How To Remove Coralline Algea (1 Viewer)

[tdmiata]

Anyone here with experience in removing coralline algea from your live rocks? Through my research on the internet, most suggest sea urchin but I'm affraid it will mess with my sps corals. I'm thinking of soaking my rocks in solution of vinegar and r/o water. Any suggestions are welcome..Thanks

 

[karlo]

:? :? Why would you want to do that?

 

[tdmiata]

:? :? Why would you want to do that?

60% of my rocks are covered with red coralline algea. To me, the whole tank looks too redish. My tank doesn't have the color variations like other tanks I have seen.

 

[CBBSteve]

Hi, tdmiata.
Remember, if you have normal live rock like most of us, then your rocks are made of calcium carbonate. Calcium carbonate will litterally dissolve away in a solution of vinegar and water. If you start out with 100 lbs of coraline encrusted rock, you'll end up with about 70 lbs of white rock.

Good luck,
Steve

 

[skeeter76]

urchins eat coralline algae

would love to see a pic of the rock

 

[i_am_poor]

what salt are you using

 

[tdmiata]

Hi, tdmiata.
Remember, if you have normal live rock like most of us, then your rocks are made of calcium carbonate. Calcium carbonate will litterally dissolve away in a solution of vinegar and water. If you start out with 100 lbs of coraline encrusted rock, you'll end up with about 70 lbs of white rock.

Good luck,
Steve

Thanks Steve for the reminder. OK, that option is off the table. Any other solutions?

 

[tdmiata]

what salt are you using

Crystal Reef.

 

[tdmiata]

urchins eat coralline algae

would love to see a pic of the rock

My tank is mostly sps frags at the moment. I'm afraid of putting in a sea urchin and not knowing how it will react to my corals.

 

[CBBSteve]

My tank is mostly sps frags at the moment. I'm afraid of putting in a sea urchin and not knowing how it will react to my corals.

I had 2 diadema's in my 140 for about 4 years. They simply ignored all my corals, including SPS. Occasionally, they would knock over a small rock or frag, but otherwise, no problems...

Good luck,
Steve

 

[xmjxflipx]

lol im trying to grow my coralline algae, i had to buy those blocks or something that were pregrown with coralline and spread them into different areas of my tank, but for months nothing would grow and i would have brown diatoms........I dont use DI water, just a submicron filter on the fridge, never knew that phosphates could severely set back coralline......keke now their growing on my koralias and mag racks

 

[stdreb27]

dude, just sell your rock and buy other rock...

I read dip your rocks in vinigar. And raced to the end hoping you hadn't done that yet. It would have been a funny disaster.

 

[tdmiata]

would love to see a pic of the rock

 

[tdmiata]

One more thing, is that red stuff on the rocks red algea or you think it's something else altogether? TIA

 

[JandJ]

Does the red stuff feel slimy or slough away to the touch? If it is hard and flakes off when rubbed then it is coralline. Algaes and cyanobacteria will be slimy and soft to the touch.

 

[Rick]

I'm sure pound for pound someone on here would love to trade you some LR for your nice coralline encrusted LR.