Can not keep algae off glass!

Mark75 · 07/03/2016, 04:22 PM

I have a 4 month old tank that has the fastest algae growth on the glass I have ever seen! I have to clean the glass every 30 minutes or it will get very cloudy with a brown haze.

I have zero algae growth other than on the glass and similar if not the same brown dusting on the substrate.

I am using 0 TDS water and my nitrates are less than 2ppm. I recently started dosing nitrates due to pale SPS but the algae was there before, dosing has not effected it.

In the beginning I thought it was just a stage but after 4 months I am really getting sick of always having dirty glass.

Any ideas??

MrHyde · 07/03/2016, 05:00 PM

I wonder if an abundance of Silicates is the problem?

http://www.reefcleaners.org/nuisance-algae-id-guide

Sapelo · 07/03/2016, 05:11 PM

Four months is really, really young in tank world.

What size is your tank?
Did you start with live or dry rock?

You could run some gfo (what are your phosphates?) But honestly I think you're probably rushing it. Most of us wouldn't put sps in a tank that young.

ThRoewer · 07/03/2016, 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrHyde

I wonder if an abundance of Silicates is the problem?

http://www.reefcleaners.org/nuisance-algae-id-guide

Guess what glass is made of...

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk

MrHyde · 07/03/2016, 05:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThRoewer

Guess what glass is made of...

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk

So what your saying is that because the glass is made of sand, this is what's causing the OP's algae growth problem? I don't think it works like that.

Mark75 · 07/03/2016, 07:03 PM

Marco rock,...acid bath/LC treatment.

I ran GFO the first month the tank was set-up to pull out any remaining phosphates but did not want to pull out all of the phosphates.

24x24x24 cube w/18g. sump

KMS.Kyle · 07/03/2016, 11:22 PM

I have a 65 gallon tank and I found that in the beginning this is going to be the issue but after 8 months I rarely have to scrape my glass outside of my magnet wiper.

Timfish · 07/04/2016, 09:19 AM

When you wipe the algae off the glass you are not removing it but just putting it in suspension. Two things I do is one: if it's glass use a razor plade to scrape it off in bunches or clumps then siphon it out and second use paper towels to wipe it off the inside using each towel just onnce or twice. Neither will get everything the first time and you will need to repeat it to start slowing it down but you should start seeing it take longer between cleanings. Every tank has some algae growing on the front but as you system matures it should be much less of a chore to keep clean.

Dave0331 · 07/04/2016, 09:26 AM

Mine is 2 years old and to this day I still have the brown film. Like previous post said its just not as much as a new tank. I clean mine every night but can go 3 days really.

Reef Reaper · 07/04/2016, 12:01 PM

May be too much sun shining on the tank

sculpin2 · 07/04/2016, 12:50 PM

Are you dosing iodine or iodine rich additives? I was reading Calfo's book last night and he thinks it contributes to diatom outbreaks.

Mark75 · 07/04/2016, 01:08 PM

Only dosing nitrates and adding Kalk to top-off water.

The speed at which this stuff appears is unbelievable,...I can clean the glass and within 15 minutes there is an obvious "dusting" back on it! If you want to see clearly into the tank you must use the glass cleaner every 10 minutes. Wipe,look,wipe,look,wipe,look!

ClownReef® · 07/04/2016, 01:18 PM

I really think its Marco Rocks. Im going through the same. I was able to control it using Phosban (Even though phosphates are at 0.0) cutting down light intensity and photoperiod. Im going to get cured live rock and throw this one away.

hkgar · 07/04/2016, 02:57 PM

Are you testing for phosphates? They could be leaching from the rock

zeemofree · 07/04/2016, 03:37 PM

What are your parameters? You need more flow so algae can't attach, I your tanks is that young you should be algae free and never ever should have GFO at this point, so how did you cycle your tank?

outssider · 07/04/2016, 03:58 PM

for openers, I'd stop with the nitrate dosing. lack of nutrients is not your sps's problem. Average for glass cleaning is once every 3-4 days. sps will have plenty of nutrients if you're needing to clean the glass every 3 days.

