removing coralline algae
 

Hello;

I'd like to remove the coralline algae from the side and back glass
panels of my tank. The algae is growing in sheets which are only
lightly attached to the glass, and scrape off easily.

What I'm wondering is what will happen if I scrape it off and let it
sit in the tank. Will it just break down gradually and be removed by
my protein skimmer, or will it decompose and rapidly increase levels of
harmful organics in my tank? Should I remove it manually? I'd say
about 75% of the back glass is covered with it, and about 90% of my
side panels (this is a 55 gal. tank).

Thanks in advance.

removing coralline algae
 

Do you mind if I ask, Why would you want to remove coralline from your tank?
I can possibly understand removing from the sides, if it really interferes
with something, but why from the back pane? I can't wait until my new (four
months old) tank starts to develope it, and am actually trying to encourage
growth. Just being curious.

Patrick


"Captain Feedback" wrote in message
ups.com...
Hello;

I'd like to remove the coralline algae from the side and back glass
panels of my tank. The algae is growing in sheets which are only
lightly attached to the glass, and scrape off easily.

What I'm wondering is what will happen if I scrape it off and let it
sit in the tank. Will it just break down gradually and be removed by
my protein skimmer, or will it decompose and rapidly increase levels of
harmful organics in my tank? Should I remove it manually? I'd say
about 75% of the back glass is covered with it, and about 90% of my
side panels (this is a 55 gal. tank).

Thanks in advance.

removing coralline algae
 

"Captain Feedback" wrote in message ups.com...
I'd like to remove the coralline algae from the side and back glass
panels of my tank. The algae is growing in sheets which are only
lightly attached to the glass, and scrape off easily.

What I'm wondering is what will happen if I scrape it off and let it
sit in the tank. Will it just break down gradually and be removed by
my protein skimmer, or will it decompose and rapidly increase levels of
harmful organics in my tank? Should I remove it manually? I'd say
about 75% of the back glass is covered with it, and about 90% of my
side panels (this is a 55 gal. tank).

Do not worry about it... I woud pick up larger, unsight pieces or
crumble them in my fingers but I would left the rest of scraping alone.

They will naturally decompose releasing some nutrients into the
water but this is not harmfull and we all do this for years...
Calcium residue will eventualy crumble into fine sand particles.

At least I do scrape them from front and side walls, leaving them
growing untouched on the back - they create nice, natural background...

removing coralline algae
 

Just personal preference ... I think it looks good on the rock, but
think it looks ugly on the glass. Why would you want to leave it on
the back pane?

Patrick wrote:
Do you mind if I ask, Why would you want to remove coralline from your tank?
I can possibly understand removing from the sides, if it really interferes
with something, but why from the back pane? I can't wait until my new (four
months old) tank starts to develope it, and am actually trying to encourage
growth. Just being curious.

Patrick


"Captain Feedback" wrote in message
ups.com...
Hello;

I'd like to remove the coralline algae from the side and back glass
panels of my tank. The algae is growing in sheets which are only
lightly attached to the glass, and scrape off easily.

What I'm wondering is what will happen if I scrape it off and let it
sit in the tank. Will it just break down gradually and be removed by
my protein skimmer, or will it decompose and rapidly increase levels of
harmful organics in my tank? Should I remove it manually? I'd say
about 75% of the back glass is covered with it, and about 90% of my
side panels (this is a 55 gal. tank).

Thanks in advance.

removing coralline algae
 

* Captain Feedback wrote, On 7/7/2006 10:03 AM:
Just personal preference ... I think it looks good on the rock, but
think it looks ugly on the glass. Why would you want to leave it on
the back pane?

I think it makes a pretty, natural background. Better than sheets of
one color or those icky pictures you can buy in rolls.

removing coralline algae
 

A pet store near me has an awesome show tank with no coralline on any of the
glass. On my way out a month back I asked him how he does it. He said
something to the effect that his multiple clams and other calcium absorbing
species and rocks keep the glass clean for him. I need to go back and
clarify but I thought I'd give you his info.

Steve is the owner and the one I asked. Very nice guy. You may want to
call him about his "show tank in the back without any coralline on the
glass". Since I'm newer to aquariums you may get more out of his
explanation than I did while walking out the door.

http://www.horizonpetsandfishcom/ Austin, Tx so it's Central Time

Bryan



"Captain Feedback" wrote in message
oups.com...
Just personal preference ... I think it looks good on the rock, but
think it looks ugly on the glass. Why would you want to leave it on
the back pane?

Patrick wrote:
Do you mind if I ask, Why would you want to remove coralline from your
tank?
I can possibly understand removing from the sides, if it really
interferes
with something, but why from the back pane? I can't wait until my new
(four
months old) tank starts to develope it, and am actually trying to
encourage
growth. Just being curious.

Patrick


"Captain Feedback" wrote in message
ups.com...
Hello;

I'd like to remove the coralline algae from the side and back glass
panels of my tank. The algae is growing in sheets which are only
lightly attached to the glass, and scrape off easily.

