Coraline alge...

[Salty Cracker]

My tank is riddled with it. I can scrape the glass every day and the next day it's back. Anything I can do to slow it down?

 

[downbeach]

Are you sure its coraline algae? It can/will grow back, in the right environment, but would take longer than a day.

 

[Ron Reefman]

Downbeach is right, it would take longer than a day to grow back. What color is it? And how long has your tank been set up?

 

[Saltliquid]

Sounds like cyano.

 

[Salty Cracker]

Tanks been going for over a year. And there's no doubt it's Coraline, not cynao. I have to use a blade to scrape it off. Deep purple, not red or black. Covers the glass and pumps. I'll scrape the glass and with in 24/48 hours small patches come right back. I know when you scrape it it spreads the spores. Just wanted to know if there was any way to slow it down.

 

[downbeach]

You could try an urchin, maybe some limpets, chitons. Ultimately, its a good sign that your param's are where you want them for other corals, etc.

 

[BuzzPion]

Define small patches. What size are we talking about? Half dollar or pinhead? Most encrusting algae we see in our tanks grows about 4 mm or so per month. The head of a pin is 1.5 mm. Half dollar 30.6 mm.

Pics?

 

[ericarenee]

Define small patches. What size are we talking about? Half dollar or pinhead? Most encrusting algae we see in our tanks grows about 4 mm or so per month. The head of a pin is 1.5 mm. Half dollar 30.6 mm.

Pics?

This is about right. I actually have bare bottom tank and have monitored it to see of fast it actually spreads.... I scrape it off the top at water level in my tank and along the bottom of the glass every other week but its only just started to be really noticeable...

I would agree with the above that is a lot of growth... Unless its a bunch of super tiny different growths...What one person says is a lot might not be to another....