Im SICK of scraping Coraline!!!

TriniStylez · #1 07/19/2007, 07:09 PM

I am so tired of trying to keep coraline off the front and side glass of my tanks. Especially my reef tank which seems to grow coraline at a ridiculous pace. Its hard to scrap off and I was just wondering what people use...maybe there is some simple solution that Im not thinking of!!!

I have been using a razor blade but even that is hard and you have to really scrap and push hard to get it all off. It use to only be purple coraline but recently I am still getting all the purple stuff ALONG with green coraline....yay, double the fun!

Any suggestions would be awesome!

roshi719 · #2 07/19/2007, 07:15 PM

I use one of the kent pro scraper with the stainless blade. They make them with longer handles wich seems to make scraping tough coraline a little easier.

ihopss · #3 07/19/2007, 07:45 PM

If it isn't one problem it is a nother,I do believe a pencil urchin will eat it.

OmarD · #4 07/19/2007, 08:19 PM

Quit dosing Ca.

Get it early.

I let my sides/back go to whatever; coraline, algae, scum (?) - good snail food.

Gdevine · #5 07/19/2007, 08:30 PM

I've cleaned my glass (mag float) since day one each and every night and have no problem as it never gets a chance to set.

acrodave · #6 07/19/2007, 09:27 PM

i dont know were u can find it i only saw it once .but they have a magfloat that heats up and kill off the coraline

p.s. its not a magfloat. just trying to tell u what it looks like,its some kind of mag scraper

Dubbin1 · #7 07/19/2007, 09:35 PM

I made these out of some spare PVC. They make it SUPER easy to scrape off the nasty pink stuff

Andrew · #8 07/19/2007, 09:50 PM

If you don't want to use a razor try a Therme AT.

SaltyDr · #9 07/19/2007, 09:55 PM

That PVC scraper idea is GREAT!

Dubbin1 · #10 07/19/2007, 09:58 PM

You can't see it in the picture but I cut the slot at an angle and put a relief on it to help clear the glass.

drummereef · #11 07/19/2007, 10:39 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by TriniStylez
I am so tired of trying to keep coraline off the front and side glass of my tanks....

You and me both!

Make yourself a diy scraper like in the pics above. I use one and they work great.

Meisen · #12 07/19/2007, 11:13 PM

There is a product out from Algae Free that glues onto your magnet scraper. Its a razor blade holder that pushes the blade against the glass. It can pretty much do a whole 120 with thick coralline growth in about 10 minutes. Once you do it once, it just takes a few swipes a week to keep clean.

I think premium carries it.....

spleify · #13 07/19/2007, 11:54 PM

Here is a link to there site:
http://www.algaefree.com/easy_blade.html

chris31 · #14 07/20/2007, 12:17 AM

they make razor blades with handles for like $5

TriniStylez · #15 07/20/2007, 02:02 AM

Thanks for all the replies! I feel so stupid now but I never even thought to make a DIY "handle" scraper! I knew someone would have a simple solution...I have just been so tired of reaching in with my arms to get at the stuff. I have been debating just letting it go wild and grow where it likes besides the middle front glass but I really like the clean look without coraline. I may need to slow down on the Ca dosing too. Although I do not let the Ca ever really get any higher than 400...

tkeracer619 · #16 07/20/2007, 02:23 AM

I use a Magnavor Magnet . Coraline doesn't stand a chance to the them.

Don't you guys scratch up your tank with all those razorblades?

Meisen · #17 07/20/2007, 11:16 AM

If you are careful and dont go beyond a 45 degree angle with it, you wont scratch glass with a razor blade. You are more likely to scratch your glass with vermetid snail casings that have developed in your cleaning magnet (yeah, done that).

The stick-on magnet blade is really nice b/c you dont have to get your hands wet and its super sweet for scraping all the way down to the sandbed.

mfp4073 · #18 07/20/2007, 02:34 PM

home depot or lowes, $4 razor blade scrapers. Cheap and easy. In the paint department

barjam · #19 07/20/2007, 03:12 PM

Vermetid snail casings can scratch glass? I did not know that.

Kinetic · #20 07/20/2007, 03:35 PM

if you use a kent pro scraper (I use the plastic bladed ones) at least once a week, corraline will never build up.

Meisen · #21 07/20/2007, 07:03 PM

yeah they have on several occasions in my tank. I dont know why they would since they are (mostly?) calcium carbonate just like the sand but perhaps there is enough other minerals in them to harden them a little. Or perhaps its just the way they grow in the hooks of the magnet-perpendicular to the glass.

kff · #22 07/20/2007, 07:16 PM

My 10G nano overgrows with coralline algae in about a month or two. Rather than scraping it off, I just buy a new tank. Costs about $10.

Dubbin1 · #23 07/20/2007, 07:28 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by kff
My 10G nano overgrows with coralline algae in about a month or two. Rather than scraping it off, I just buy a new tank. Costs about $10.

Well thats a waste of time and money.