Coraline overgrowth

[j-cal]

This is most definitely gonna sound very whiny, but I have coraline that is growing too much. I dont dose calc. I used tap (I know ill get flamed here) but I have NO copper NO phosphates fomrt he tap and I like the growth my corals get from the free calc. It seemed all well and good when my snails and hermits became purple from coraline, and no piece of rock that I have is anything but bright purple. I like that a lot. But now its growing on the glass like a weed. I scrape it with a razor blade at least once a week. Id like to solve the problem with something that will eat coraline, but not eat polyps, and will also not destroy all my coraline :-/ Maybe something small that will help with clenliness, but not turn my rock bare. I've heard that urchins can move too much stuff and eat polyps. I've also heard that nudibranchs that eat coraline sometimes eat polyps. Id like something tho. Am i asking for too much?

 

[j-cal]

Am i wanting something I cant have? If I let the tank go a week without scraping, it becomes difficult to see into the tank towards the bottom and sides of the front. I let it grow on the back and sides all it wants, but Id really like to see into my tank. I'm also concerned that if i have to keep taking a blade to my glass Ill scratch the front eventually

 

[bdhough]

there isn't a whole lot that messes with coralline. You could try some of the larger hermits, Look for the ones with the big left claw like hawaiin zebra. They scrape the crap out of rock with that claw and end up destroying coralline algae in the process. I've heard decorator crabs will pull off stuff andstick it on their shell. I don't know. change your water would be one solution. Maybe dilute your water. Cut down on the water flow to the front of the glass. Thats all i can think of....

 

[j-cal]

I'd really like something with a "slimy" foot that might decide on climbing the glass The crabs will eat mostly the coraline that I like I have a feeling that scraping may be my best option cuz Id rather not change my water since its worked so well so far

 

[the claw]

A dozen sea urchins would love to have a party at your house.

 

[smarls]

J-Cal,
you could always just keep scraping once a week and send me the scrapings?
Stewart

 

[jonthefb]

urchins will clean it up but more than likely strip the rest of your tank of the coralline as well....the only one i would reccommend would be the blue tuxedo urchin, but other than scraping, that it!
good luck
jon

 

[beaslbob]

Originally posted by Kipass4130
"oh to have this problem"
Kip: don't you think the calcium from his tap water helps?

 

[nm reef]

Sounds to me like you've established a perfect balance for coraline to grow and spread. That is always a good thing in my opinion...and a indication that your reef is stable/mature...and healthy.
There really isn't much you can do to avoid coraline growth on your display front. But...you can inhibit it from over taking your front view my normal everyday cleaning. I get lots of coraline growth in mine but I also daily run a magnet over the front glass. There was a time when I'd need to manually remove it with a scrapper once a week. But since getting the magnet all I do is run it over the glass daily and it keeps the coraline at bay. Plus you could direct additional current at the front of the display to prevent excessive build-up. Other than that just keep up with normal maintenance and consider yourself fortunate...lots of folks struggle to get any coraline growth...and you apparently have it to excess!
Most of the critters that are reported to munch coraline seem to have as manys cons as pros...myself I'd avoid critters specifically for coraline removal. They just seem to have potential for way more problems than they might solve.

 

[zafirablanca]

Funny, I have the most coralline algae on my glass where the water flow is the greatest. Specifically where I have it directed toward the front glass of the tank. Is this not normal?????
Anyway, I have heard good things about the Tuxedo urchin, also. I plan on getting one.
-Christine

 

[j-cal]

Ok, thanks guy. I think im going to try scraping it today then use my mag float daily and scrape "nothing" I've had that work really well for algae in the past, but I have very little algae so I let the front grow and scared infrequently. Its seems like if you can get algae when its small enough that u cant see it, it never gets to the hard to scrape algae stage. Thanks all who replied

 

[copeseter]

I have the same problem, it drives me crazy trying to keep it at bay. This stuff has made my tank a pain in the ass to keep clear off the glass, by far the most maintance thing I have ever had to take care of on a fish tank.

 

[bdhough]

I though coralline algae likes quite a bit of current? In my experience it seems to grow where the current is greatest

 

[lesa]

wish i had the problem also.