Coroline Algea eating up Acrylic Tanks?

[C. Alan]

I recently purchased a used 60 gallon acrylic tank. The back surface of the tank is black, and the sides and front are clear. There was some old dried up Coroline Algea on part of the back wall and the sides of the tank. I started to scrub it off when I noticed that every where the Corline was, it was leaving small scratched in the acrylic. Is is normal for large growths of corline to damage acrylic tanks?
Thanks,
--C. Alan

 

[2poor2reef]

I hope not. What are you scrubbing it off with and did you re-hydrate the corraline before scraping it off?

 

[C. Alan]

I have been trying to get it off with a damp sponge. At this point, I can't refill the tank and fully hydrate the old Coraline. In the places I have taken it off, it has left behind small circular scuff marks.
--C. alan

 

[2poor2reef]

That's interesting. The only tanks I have cleaned like that were glass. Hopefully someone who has experience will post. Obviously the sponge isn't the cause and I suppose the corraline drying out might damage the acrylic but I scrape fresh corraline off my in-service acrylic tanks all the time and it never scratches. I even have an urchin in an acrylic that rasps it off with its jaws without scratching. Have you used a credit card and worked on a spot to be sure the scuff marks are in the acrylic and not just corraline residue?

 

[myreef]

I have had an acrylic tank for the last 8 years or so and I have never noticed that. Yes, coralline algae can scratch an acrylic tank when trying to remove it, but the coralline itself should not be scratching it. When you scrub it, the algae is getting between the sponge and acrylic and scratching it. I would use an old credit card or a scraper designed for acrylic. HTH

 

[C. Alan]

I do have a plastic tank scraper that is suposed to be acrylic safe. I have been weary to use it. I didn't want to make the problem worse by having the dry coraline caught between the plastic blade and the tank wall. Is there any other way to remove old dry coraline from an acrylic tank?
--C. Alan

 

[myreef]

Try white vinegar and a soft cloth to let the coralline absorb the vinegar the use the scraper. Should come off in clumps or sheets.

 

[Starmstr]

So your a civil engineer and live in Bakersfield? If you are in need of some unbiased information drop me an e-mail I'm well versed in all of the latest trends and methods concerning reefing and definitely won't lie to you like the two local LFS either cls or Darrel’s place. Oh almost forgot drop me a line and I'll give you a good scraper.

My e-mail is [email protected]

[ August 05, 2001: Message edited by: Starmstr ]

 

[C. Alan]

I will try the vinigar solution next. I picked up some novus 2 at one of the LFS. I think if I work at it, I can get the worst of the scratches out of the tank.

One the subject of LFS, CLS is not half bad. At least there you can get some good deals on life stock. I think they are a direct importer.

[ August 05, 2001: Message edited by: C. Alan ]

 

[liquid]

Vinegar works pretty good from my experience. The credit card idea also works. I'd be more leary of getting the coralline caught between the sponge and the acrylic than I would using a credit card to scrape it off. You could always wash the credit card off every pass that you make to keep the coralline off of it.

fwiw

liquid

 

[Anonymous]

OK....here's a stupid question. How can you guys fit your arms through that liitle slot in the top and reach the lower sides and bottom to scrape? I had a 15gal hex acrylic I gave up after a year. Since then I've avoided acrylic.

FWIW- I bought a plastic putty knife at Home Depot for about a buck that worked great on the spots I could reach.

-Greg