I'm losing the battle!

[calvertbill]

My problem began the day I ordered my tank. Somewhere in the ordering process someone misread my requested construction dimensions and instead of a 30" high tank I wound up with 36" high. Consequently when doing routine maintenance it's a little tougher to reach the bottom.
As the tank became established I saw the coralline growth and I was pleased (sign of a happy tank, right?) but what started as a few little specks here and there has started to become a constant, hours upon hours battle with coralline algae on the front acrylic of the tank.
This afternoon I scraped (w/an acrylic safe plastic scraper) until my arm got tired (about an hour) and I'd succeeded in clearing a space about 3" by 4". Twelve square inches out of what are probably about 400 which are solidly encrusted.
Any suggestions?

 

[t316]

Now is when you need that mermaid to do all the work. Wasn't it you that was going to do a photo shoot with a mermaid when you first got the tank?

 

[flower]

Originally Posted by Calvertbill
http:///forum/post/3101839
My problem began the day I ordered my tank. Somewhere in the ordering process someone misread my requested construction dimensions and instead of a 30" high tank I wound up with 36" high. Consequently when doing routine maintenance it's a little tougher to reach the bottom.
As the tank became established I saw the coralline growth and I was pleased (sign of a happy tank, right?) but what started as a few little specks here and there has started to become a constant, hours upon hours battle with coralline algae on the front acrylic of the tank.
This afternoon I scraped (w/an acrylic safe plastic scraper) until my arm got tired (about an hour) and I'd succeeded in clearing a space about 3" by 4". Twelve square inches out of what are probably about 400 which are solidly encrusted.
Any suggestions?

Plastic seems to just attract coraline algae...use a Teflon safe scratchy and clear the coraline off the front of the glass...use a handy gadget called a magfloat 2xs a day to keep it from adhering. It works like an eraser, but only in the very early stages...once it is allowed to crust up you need the scratchy or scraper, be careful acrylic scratches very easy

 

[calvertbill]

Originally Posted by T316
http:///forum/post/3101909
Now is when you need that mermaid to do all the work. Wasn't it you that was going to do a photo shoot with a mermaid when you first got the tank?
Yep, that was me!
Too crowded for that now with 11 large Tangs in there.

 

[calvertbill]

Originally Posted by T316
http:///forum/post/3101909
Now is when you need that mermaid to do all the work. Wasn't it you that was going to do a photo shoot with a mermaid when you first got the tank?
BTW, I designed a new one so I'm starting to think about changing my bedroom! It's a squared off U, 30" tall, 17' long at the base of the U, and 9' long for each of the sides of the U. The sides would be 36" deep and the base 72". It works out to 1,924 gals. not counting sumps, lines, etc.
My bed would be surrounded by the U.

 

[t316]

Originally Posted by Calvertbill
http:///forum/post/3102021
BTW, I designed a new one so I'm starting to think about changing my bedroom! It's a squared off U, 30" tall, 17' long at the base of the U, and 9' long for each of the sides of the U. The sides would be 36" deep and the base 72". It works out to 1,924 gals. not counting sumps, lines, etc.
My bed would be surrounded by the U.
If it's 3' wide, how are you going to clean it? Since it's a headboard, I am assuming it would be up against a wall, yes?
Either way, that's a serious tank. You will definately need a build thread on that one.

 

[gypsana]

Originally Posted by Flower
http:///forum/post/3101972

Plastic seems to just attract coraline algae...use a Teflon safe scratchy and clear the coraline off the front of the glass...use a handy gadget called a magfloat 2xs a day to keep it from adhering. It works like an eraser, but only in the very early stages...once it is allowed to crust up you need the scratchy or scraper, be careful acrylic scratches very easy
No Teflon on acrylic! Mag floats also scratch acrylic very easily. Are you getting coralline over night? I need to clean/scrap my tank every other day. The only thing I use is the Kent scraper with the red plastic blade. I have not found any other method that does not scratch. Even with those you have to be careful because debris caught between the blade and surface is a scratch. Needless to say I will NEVER have another acrylic tank.

 

[drtito]

I think some urchins eat coraline , some people avoid them because of that. you might want to give it a try. Good luck

 

[aquaknight]

This seems like a very interesting idea for designing a product. Like some wax you'd apply to the inside of the front panel, that inhibits coralline. I'd have to apply it like once a week or ever other week. Of course non-toxic/reef-safe.
I think I found my get rich quick scheme...

 

[calvertbill]

Originally Posted by T316
http:///forum/post/3102030
If it's 3' wide, how are you going to clean it? Since it's a headboard, I am assuming it would be up against a wall, yes?
Either way, that's a serious tank. You will definately need a build thread on that one.
All sides would have access. Bed headboard faces room. One wing has sump room against it, allothers 2-way visible. All around access from above like this:

 

[calvertbill]

Originally Posted by gypsana
http:///forum/post/3102065
No Teflon on acrylic! Mag floats also scratch acrylic very easily. Are you getting coralline over night? I need to clean/scrap my tank every other day. The only thing I use is the Kent scraper with the red plastic blade. I have not found any other method that does not scratch. Even with those you have to be careful because debris caught between the blade and surface is a scratch. Needless to say I will NEVER have another acrylic tank.
Those are the blades I use and I intermittently wipe them off as I scrape.

