Do you clean your back wall?

[bakbay]

My back wall is a mess. It has a thick layer of brown algae. I’ve managed to scrape some of it off and exposed some cool coralline algae.

So, should I go gang-buster to scrape it, knowing it might come back? Should I get more urchins/snails to help or just let it be?

What do you guys think?

 

[joseserrano]

I like to grow corals on the wall. I planted all those montis on Scott’s original tank he sold to Cali kid.

 

[jamie1210]

I personally hate scraping glass, so I only do the bare minimum, but once I did it just for kicks, and I have to say, the tank looked SO much better because of it! The black really made the corals and fish stand out. But that was years ago, and I never did it again! haha

But I liked what joseserrano suggested too--grow corals on the back. ...pretty much anything is better than brown gunk lol

 

[bakbay]

I like to grow corals on the wall. I planted all those montis on Scott’s original tank he sold to Cali kid.

Nice — I saw that in person and it’s an awesome look! However, it might be a management nightmare, monticap growing into the pumps?

 

[bakbay]

I personally hate scraping glass, so I only do the bare minimum, but once I did it just for kicks, and I have to say, the tank looked SO much better because of it! The black really made the corals and fish stand out. But that was years ago, and I never did it again! haha

But I liked what joseserrano suggested too--grow corals on the back. ...pretty much anything is better than brown gunk lol

That’s right - I did a small area last night. Black background + coralline algae looked awesome! However, it’s going to be a lot of work trying to get to the middle back portion.

I’m not a baller like Jimmy to grow OG Bounce so I’m happy with just coralline algae. However, it’s all ugly brown filth atm and starting to bother me.

 

[Tommy Ngo]

I grow zoas on the back wall.

 

[bakbay]

I grow zoas on the back wall.

I can’t grow zoas for personal reasons since I keep Angels. So before Zoas, was your back wall filthy?

 

[Veinz]

I’m a big fan of a clean background. No algae no coraline algae just a black background. Just makes the tank look cleaner.

 

[Tommy Ngo]

I can’t grow zoas for personal reasons since I keep Angels. So before Zoas, was your back wall filthy?

Before the zoas, there was nothing on it. Coraline and zoas both grew on the back wall at the same time. There was a time when I had bryopsis invading the zoas, but took care of it with Fluconazole.

I like the look of coraline in the back. It’s a good indicator that the system is stable and doing well.

 

[Tommy Ngo]

over crowded jungle at the moment

 

[Greaser9999]

I glued a few pieces of firework cloves to the back wall. Eventually it will get covered and I won't be able to see it at all

 

[banuvatt]

I want to grow things on my back wall because if I don't it just ends up getting covered by hair algae.

 

[REPOWER]

Yes to cleaning every few months. I had GSP several years ago and let it spread until it covered about 80% of the wall. It looked great at first, low maintenance. Peeled it off and it came off in big sheets without much effort annd I have a clean black wall. After that I tried fuzzy shrooms but removing dozens of them turned into a messy job. A couple of years later, when I let the tank go, my Orange Bambams and Scrambled Eggs zoas took over a big section. Getting rid of them was a huge PITA! Now I just let coralline grow and scrape it off every few months - easy peasy.

 

[Greaser9999]

Do we really want to scrape of coraline algae from back wall though? Isn't that supposed to be benefial forcthe tank?

 

[bakbay]

Do we really want to scrape of coraline algae from back wall though? Isn't that supposed to be benefial forcthe tank?

I’m ok with coralline back wall — my problem: brown algae hence I’m thinking of scraping them down or grow something to cover it.

 

[joseserrano]

Nice — I saw that in person and it’s an awesome look! However, it might be a management nightmare, monticap growing into the pumps?

It came off pretty easy. In sheets

 

[bakbay]

It came off pretty easy. In sheets

I accidentally got monticap growing onto the glass and now it’s encroaching the MP40. My WWC Yellow Tips stag grew onto the overflow box and I’m now concerned.

It’s a PITA to clean the back wall full of brown algae.

 

[Xaznkewlguyx]

I do, takes 3 mins with a scraper. Every other month for me, makes the tank look much cleaner. Just the mp10’s get in the way, hoping to swap to an orca in the near future.

 

[rishma]

I actually prefer a clear back, turning a peninsula against a white wall.
But yes I also clean the black panel about once a month. It is a total pain now that things have grown in.

 

[bakbay]

I do, takes 3 mins with a scraper. Every other month for me, makes the tank look much cleaner. Just the mp10’s get in the way, hoping to swap to an orca in the near future.

My tank is 3ft deep so very challenging to scrape — I’m not that tall either so not helpful.