What I'm wondering is what will happen if I scrape it off and let it
sit in the tank. Will it just break down gradually and be removed by
my protein skimmer, or will it decompose and rapidly increase levels of
harmful organics in my tank? Should I remove it manually? I'd say
about 75% of the back glass is covered with it, and about 90% of my
side panels (this is a 55 gal. tank).

Thanks in advance.

removing coralline algae
 

On Sat, 08 Jul 2006 04:40:02 GMT, "Bryan" wrote:

A pet store near me has an awesome show tank with no coralline on any of the
glass. On my way out a month back I asked him how he does it. He said
something to the effect that his multiple clams and other calcium absorbing
species and rocks keep the glass clean for him. I need to go back and
clarify but I thought I'd give you his info.

If you run a tank that is calcium deficient the corallines stop
growing before the corals do. A lot of calcium users kept in a system
with inadequate calcium addition will produce exactly this effect.
There is detail on this in Delbeek and Sprung Vol 3.

Steve

removing coralline algae
 

Cindy wrote:
* Captain Feedback wrote, On 7/7/2006 10:03 AM:
Just personal preference ... I think it looks good on the rock, but
think it looks ugly on the glass. Why would you want to leave it on
the back pane?

I think it makes a pretty, natural background. Better than sheets of
one color or those icky pictures you can buy in rolls.

I think fish look more natural with a color behind them which simulates
the depth of the ocean, rather than a vertical wall of glass covered
with coralline algae a few inches behind them, but to each his/her own.
;-)

removing coralline algae
 

Cindy wrote:
* Captain Feedback wrote, On 7/7/2006 10:03 AM:
Just personal preference ... I think it looks good on the rock, but
think it looks ugly on the glass. Why would you want to leave it on
the back pane?

I think it makes a pretty, natural background. Better than sheets of
one color or those icky pictures you can buy in rolls.

I think fish look more natural with a color behind them which simulates
the depth of the ocean, rather than a vertical wall of coralline algae
a few inches behind them, but to each his/her own.

;-)

removing coralline algae
 

I like to keep the sides clear but love the yellow polyps on the back glass
of my tank

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b3...f/DSC01301.jpg

Beats the heck out of those fugly pictures on a roll.

:D

removing coralline algae
 

His tank is actually very healthy. He doesn't have a jungle of corals but
the ones he has placed are doing very well. I wish he had a pic of it on
his site.

B


"Steve" wrote in message
...
On Sat, 08 Jul 2006 04:40:02 GMT, "Bryan" wrote:

A pet store near me has an awesome show tank with no coralline on any of
the
glass. On my way out a month back I asked him how he does it. He said
something to the effect that his multiple clams and other calcium
absorbing
species and rocks keep the glass clean for him. I need to go back and
clarify but I thought I'd give you his info.

If you run a tank that is calcium deficient the corallines stop
growing before the corals do. A lot of calcium users kept in a system
with inadequate calcium addition will produce exactly this effect.
There is detail on this in Delbeek and Sprung Vol 3.

Steve

removing coralline algae
 

On Sat, 08 Jul 2006 16:19:12 GMT, "Bryan" wrote:

His tank is actually very healthy. He doesn't have a jungle of corals but
the ones he has placed are doing very well. I wish he had a pic of it on
his site.


Yes the corals can be healthy and growing despite sub-optimal calcium,
I've done this myself, and had tanks with corals doing OK despite no
coralline at all. It just strikes me as a bit odd intentionally
keeping SPS corals in water with less than sea water Ca
concentrations, somehow I enjoy striving to replicate nature, and
think it's a good general principle. And I wonder a little about what
the margin of safety is in those tanks I suppose, how do you guarantee
your Ca stays stable at that 300ish no coralline level, or just dives
at some point, unless you have a buffer zone above minimum
requirements. Maybe I'm taking a simplistic approach, I just see
reefkeeping as trying to replicate NSW and maybe that's old-fashioned.
Hey, I measured my Ca last night out of curiosity, 380, could do
better IMHO. Acropora and a Tubastraea (that we recently brought back
from near death ex dealer) look happy though, me I'd like to see 400
in there if I do get in a numbers mood :-).

Steve

removing coralline algae
 

Nice tank
--
See my web site
http://web.tampabay.rr.com/myreef/

"Xerces" wrote in message
news:aAQrg.128819$S61.23256@edtnps90...
I like to keep the sides clear but love the yellow polyps on the back glass
of my tank

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b3...f/DSC01301.jpg

Beats the heck out of those fugly pictures on a roll.

:D

removing coralline algae
 

Xerces wrote:
I like to keep the sides clear but love the yellow polyps on the back glass
of my tank

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b3...f/DSC01301.jpg

Beats the heck out of those fugly pictures on a roll.

I have a solid light blue background on my tank. If I decide I don't
like it, I can always let the coralline algae take over again.