 

[calvertbill]

Originally Posted by AquaKnight
http:///forum/post/3102093
This seems like a very interesting idea for designing a product. Like some wax you'd apply to the inside of the front panel, that inhibits coralline. I'd have to apply it like once a week or ever other week. Of course non-toxic/reef-safe.
I think I found my get rich quick scheme...
I'll buy some! Go for it!!

 

[flower]

Originally Posted by gypsana
http:///forum/post/3102065
No Teflon on acrylic! Mag floats also scratch acrylic very easily. Are you getting coralline over night? I need to clean/scrap my tank every other day. The only thing I use is the Kent scraper with the red plastic blade. I have not found any other method that does not scratch. Even with those you have to be careful because debris caught between the blade and surface is a scratch. Needless to say I will NEVER have another acrylic tank.

I know there is no Teflon on acrylic...I was just trying to explain what type of pad to use as there are different grades...just like sandpaper

 

[bullitr]

i have the same issue with my tank although its only 30" tall but with the cabinet blocking the way its more like 40" i can only access less than 2/3 of the tank and being only 5' 9" its very hard . thats why i am switching to regular glass for my next 450 g DT build that is only 27" tall dual view side and with better access on the other side.
current tank

 

[calvertbill]

Originally Posted by bullitr
http:///forum/post/3102415
i have the same issue with my tank although its only 30" tall but with the cabinet blocking the way its more like 40" i can only access less than 2/3 of the tank and being only 5' 9" its very hard . thats why i am switching to regular glass for my next 450 g DT build that is only 27" tall dual view side and with better access on the other side.
current tank
If/when I get the new tank built does it make sense to link my two systems together? I have a 1 HP chiller, lotsa UV tubes linked in series, and of course it's always easier to pollute smaller bodies of water. It would make the final gallonage about 2,600 gals. for both tanks.

 

[bullitr]

i will just have 1 main tank.96x36x27 to fit my existing custom cabinetry. i was thinking of getting a 2 hp chiller from a fellow reefer but decided to stick with current chiller plus fan under neat and works well.i have good sized sump (150 G) so good surface. my house temp can reach 82+ and tank will stay the same even with 4 metal halides on.i will just sell the current tank for cheap

 

[calvertbill]

Originally Posted by bullitr
http:///forum/post/3102758
i will just have 1 main tank.96x36x27 to fit my existing custom cabinetry. i was thinking of getting a 2 hp chiller from a fellow reefer but decided to stick with current chiller plus fan under neat and works well.i have good sized sump (150 G) so good surface. my house temp can reach 82+ and tank will stay the same even with 4 metal halides on.i will just sell the current tank for cheap
For me, it's not just the selling of the tank. It's protecting the corals, the inverts and the fish. I have 11 Tangs (1 Orange Shoulder, 1 Desjardinii, 3 Blue Hippos, 4 Yellows, 1 Purple, and 1 Sailfin) ranging in size up to 8". I figure I either keep the old tank or I don't do anything until the new one's established.
My Master Plan calls for establishing the new tank by doing a rapid succession of 25% water changes (2/week) in the old tank, using the rejected water to fill the new tank adding 90 gals/day new water from my RO/DI. Cure the additional 800 lbs. of LR in horse troughs and gradually add it to the new tank as a base. Divert one of the overflows into the new tank with a 4-600 GPH pump to return it to the old tank.
When the new tank's filled take a piece of eggcrate and divide the new tank in half. Take the fish from the old tank and move them to the new (there's 0 acclimation time because they'd be in the same water). Add the 24 Tangs from QT to the other half of the new tank so both communities of fish can become aware of each other without any altercations.
Remove the egg crate and add the LR, corals, and inverts from the old tank and I'm done!
P.S. I do have a 55 "bad boy" tank in which a nasty Damsel and a large Snowflake reside in a forest of Caulerpa. I could move all that to the 450 and bring it back on line with the big tank. I'd be sort of a refugium and non-medical segregation tank (Maybe add a non-Reefsafe Angel). That way I could use the 55 as a Bangaii breeding tank!

 

[bullitr]

i used to have 4 tank 300,225,120,and 29 gallon.i used my 300 current tank to convert to reef killing lots of acropora and anthias when i moved from my old house.its not reef friendly tank too tall ,too narrow 96x24x30 and not very good access hole.i can only keep one tank per wife and last month i really piss her off when i almost bought a 1600 gallon display tank 96x84x48 made out of 4" acrylic rimless but its not good for a reef unless i have a scuba gear and wife will might kill me for spend another 10k to renovate the house and equipment needed for that tank so i decided not to go with it and 2 days ago when i bought just a 29 gallon for my reef cowfish tank she had a fit.so i will wait until the SPS grows again and just swap the tank in 1long day.