Should I remove coraline algae?

[simpp88]

As you can see in my pic the coralline algae is only growing on the back glass around my liverock which is a look I really don't like. In your opinion should I scrape off the glass or wait for the coralline to cover the glass entirely?

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

looks great. Focus on something else!

 

[007rick]

looks great. Focus on something else!

 

[hollister]

Coraline algea needs minerals to grow like calcium. I would let it grow on the back wall and rocks. Also coraline shows you have a happy healthy tank. So leaving it on the back glass allows you to monitor tanks health.

 

[DrBegalke]

I also would leave it.

 

[garygonzales]

i think it makes the tank look dirty lol..use a razor blade and scrape it off....thats what i do tank looks cleaner

 

[pete33]

I read urchins eat it?

 

[neuro]

I read urchins eat it?

In my expierence, they do. Off anything, including rocks.

 

[bugs713]

I asked this same question on here when a friend of mine asked why my tank was so cruddy looking... I explained what that purple/green/white crud was and that it meant my tank was health and happy.

Today I like the crud, but who knows tomorrow how I will feel.... This question does come down to personal preference.

 

[Mark SF]

Personally, I think it is a matter of contrast in aquariums that makes one look better than the other.

I see some tanks and think, meh, looks OK but it is missing something. Often times it should be missing something, and that something is Coralline from the back wall.

As the coralline begins to cover both rock and wall, everything sort of blends in together. You don't get the crisp contrast and it looks "dirty" and more cluttered.

If you do decide to remove the coralline from the back wall, it is much easier to tackle the coralline now before it gets out of control. Once it has covered quite a bit of the back wall it can be difficult to remove.

-Mark

 

[Megatrev62]

I would remove it, it looks unsightly.

 

[Slawdude]

I like how it looks and it only contributes to the overall health of your system so I tend to only clean when it starts to inhibit viewing or on pumps and moving parts.....

 

[surgy]

imo:
this hobby is first and foremost about keeping our animals happy and healthy. and then we are aloud to make a personal preference on looks. these guys say the algae is good and is a good early indicator of water quality. I would leave it. anything that will give you an early warning is a huge +++++++++++++ in my book!

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

looking back at the picture

looking back at the picture

how come no coralline on the overflow box, powerhead or return plumbing?

 

[FTDelta]

Coraline is a sign of a healthy tank. I'd keep it. Gives it color.

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

I'd go nuts if I tried to keep coralline scraped off stuff

 

[jrp1588]

I prefer to scrape it off my back glass. That being said, I don't do it terribly often because it is a pain in the butt reaching around the rock, scraping, dodging my clown fish's teeth, and dodging my tang's spur.

As far as coraline helping your tank, I don't really see how it could. Maybe it sucks up a bit of nitrate and phosphate, but I doubt it's much. As far as being a water quality indicator, you will have plenty growing on your rock. Plus a while back when my RO/DI filter wasn't working right without my knowledge (always use a TDS meter) my corals were STNing like crazy, but my coraline was fine.

 

[erock68]

It's all about how you want your Display to look.

I personally, scrape it off everything except my overflow box. I also clean it off my Power heads, I've been soaking them, every 3 months, in vinager (mounts included)

In this pic...it's nearing time to clean off the power heads. I try to keep all glass, free of it:

 

[rlm2005]

I'm another one who keeps it scraped off the back wall, I just prefer it that way.

 

[spieszak]

With a glass tank, its pretty easy to change your mind. Leave it, scrape it, its all about what you like the look of.
With an acrylic tank... well, it you don't want it, best to scrape it religiously IMO/IME if you don't want it, because it most definitely becomes a challenge over time on acrylic.