vho actinic, 110g sump, 110 frag tank, Geo Beckett and other stuff

09/24/2006, 09:01 AM	#5
rigleautomotive Premium Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Northeast Pennsylvania Posts: 3,705	if you have subdued lighting it will grow fster than if you have intense lighting.it grows better in shaded areas of brightly lit tanks.it grows everywhere in tanks lit totally by floresants __________________ Dan Rigle President, * Reef Conservation Society TOTM December 2010 Coral Magazine Sept/Oct 2012 Current Tank Info: 180 gal SPS dominated display, 3 X 250 watt Radiums , lumenarc III minis , with VHO actinics, ETS downdraft skimmers, closed loops and 2 Tunze 6105 & 7095 controller,DIY calcium reactors DIY custom built sumps,since 1992

09/24/2006, 09:33 AM	#6
sir_dudeguy Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 10,841	ya if your calcium and mag levels (i think its mag) are in the right ranges, then the coraline is just gonna take off. You could also get an urchin, which one of its main foods is coraline. However then you risk it eating the stuff on the rocks too. __________________ TAKE...LUCK!!!

09/24/2006, 01:08 PM	#7
courtneyclv Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 188	My silicone is bright green, like coralline algae. How can I get the stains off? I scrape, but the silicone is still bright, neon flourescent color. __________________ Send me a private message if you have any newbie advice to give. ;) Patience is a virtue..that I do not have..but I'm working on it! Current Tank Info: 80 gallon long and short, power filter for 10 gal, fluval 305 canister filter, powerhead, sand substrate,51 lbs live rock, 1 sand sifting sea star, snails,all in display tank. foxface has ich again

09/24/2006, 06:47 AM	#2
fsn77 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: SC Posts: 777	Coralline algae will grow wherever it can / wants. There's really not a way to prevent it from growing on the glass. Most of us are just forced to scrape it off the places we don't want it.

09/24/2006, 08:19 AM	#3
Hoggn Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Lost Posts: 785	Welcome to the world of SW... we all scrape glass to see into the tank....

09/24/2006, 01:28 PM	#8
sir_dudeguy Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 10,841	dont scrape the silicone. That could ruin your tank for sure if you break the seem from scraping it lol. But you more than likely wont get it of. Sometimes urchins will eat it off that, other times it will just die out. I'd just leave it. __________________ TAKE...LUCK!!!