Black Eggcrate Leeching

[Eastamherstbias]

I bought black eggcrate from BRS and it has been in my frag tank for about a month. My display tank and mangrove tank show no signs of algae except for on the eggcrate in the 40BR frag tank. It is a brown stringy algae with bubbles. I have thrown in a dozen various snails and they still can't keep up.

Should I pull the eggcrate and soak it in vinegar? Has anyone had this problem?

~Austin

 

[Willistein]

I wonder if it had silicate based mold release left on it from the injection mold process? The algae sounds like diatoms which should consume whatever it is until it's gone and then will dissappear.

 

[Eastamherstbias]

Ha, well patience is not one of my strong suits. I guess I will have to just wait it out.

 

[Willistein]

Hmmm, seems like it may be a common problem. I would recommend pulling it out, doing vinegar soak overnight, and seeing if it helps. This thread mentions it may leach phosphates...

http://www.*********.com/forums/gen...e=17153-white-egg-crate-problems-help-if.html

 

[Willistein]

Also, it appears the polystyrene stuff is bad, and the acrylic stuff is OK. I would wash either one very well first though.

 

[Eastamherstbias]

Apparently it is a snot algae and it loves eggcrate. I still have 2 panes of unused black eggcrate. I will cut them to match the current setup and then dip them in vinegar until next thursday. I don't want to mess with the frags and their placement. It will just be a swap out.

 

[Eastamherstbias]

It claims reef safe (less likely to cause algae growth) and there are 8 reviews all with 5 stars about how great the black eggcrate from BRS is.

 

[Willistein]

Because I'm setting up a frag tank at some point I did a little reading and I think you're smart to pull the stuff out. Good luck!

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

I wonder if snot algae would grow on a piece of granite placed in the system

 

[Eastamherstbias]

If it is leeching, probably.

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

granite doesn't leech anything.

FWIW I didn't believe the reports that white eggcrate was leeching anything and I don't believe reports that black eggcrate leeches anything.

They merely provide an optimal surface for algae to grow on.

The same can be stated about white PVC, nylon rope, nylon window screen and dead coral skeletons.

 

[Eastamherstbias]

I know that is what I thought about black eggcrate. Maybe it was my fault since I did not rinse it before plopping it in.

 

[block head]

black = pvc. we used to use a silicone mold release in the injection mold mfg. i'd recomend donating or selling it to me.

 

[Eastamherstbias]

Here is a thread about granite and the potential problems. Although no consensus.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?p=9321654

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

I ran some granite in a reef aquarium for a number of years and I can tell you that it doesn't grow algae any faster than PVC.
Once you get some corallines growing on the light diffuser algae growth should slow down.

 

[diverdick]

granite doesn't leech anything.

Fwiw i didn't believe the reports that white eggcrate was leeching anything and i don't believe reports that black eggcrate leeches anything.

They merely provide an optimal surface for algae to grow on.

The same can be stated about white pvc, nylon rope, nylon window screen and dead coral skeletons.

+1

 

[Eastamherstbias]

I just read a bunch of threads. I can't buy that the eggcrate is not leeching anything. It may be a combination of ideal surface along with a catalyst. My options to fix it are:

Vinegar
Bleach
Hot water bath
Krylon Fusion

I am going to do the bleach/vinegar option.

 

[Johnny C]

Austin- do you have a picture of the eggcrate with algae? I'm curious to know if it's diatoms or dinoflagellates. I too am having this problem, and mine is much older with a decent amount of coraline.

 

[Eastamherstbias]

 

[toddmh]

Austin- do you have a picture of the eggcrate with algae? I'm curious to know if it's diatoms or dinoflagellates. I too am having this problem, and mine is much older with a decent amount of coraline.

same here..