Should Coralline Algae be removed?

[Fringe09]

I’m started to have Coralline Algae on back glass. Should I attempt to remove it from time to time? I say attempt because when I tried I was barely getting it off.

 

[Crabs McJones]

I leave it saves from having to clean other algae off the back wall, plus it looks cool

 

[Greenstreet.1]

Most reefers like it but it depends on the type of look that you want. If you like to keep your back glass clean then take it off if you don’t leave it alone.

 

[Gomi's Reef]

It's primarily an aesthetic issue. If you want you tank to look like an apple store, get rid of it. If you want a more natural rougher around the edges look, keep it. It will suck up a tiny bit of calc and alk but adds to the natural feel.

This one's down to your own personal preference. My two cents... keep but I wouldn't hold it against you if you wanted rid of it

 

[taricha]

I compromise by not cleaning it and letting a black urchin somewhat clean the coralline algae off the back glass for me.

 

[LetItReef]

Not to hijack this thread but how do u remove coraline algae? I found it difficult to remove even its on early stage.

 

[Palyzoa]

Not to hijack this thread but how do u remove coraline algae? I found it difficult to remove even its on early stage.

If it's on the glass a sharp new razor blade will do it usually.

 

[Waters]

I remove it asap lol......I like the clean, sterile look

 

[Jonathan Richards]

I leave it on the back of the glass.

 

[KrisReef]

I’ve always thought that having coralline algae indicated that a tank was providing a healthy system for marine organisms. Red coralline algae produces chemical cues for coral larval settlement, and I like to see it on my rocks in the tank.
I used to remove it with a credit card as a scraper, but have migrated to a plastic blade scraper for my acrylic tank. Scraping it causes it to spread, as it reseeds itself that way.

 

[sawdonkey]

I remove it asap lol......I like the clean, sterile look

Ditto. I’m not a fan of the look. I clean my back glass with a metal scraper at least weekly.

 

[doughboy]

Remove it before it gets too thick and impossible to remove.

A while back I remember there was a thread where people posted before and after pictures of their tank with coraline and without and pretty much the consensus is no coraline looks better.

 

[Mal11224]

I usually just leave it on the back glass. It's grows fast. I scrape it from all other places. I don't mind the look.

 

[andrewkw]

Pretty much any tank will look better with a clean background. It will give a better illusion of depth and make your corals pop better.

IMO it just looks messy to have coralline on the back. It can be tricky to get off but I still make the effort to scrape it back. Pretty much every "tank of the month" has a clean background. You may say well I'm never going to have a tank of the month quality tank. Well if you start with the tank as a whole it can improve the look of your reef without adding anything.

 

[LetItReef]

If it's on the glass a sharp new razor blade will do it usually.

I have an AIO tank-Innovative Marine, blade might scratch it.

 

[40B Knasty]

It does not need to be removed. It is a personal preference.
Doesn't scraping it off only lead to it growing elsewhere? Think you might need to scrape it and have a psiphon pulling it out as you scrape it off to help reduce it spreading.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Not to hijack this thread but how do u remove coraline algae? I found it difficult to remove even its on early stage.

Razor blade works well.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I’m started to have Coralline Algae on back glass. Should I attempt to remove it from time to time? I say attempt because when I tried I was barely getting it off.

I like it and leave it anywhere I don't need to see through.