Mark75 · 07/04/2016, 05:32 PM

I have 2 RW-8's running wide open and a Mag 5 for return.

Nitrates where undetectable on a Salifert test, now after dosing less than 2ppm.

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hkgar · 07/04/2016, 05:34 PM

Test your phosphate!!!!

Dave0331 · 07/07/2016, 05:27 PM

What do you guys use to test your phosphates?

hkgar · 07/08/2016, 09:28 AM

Hanna 736 Phosphorus checker
http://hannainst.com/hi736-phosphorus-ulr.html

07/03/2016, 04:22 PM	#1
Mark75 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: East Tenn. Posts: 740	Can not keep algae off glass! I have a 4 month old tank that has the fastest algae growth on the glass I have ever seen! I have to clean the glass every 30 minutes or it will get very cloudy with a brown haze. I have zero algae growth other than on the glass and similar if not the same brown dusting on the substrate. I am using 0 TDS water and my nitrates are less than 2ppm. I recently started dosing nitrates due to pale SPS but the algae was there before, dosing has not effected it. In the beginning I thought it was just a stage but after 4 months I am really getting sick of always having dirty glass. Any ideas??

07/03/2016, 05:11 PM	#3
Sapelo Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: North Georgia Posts: 869	Four months is really, really young in tank world. What size is your tank? Did you start with live or dry rock? You could run some gfo (what are your phosphates?) But honestly I think you're probably rushing it. Most of us wouldn't put sps in a tank that young. __________________ "When the last individual of a race of living beings breathes no more, another heaven and another earth must pass before such a one can be again." William Beebe Current Tank Info: 300 gallon DD, sps, Radion G3 Pros, etc. Too many fish and not enough coral...

07/03/2016, 11:22 PM	#7
KMS.Kyle Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2015 Posts: 216	I have a 65 gallon tank and I found that in the beginning this is going to be the issue but after 8 months I rarely have to scrape my glass outside of my magnet wiper. __________________ 66 Gallon Red Sea Max 250 Melanarus Wrasse, Sleeper Goby, Firefin Goby, Pajama Cardinal, Coral Beauty Angel, Coral Hogfish, Pair Clowns, Urchin, CB/Fire Shrimp, 6 Chromis, Clown Goby, 2 Skunk Shrim

07/04/2016, 09:19 AM	#8
Timfish Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 1,985	When you wipe the algae off the glass you are not removing it but just putting it in suspension. Two things I do is one: if it's glass use a razor plade to scrape it off in bunches or clumps then siphon it out and second use paper towels to wipe it off the inside using each towel just onnce or twice. Neither will get everything the first time and you will need to repeat it to start slowing it down but you should start seeing it take longer between cleanings. Every tank has some algae growing on the front but as you system matures it should be much less of a chore to keep clean. __________________ "Our crystal clear aquaria come nowhere close to the nutrient loads that swirl around natural reefs" Charles Delbeek

07/04/2016, 01:18 PM	#13
ClownReef® Bubbletrousing Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 1,872	I really think its Marco Rocks. Im going through the same. I was able to control it using Phosban (Even though phosphates are at 0.0) cutting down light intensity and photoperiod. Im going to get cured live rock and throw this one away. __________________ Waterbox Peninsula 5526 l Ecotech Radion XR30w G4 l Ecotech Vectra M1 l MP40QDW l Vertex Omega 180i l Tunze ATO l Apex Fusion l DOS l Trident l Ice Cap Scrubber

07/03/2016, 05:00 PM	#2
MrHyde Registered Member. Join Date: Jun 2016 Posts: 99	I wonder if an abundance of Silicates is the problem? http://www.reefcleaners.org/nuisance-algae-id-guide

07/03/2016, 07:03 PM	#6
Mark75 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: East Tenn. Posts: 740	Marco rock,...acid bath/LC treatment. I ran GFO the first month the tank was set-up to pull out any remaining phosphates but did not want to pull out all of the phosphates. 24x24x24 cube w/18g. sump

07/04/2016, 09:26 AM	#9
Dave0331 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: Wilbraham ma Posts: 95	Mine is 2 years old and to this day I still have the brown film. Like previous post said its just not as much as a new tank. I clean mine every night but can go 3 days really.

