Coraline Alage Issue

[jmoney]

Hi there guys, I used to really not have a problem with coraline algae but now it is simply growing out of control, and It is taking far too much time every week for me to keep scraping the front of my display, I was wondering what you would recommend to help clean this up.

It is a 75 Gallon, with all sps, a few zoanthids, a sebae anemone, 1 very tiny baby humu trigger, chromis and a bi-colored angel fish. If there is a biological way to solve this issue that would be great.

 

[Octoshark]

Some urchins eat it (they eat hair algae too)

 

[jmoney]

can they be detrimental to a tank at all? My only concern is that I don't want them to starve once the glass is cleaned.

 

[Octoshark]

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=497+530+595&pcatid=595 (listed as reef compatible and peaceful from LiveAquaria.com which can be trusted)

I'm not aware of any major negative effects except for the fact that they will eat coralline (but that is what you want so that is ok). Some species can sting you like a bee.

You should do extra research to be safe if you are worried it may negatively affect something in your tank.

 

[jmoney]

I'm only worried about using urchins because I've read that they like to munch on montis sometimes

 

[Shane Hoffman]

I baby sat an urchin for over a year, it was the long spined black urchin....very beautiful and interesting creatuer, he never touched my Montis, another cool thing is if you get a pajama or bangai cardinal fish they tend to follow the urchin around, almost like clowns host in a nem. In the wild cardinal fish use the sea urchin for protection against predators.

 

[jmoney]

Or is there a scraper out there that is easy to use, because right now its taking me at least 20 min a week to clear off the coraline algae from my tank

 

[Octoshark]

I'm only worried about using urchins because I've read that they like to munch on montis sometimes

Possible? Yes.

Likely? Depends upon food availability and maybe the individuals personal preference.

I take it that you have montipora. If this is a concern, and you do decide to go with an urchin, then you could monitor your montipora. If you feel the urchin may be a threat then you could sell it to your LFS.

 

[jmoney]

I do have 2 species of monti, my encrusting superman is very sensitive thats why I worry, are there no snails that might help with this a bit? If there was such a scraper out there that would remove the coralline in a simple pass or two that would be ideal, beacue my mag float is really just not cutting it

 

[Octoshark]

If there was such a scraper out there that would remove the coralline in a simple pass or two that would be ideal, beacue my mag float is really just not cutting it

Of course. I just assumed you would have tried this already when you said you tried scraping it off. In fact, a few weeks ago my friend had some nice maroon coralline that I wanted in my tank so he took his scraper and scraped some off the glass for me to take home. It scraped of in a couple passes just like you say you wanted.

Its the handheld scraper that looks like the thing you use for windows at a carwash (except smaller and different of course). Let me see if I can get a pic of what he used.

 

[Octoshark]

Here we go...

This is NOT the one he used, but it is very similar (I just have to say that so you don't blame me if it doesn't work):

AND GET THE ONE DESIGNED SPECIFICALLY FOR GLASS OR ACRYLIC DEPENDING UPON WHAT YOUR TANK IS!

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=12756

See how the scraper has that razor-like edge? That scraped the coralline right off. It will also depend upon the health of your coralline and how well attached it is. The stuff my friend scraped came off in nice size chunks/sheets so it worked very well.

 

[palmer373]

I have a pencil urchin that climbs all over and eats the corraline algae. he isnt reef-safe but he does work.