please help me remove coraline algea!

[peckhead]

i just got a 90g tank and the back was covered in coraline along with over flow box. it was all dead and i wasnt sure if it was going to come back to life but i would rather establish my own tank and grow my own algea so i removed it off the glass with a razor blade. the problem is i cant get it off the overflow box execpt a little bit chipped off. is there any way that will make it easier to remove? it is really caked on. would letting it soak in hot water help me be able to peal it off. will heat work? any tips? also if i cant get it off and i leave it...will it grow back fast so it doesnt look ugly with a big black patch? thanks all!

 

[sly]

Have you tried scrubbing it with a clean nylon scrubby pad?

 

[bang guy]

Brush undiluted vinegar on it every 5 minutes or so. That should loosen it up enough so it peels off.

 

[wwfstyle]

I use a razor blade. You could try a wire brush.

 

[michaeltx]

vinegar works best without the risk of damaging anyhting.
just be sure to rinse very well.
Mike

 

[gwh57]

I use vinegar for simple jobs, and I keep a 5g bucket with muriatic acid and water for tuff jobs. You can mix muriatic acid at one part to ten parts water and have a very good cleaner which many people use. I clean all my pumps in it and all I do is dip them and then rinse. No scrubbing required. Besure to use gloves. It is a very effective and safe cleaner to use if you use reasonable care with it.

You can just wipe it on your tank glass with a rag and then rinse it off. That should get all the coraline algae.

 

[rbrockm1]

i use razor blades

 

[xdave]

Don't use a razor blade on non glass parts.

 

[peckhead]

Originally Posted by xDave
Don't use a razor blade on non glass parts.
it doesnt work on the overflow anyway.
im going to try vinegar today....it is realllllly caked on though