07/04/2016, 12:01 PM	#10
Reef Reaper Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 34	May be too much sun shining on the tank

07/04/2016, 12:50 PM	#11
sculpin2 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Posts: 107	Are you dosing iodine or iodine rich additives? I was reading Calfo's book last night and he thinks it contributes to diatom outbreaks.

07/04/2016, 01:08 PM	#12
Mark75 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: East Tenn. Posts: 740	Only dosing nitrates and adding Kalk to top-off water. The speed at which this stuff appears is unbelievable,...I can clean the glass and within 15 minutes there is an obvious "dusting" back on it! If you want to see clearly into the tank you must use the glass cleaner every 10 minutes. Wipe,look,wipe,look,wipe,look!

07/04/2016, 02:57 PM	#14
hkgar Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Dewitt MI Posts: 5,051	Are you testing for phosphates? They could be leaching from the rock __________________ Gary 180 gallon, 40 gallon sump, 3 250 W MH + 4 80W ATI T5's, MTC MVX 36 Skimmer, Apex controller Aquamaxx T-3 CaRx Current Tank Info: A 2 Barred Rabbitfish, Red Head Salon, Yellow/Purple, McMaster Fairy, Possum, 2 Leopard Wrasses, Kole, & Atlantic Blue Tangs, 2 Percula Clown, 3 PJ and 1 Banggai Cardinalfish , Swallowtail, Bellus and Coral Beauty Angels

07/04/2016, 03:37 PM	#15
zeemofree Moved On Join Date: May 2016 Posts: 177	What are your parameters? You need more flow so algae can't attach, I your tanks is that young you should be algae free and never ever should have GFO at this point, so how did you cycle your tank?

07/04/2016, 03:58 PM	#16
outssider Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Reseda, Ca. Posts: 1,717	for openers, I'd stop with the nitrate dosing. lack of nutrients is not your sps's problem. Average for glass cleaning is once every 3-4 days. sps will have plenty of nutrients if you're needing to clean the glass every 3 days.

07/04/2016, 05:32 PM	#17
Mark75 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: East Tenn. Posts: 740	I have 2 RW-8's running wide open and a Mag 5 for return. Nitrates where undetectable on a Salifert test, now after dosing less than 2ppm. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

07/04/2016, 05:34 PM	#18
hkgar Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Dewitt MI Posts: 5,051	Test your phosphate!!!! __________________ Gary 180 gallon, 40 gallon sump, 3 250 W MH + 4 80W ATI T5's, MTC MVX 36 Skimmer, Apex controller Aquamaxx T-3 CaRx Current Tank Info: A 2 Barred Rabbitfish, Red Head Salon, Yellow/Purple, McMaster Fairy, Possum, 2 Leopard Wrasses, Kole, & Atlantic Blue Tangs, 2 Percula Clown, 3 PJ and 1 Banggai Cardinalfish , Swallowtail, Bellus and Coral Beauty Angels

07/07/2016, 05:27 PM	#19
Dave0331 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: Wilbraham ma Posts: 95	What do you guys use to test your phosphates?

07/08/2016, 09:28 AM	#20
hkgar Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Dewitt MI Posts: 5,051	Hanna 736 Phosphorus checker http://hannainst.com/hi736-phosphorus-ulr.html __________________ Gary 180 gallon, 40 gallon sump, 3 250 W MH + 4 80W ATI T5's, MTC MVX 36 Skimmer, Apex controller Aquamaxx T-3 CaRx Current Tank Info: A 2 Barred Rabbitfish, Red Head Salon, Yellow/Purple, McMaster Fairy, Possum, 2 Leopard Wrasses, Kole, & Atlantic Blue Tangs, 2 Percula Clown, 3 PJ and 1 Banggai Cardinalfish , Swallowtail, Bellus and Coral Beauty Angels