Removing coralline algae from back glass without scraping?

[Miami Reef]

I currently do not keep any urchins...but will getting a few help with all the ugly coralline algae on the back glass? How efficient are they? And which urchins are the best at removing coralline from walls?



pics with only white lights on..my coralline doesn’t like rocks;Facepalm

 

[DeniableArc]

g’day from Australia! I would just scrape that of with a blade and a long attachment. The tank looks new and that coralline looks dead or dying mate but urchins may still have a bite

 

[2Wheelsonly]

Seeing my local fish stores display tanks loaded with urchins yet have extremely thick plates of coralline algae on the back glass tells me everything I need to know.

For bigger jobs like that you would be amazed and what a winter car windshield scraper can do. Personally that looks like maybe a 30 minute job with a metal scraper. Once you get it all off just make a monthly thing to clean it off.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Urchin will slowly remove. I use edge of old credit card

 

[Miami Reef]

The coralline is dying because I have this malfunctioning chiller return pump which the propellers get stuck and the tank gets to 82 degrees which kills the coralline until I can get the propellers to start spinning again. I need to replace that pump...

the tank is a few years old. White lights make everything look crappy and new, but I can assure you it’s aged.