Coraline Algae growth to much..!

Delatedlotus · Jan 15, 2021

Doe's anyone out there have problems with to much Coraline Algae growth on there tank ( acrylic tank ) and even the snails are covered with it. I just love the color of my snails, but they are just purple. How can I stop this or just slow down the growth on the snails..? I move one on top of the other to clean each other all the time... Help....

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ZoixDark · Jan 15, 2021

you can't, well without slowing down all your other coral growth. Seems like a good problem to have even though the snails get covered too. It's life.

Delatedlotus · Jan 15, 2021

ZoixDark said:
you can't, well without slowing down all your other coral growth. Seems like a good problem to have even though the snails get covered too. It's life.

I am really have a hard time cleaning the tank walls (acrylic) there are some spots I just cant clean... It is just shy of using a razor blade.. I cant get it off.. Good Magnets Algae Free - Piranha Float. And I use it all the time every day. I really don't know is this all good? The back of the tank is just covered, as I just let it go. Way to hard to clean. I did just buy one of those crdt card scrapers. And it doesnt touch a lot of it either..! But NOW it also some green algae that is very hard to remove even daily with the magnet. lost here

Vette67 · Jan 15, 2021

If you figure out how to get rid of it, let me know.

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Juniorh2r · Jan 15, 2021

There's sea urchins that eat.

Tired · Jan 15, 2021

Yeah, it'll do that.

Sea urchins may eat some of it, but can also scratch acrylic. Chitons will eat some amount of coraline, but only in their small area on the rock, they don't go around the tank cleaning.

If you're gentle about it, you can clean a snail's shell with a toothbrush.

vetteguy53081 · Jan 15, 2021

Tuxedo and pin cushion urchins will reduce it but take too much

Delatedlotus · Jan 16, 2021

Vette67 said:
If you figure out how to get rid of it, let me know.

Thats it...... The Back as well..

Delatedlotus · Jan 16, 2021

Vette67 said:
If you figure out how to get rid of it, let me know.

I also just bought one of those credit card holder cleaners ,,, and i just love it. It works if you are very very carful. GET ONE >>>>

X-37B · Jan 16, 2021

The whole back of my 120 was covered with it.
I have 2 urchins that keep it down to respectable levels.
Mine grows quite fast since my carx has been online.
Works well in a glass tank.
I have had acrylic tanks before and its almost impossible to remove without scratching it, imo.
This is the level they have kept it at in my tank now for over 6 months.
It pretty much stays at this level now.

Vette67 · Jan 16, 2021

Delatedlotus said:
I also just bought one of those credit card holder cleaners ,,, and i just love it. It works if you are very very carful. GET ONE >>>>

My tank is glass, so I use a hammerhead magnetic scraper with the blade attachment. But I only clean the front. I leave the 2 sides and the back to grow coralline to feed my 2 rock urchins. Once a side gets covered like that and an urchin wanders over, within about 4 or 5 days, they’d have that side almost completely clean.

Delatedlotus · Jan 16, 2021

Tired said:
Yeah, it'll do that.

Sea urchins may eat some of it, but can also scratch acrylic. Chitons will eat some amount of coraline, but only in their small area on the rock, they don't go around the tank cleaning.

If you're gentle about it, you can clean a snail's shell with a toothbrush.

Tried that just now... Nope

Delatedlotus · Jan 16, 2021

90's reefer said:
The whole back of my 120 was covered with it.
I have 2 urchins that keep it down to respectable levels.
Mine grows quite fast since my carx has been online.
Works well in a glass tank.
I have had acrylic tanks before and its almost impossible to remove without scratching it, imo.
This is the level they have kept it at in my tank now for over 6 months.
It pretty much stays at this level now.

Wow.. Bare bottom I love my deep sand bed... I do, my tanks have been set up never takin down for 23 years now. Never any crashes of problems. Just coralline everywhere... I think all my piping is getting plugged up somewhat I am going to replace it soon... Next big snow storm...lol Your tank looks nice by the way.. !!! Tuxedo and pin cushion urchins I dont know which to get..?

Delatedlotus · Jan 16, 2021

Delatedlotus said:
Wow.. Bare bottom I love my deep sand bed... I do, my tanks have been set up never takin down for 23 years now. Never any crashes of problems. Just coralline everywhere... I think all my piping is getting plugged up somewhat I am going to replace it soon... Next big snow storm...lol Your tank looks nice by the way.. !!! Tuxedo and pin cushion urchins I dont know which to get..?

I have A LOT MORE coralline growth in mine A LOT... Your snails look clean... Mine are completely covered as fast as I put them in there..

X-37B · Jan 16, 2021

Delatedlotus said:
Wow.. Bare bottom I love my deep sand bed... I do, my tanks have been set up never takin down for 23 years now. Never any crashes of problems. Just coralline everywhere... I think all my piping is getting plugged up somewhat I am going to replace it soon... Next big snow storm...lol Your tank looks nice by the way.. !!! Tuxedo and pin cushion urchins I dont know which to get..?

Always had a sand bed.
Wanted to try BB this time.
I have sand in my 45 frag system for my diamond goby.
Here is the other urchin.
Any pics of your system?

Delatedlotus · Jan 16, 2021

Now I have to figure out where to get some urchins for a very, very good price.. Idea's anyone?... And should I get two..? Pin cushions..? One tank on a two tank system (120) grows tons of coralline and the other halide tank (90) doesn't grow as much coralline at all on glass but some on rock (just right amount).. Anyone....

Firefyghter86 · Feb 17, 2021

Delatedlotus said:
Doe's anyone out there have problems with to much Coraline Algae growth on there tank ( acrylic tank ) and even the snails are covered with it. I just love the color of my snails, but they are just purple. How can I stop this or just slow down the growth on the snails..? I move one on top of the other to clean each other all the time... Help.... .

Hey friend. Are you willing to scrape a bunch of that coraline off and mail it to me? I’d be willing to pay you for it. I’m desperate man lol

stacksoner · Feb 17, 2021

I'll buy scraping from you

ScottR · Feb 17, 2021

My tank is only half a year old and is covered from head to toe. People say asterinas will eat but they’re not busy enough. In fact nothing can eat that much coralline. It’s just a nuisance we have to deal with.

This pic was not long after I started the tank. I couldn’t believe how fast it took over. Never had this happen in other tanks. Good luck.

NabberNate · Nov 18, 2023

My understanding is that this is from an abundance of nitrates and long light cycles. Get your nitrates below 5 and it back off the hours of lighting and it should slow quite a bit. Having other corals to absorb some of the food might help as well. I haven't solved my purple problem though so it's just speculation.