Clean tank

[jamiecohen]

hi, i've been tasked with taking care of our 45 gal tank. we have a few small peices of coral and live sand and 6 fish. the tank is five sided and i have problems scrubbing the back two walls. when i put my hand in the tank the small puffer fish attack me not from hunger but i think they're afraid i'm invading their home. any suggestions? any chemicals like those used on freshwater??

 

[mr . salty]

You really should let the back sides grow. The algae adds to water airation,clarity,and gives the fish and other inhabatants a snack.Not to mention it looks natural. Maybe thats why he's nipping at you,your taking his snack away.......STEVE

 

[raistlin]

I am with Sundog and Mr. Salty. You should leave the algae especally on the back wall.It looks natural and inproves water quality.As they said it also is an alternate source of food that can come in very handy if your going to be gone a few days.
Keep the reef,
Raistlin

 

[kmr]

I would like to know what reference material states leaving algea growth is good. I understand that if hair algea is allowed to grow and it is disturbed (even by grazing fish) your releasing even more algea spores. The acceptable algea that should be allowed to grow would be corraline(sp?). If your clean up crew doesn't get all algea (except corraline) off I would assist. As far as algea being good for the water quality your talking algea scrubbing filtration or nutrient export filtration. This should be done in the sump or refugium. Even then you don't want hair algea for this, you would want to grow caulerpa algea. I don't want flame anyone but this is the only place I have seen that suggests leaving algea on the tank back. I personsally think it is ugly and not natural. If you dive you will know this. Look around on the web at lots of reef pics and you will see no algea. Just corraline.
Just my opinion.