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.

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.

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.

* 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.

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.
;-)

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.

;-)

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.

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

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.

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