Coraline Algae

[Casey]

Ok guys this is a problem Im glad to have to ask you about.
How do I clean the coraline purple dots from my front glass my algae magnet just doesnt get them??

P.S. Glass Tank

[mapster]

Oh, poor casey, Just kidding.

I dont have that problem, but I've heard a lot of people use razor blades. Just be careful not to scratch the glass. I have also heard of people using a credit card. HTH

[Rick O]

Razor blade works like a charm. Also a Kent scraper with the stainless steel blade will work but I've found that they can leave tiny scratches.

[Junkzoo]

Ditto on the Kent brand of scrapers,, the stuff you scrape off will "seed" the rest of the tank , as far as coraline,,,,HTH

[nickg]

The Kent scraper is the best I've found. If you don't want it on the sides of the tank, keep it under control now. Take it from me it can be a major scrape job if let go. HTH

[HuBu]

its impossible to clean the coralline off the glass with a regular magnet. since corallines are hard calcium stuck on glass. razor blade or anything with an edge can do it. magnet cleaners are just velcro.

[MontanaRocknReefer]

I won a Algae Free Piranha Float Magnet on another reef board and it runs about $58 and believe me it does clean everything off the front of my glass! Johnny

[Junkzoo]

Originally posted by MontanaRocknReefer
I won a Algae Free Piranha Float Magnet on another reef board and it runs about $58 and believe me it does clean everything off the front of my glass! Johnny

even the coraline Johnny??

[MontanaRocknReefer]

Hey Junkzoo! I never let the corralline algae get very large on the front of the glass and seems to be not a problem with this magnet. I imagine larger spots like on the back of my aquarium could pose a problem! Johnny

[Junkzoo]

Johnny, thanks for the input on the magnet,,my magnets are first generation, and have taken a back seat to my Kent scraper, and razor blade scraper , for the tough jobs,,,,

[Green Chromis]

Hi Junkzoo, magnets will take the corralline off the glass or plexi panels of your tank, I use the Tunze magnets with a sock they sell to cover the inside magnet. Like Johnny said don't let the corralline dots get to large on your glass panes and use a scapper on the bottom inch or two of the glass above your sand bed so grains of sand don't get caught in the sock and scratch your glass.

[Casey]

oK SOUNDS GOOD BUT SHOULD i CLEAN THE BACK OF MY GLASS TO? OR JUST LET THE PURPLE GROW ON IT?

[Mrs Smith]

That's your call. It depends on what you want your tank to look like. If your back glass isn't painted, it will hide the back of the tank. Just be warned that once it is there en masse, it doesn't come off easily!

When we broke down our 90, the back glass was covered, and most of the sides, too. It still hasn't been scraped off, and is going to be a job. Hm... would vinegar do the trick in that case? (*thinking out loud* ...need...to....use...chemistry... minor...but...brain...full ...of...medical...stuff...) aack!

Danielle

[Casey]

I think it will look good all purple so maybe I will just leave the back anyway hopefully when I have to break it down I can just toss the 100 gal to the side and throw the corals in a new 300 gal

[tdwyatt]

Originally posted by Mrs Smith
When we broke down our 90, the back glass was covered, and most of the sides, too. It still hasn't been scraped off, and is going to be a job. Hm... would vinegar do the trick in that case? (*thinking out loud* ...need...to....use...chemistry... minor...but...brain...full ...of...medical...stuff...) aack!

LOL!!! Too funny!

Hopefully you'll never have to take the 90 down, but if you do, empty and rinse the tank, let it dry for a day, especially if the coralline is really thick, then use a putty knife to remove the coralline. Most of it will come off in big sheets/flakes, the rest can be removed with vinegar, or if you're in a big hurry, muratic acid (that they use to clean bricks with). Be careful with muratic, use gloves, resperator, safety glasses, and have a large amoung of sodium bicarbonate solution available. Vary corrosive, very strong acid. When you finish working with the acid, wash the entire tank with the bicarb solution (1/2 cup per gallon of water) and let it wash overnight with running water as a precaution.