Killing coraline algea on acrylic

spstimie

Nurse Shark
M.A.S.C Club Member
#1
I have been traveling a lot the last couple years and while my tanks are doing decent, the Coralie growth on the front has been insane. Enter plastic poster board. I created a shield for the front and sides. It doesn't block any corals. Been a couple weeks. I might be able to actually scrape the remnants off this weekend 20230223_110324.jpg

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JodiI

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#2
Huh! Interesting solution!


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jda123

Dolphin
M.A.S.C Club Member
#4
I hope that it works, but coralline can grow with very little light. I have a LED shop light, like the kind that you buy at Sams Club over a 72x30x30 tank with only fish and the coralline grows so fast that it will cover the front glass in about a month - it is 12 watts. Coralline always grew better in the shadows and lower light parts of my tank.

Urchins make it easier, but they scratch acrylic... so not a good solution either. I try and scrape mine regularly while it is still soft. Tunze Strong+ Care (or whatever size is appropriate) is about as good as I have found.
 

MuralReef

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#5
I like the Dobie sponges. I cut off the abrasive part and put it between my magnetic cleaner it’s better than what the regular acrylic cleaners do. Best thing though is a small fresh cut piece of scrap acrylic


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spstimie

Nurse Shark
M.A.S.C Club Member
#6
I hope that it works, but coralline can grow with very little light. I have a LED shop light, like the kind that you buy at Sams Club over a 72x30x30 tank with only fish and the coralline grows so fast that it will cover the front glass in about a month - it is 12 watts. Coralline always grew better in the shadows and lower light parts of my tank.

Urchins make it easier, but they scratch acrylic... so not a good solution either. I try and scrape mine regularly while it is still soft. Tunze Strong+ Care (or whatever size is appropriate) is about as good as I have found.
It seems to be working. Not killing it off, but weakening it a little. It's been months of growth.

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spstimie

Nurse Shark
M.A.S.C Club Member
#7
I like the Dobie sponges. I cut off the abrasive part and put it between my magnetic cleaner it’s better than what the regular acrylic cleaners do. Best thing though is a small fresh cut piece of scrap acrylic


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I may have to try that. I have both. I have an acrylic blade ice scraper too. It just chews up the Kent blades and other scrapers.

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spstimie

Nurse Shark
M.A.S.C Club Member
#8
For the record, this is working. Was able to get most of it off with much less effort than it was taking.

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