Acrylic woes

[carsona246]

Hey everyone, my college has 2 150 gallon fish tanks I'm trying to improve, but there's a huge problem on cleaning up the display glass, it's acrylic. Someone has previously tried to clean off the algae before me, and it looks like they scratched the hell out of the acrylic. this is a saltwater tank, and has some heavy duty algae/corraline algae. There was what looked like a plastic razorblade above the tank ,but I'm really worried about scratching the algae, so I haven't really scrubbed too hard with it. Are plastic razorblades ok to scrub the hell out of the algae?
I've already taken some preventative measures by lowering the photoperiod in the display tank, and started up a refugium. However, I'd like some instant results, and you can barely see through the display tank. Was hoping I could really have at the algae over the next weekend, so I don't have to wait for the refugium to take effect, which could take awhile.

 

[boldtogether]

Scrape away. Dont get any sand between the blade and the tank wall and try to "feel" the algae. The smooth acrylic will be a definate contrast to how the algae feels as the blade glides along scraping the algae.
BTW, dont starfish eat corraline algae?

 

[carsona246]

that's a relief, I'm ready to get rid of all this algae. I have no idea if starfish eat corraline algae, but I'll look into it(first time messing with saltwater). It would be a good excuse to say we need to throw a starfish in there.