Coraline

Couple of questions on cleaning this stuff off of my acrylic tank?

First is there a way to clean it of the tank without damaging it or taking hours to clean it off. I have an acrylic scraper but the coraline just laughs at this thing and refuses to come off.

Second I know good growth is the trick to a healthy tank but is there a way to stop it with out harming the tank. If it takes ten minutes to clean a small spot off then it will take a week to get it off the three sides.

Third what is the best invert or fish to take care of this. Right now my snails cant keep it in check so what is the next best critter to have in there.

 

This is going to sound like an off-the-wall question, but what kind of lights are you using? There are some warmer lights which cause rampant coraline growth (to the nuisance level you describe). Perhaps cooler bulbs? And yes the stuff is a PITA to get off the tank, but over a few weeks and months with different bulbs you might just have it go away of it's own accord. (Reef fish solutions for the mind numbingly lazy!)

 

I am using 10k MH. Could this be the problem?

 

The best way to prevent unwanted coraline growth is to continually clean your tank with a scraper. If you get it before it starts to grow you will be in much better shape.

 

Go cooler if you can, 14k-20k and you should see coraline dissipate. There are quite a few here who have complained about diminishing coraline under brighter light, but your tank is still stable, and safe, and it won't completely disappear.

 

hehe I know that now but went away for training for two weeks and came back and found most of my sides and front covered.

 

Coraline likes actinic light.

 

rose urchins , pencil urchins , and Caribbean urchins live on it allthough they may target your live rock. allso they could damage your acrylic to . i agree w/ gutair man frequant maintance is yur best bet.
good luck

 

I have 14000K HQI and it's not growing on my tank walls. I noticed it grew more when I had a 10000K bulb too. Having T5 actinics haven't changed the growth at all. It grows on the rocks very modestly, but not on the walls. I scrub the walls with my magnetic cleaner whenever I see any growth (no matter what it is) and I haven't had any encrusting on it the 5 years my tank has been running.
I would scrape it off with a Proscraper, and bag that stuff and sell/donate it to those in need.
Kent Marine Proscrapers

 

i put a tuxedo urchin in my tank a while back have since removed it but it was a coraline eating machine he would leave a trail behind of what was once coraline algae