Best way to get rid of coralline algae?

Discussion in 'Algae' started by gabbyr189, Aug 17, 2011.

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  1. gabbyr189

    gabbyr189 Bubble Tip Anemone

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    So me and my boyfriend have a reef tank set-up at my apartment away at school. We have been home for the summer and went up every week to check on it/fill up the bucket for the top-off. The only thing we have been slacking on is scraping off the coralline algae from the front glass. It has pretty much gotten to the point that we cannot even SEE into our 40g tank anymore, and we are dreading breaking our arms to scrape it off. We only have the cheapest scraper we could find, and are looking for an upgrade. What is the best tool to get coralline algae off?
     
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  3. Newreef15

    Newreef15 Horrid Stonefish

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    Is the tank acrylic or glass ?
     
  4. gabbyr189

    gabbyr189 Bubble Tip Anemone

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    Glass.. Sorry probably should have mentioned that
     
  5. Newreef15

    Newreef15 Horrid Stonefish

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    razor blade get it right off super easy

    this is funny cuz i have a acrylic tank and it took me about a hour to clean the sides today with a plastic razor it ssssssssuuuuuuuuccccccckkkkkkkkssssssssss lol your lucky u gave glass
     
  6. JJL

    JJL Purple Tang

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    An urchin is probably the best way if there is too much algae in difficult to get to spots.
     
  7. Thatgrimguy

    Thatgrimguy Flying Squid

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    +1 Razor blade is cheap and effective!! Don't cut into the silicon on the edges too much though.
     
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  9. gabbyr189

    gabbyr189 Bubble Tip Anemone

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    I'm just scared I'm going to break the glass, the tank itself is pretty old, we bought it used. Is it necessary to buy one that is meant for glass/fish tanks? Or will any one work?
     
  10. Thatgrimguy

    Thatgrimguy Flying Squid

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    Any new one! You won't break the glass. Just gently run the edge of the razer across the coralline. Take it slow, but really it's hard to mess up.
     
  11. vankirk

    vankirk Sea Dragon

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    I made this so that I wouldn't have to stick my hands in the tank as much.
    It's made from a wood dowel and some utility blades, I got them at Lowes.
    I cut a slot with a hack saw blade, insert a blade and super glue it. When the blade gets old or rusty I just cut off the end of the dowel with the blade still attached. And start a new slot.
     

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  12. Newreef15

    Newreef15 Horrid Stonefish

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    just find a spot with no algea and run down to the sand bed and you can use any razor blad will work but they do sell special blades with handles that make it eaier Tom Algae Scraper

    take before and after pics its fun lol