Coraline build up - how do you clean the acrylic?

[SaltyTemple]

So I've been reefing for about three years (or is it four, can't remember) anyhow - I'm short and my tank is taller than my reach, and even with the longer handle on my Kent acrylic scraper I can't get the coraline on the lower quarter of the tank. How you DO deal with it?

Thanks!

 

[Quigley]

Get an Elos tank, they are only 21 inch deep, or have your husband do the deep stuff. I'm short too!!!!

 

[CarlaW]

Small step ladders are wonderful things.

 

[Myteemouse]

I've seen people rig up a MAG FLOAT cleaner with a plastic scraper glued to it for cleaning coraline algae

 

[reef18ster]

Algae Free magnet cleaner has a scraper attachment. These cleaners are pricey but are really strong magnets.
http://www.algaefree.com/

 

[TWallace]

The easy blade attachment is not safe for acrylic. I have one that I use in my glass tank (works fantastic). Coralline algae is the biggest reason I switched from an acrylic to a glass aquarium. Scraping coralline off of an acrylic tank is an absolute nightmare and a lot of work. It's a piece of cake in a glass tank, though because you can use a razor blade (which is what the easy blade attachment uses).

 

[SaltyTemple]

SOB! I was so excited about the easy blade Dang it! Lesson learned - NEXT time, (after we move probably) I'll look into a glass tank - seems like the benefit of having a tank that two people can lift is only important for a short time, whereas the issues of scratching and all that jazz makes the long run difficult...

 

[CarlaW]

I believe what alot of people who have acrylic tanks do is clean their "glass" more often than us glass tank folks do, as in almost daily. I noticed that it does prevent the coralline buildup, just a little more daily maintenance tho.

 

[returnofsid]

I agree with Charlie, clean it more often, before it builds up so thick. The acrylic algae magnets work when the coralline is "young." Coralline and ease of scratching are the two biggest disadvantages of Acrylic IMO