Algae on glass

fuzz1974 · 03/19/2006, 06:52 PM

Hello, I am having to clean my glass about every day. My lights are on for about 12 hrs. a day. I have 6x65w. PC. 2-actinic, 2-daylight (10k), and 2-50/50. My actinics come on about 30mins. before the rest of the lights, and go off about 30mins after. I feed either mysis or plankton once a day. Also pieces of krill or silverside to my anemones, brain coral scolymia once a week. My nitrates are 0 phosphates are 0.

I know that cleaning the glass is required sometimes, but everyday!!! Is there anything I can do to minimize this. I have heard the argument for and against UV sterlizers. Would the addition of a UV cut this down some? Or any other advice is welcomed.

Thanks,
Fuzz

splateee · 03/19/2006, 07:17 PM

How long have you had your tank set up for?

You may want to cut back a little on the lights also, maybe run them for about 8 hours.

What are you running for filtration and clean up crew?

From what i understand a UV filter helps with green water, when the algae is suspended in the water colume.

I too am having a major algae problem also, but my tank has been setup for about a month and it is still going through its normal cylce process. I have to clean the glass everyday.

Hopes this helps.

exacta123 · 03/19/2006, 07:24 PM

increase your water flow on the glass try pointing flow outlets directly on glass that should help some also throw in about 5 mexican turbo snails they will keep your glass free of algea

OnTheReef · 03/19/2006, 07:29 PM

It's possible that the bulk of the nutrients in your system are bound up in the bio-mass of algae. Also, be sure to check your nitrates and phosphates *before* you do a water change.

In any case, you need to export nutrients out of the tank before they turn into algae growth. Smaller, more frequent water changes during which you vacuum the substrate, protein skimming and a live refugium are all ways of doing this.

Sk8r · 03/19/2006, 07:30 PM

For glasscleaning, my margarita snails are really very good: two in my 52 gallon concentrate solely on the back glass and keep things under pretty good control.

Louisb · 03/19/2006, 07:41 PM

I would suggest trying to get a Phosban Reactor and filling it up with Carbon. It has done wonders for my tank. Before I added the Carbon I was cleaning the glass every other day. I added the Carbon and now the only time I have to clean the glass is when the coraline starts to grow. I only suggest the Phosban Reactor because Carbon works better if it has a flow of water going through it and the reactors are relatively cheap. It is definitely worth a try.

fuzz1974 · 03/20/2006, 06:11 AM

As far as a clean up crew, I have about 25 hermits blue and red leg, 25 snails astrea, turbos, nassiarius(?), I have an aqua c remora which I run 2 MJ1200"s with.

As far as checking my levels before a water change, that kinda goes without saying doesn't it. If I cut my photo period, do I just decrease a half hour every couple days so they have a chance to get used to it? I usually put those phosphate pads in my overflow so all the water runs through it. Not sure if this method is as effective as a phosban reactor.

My returns, one in each corner are fed by a mag 9.5, both returns hit the front glass, the thing is I get none of this on my back glass or the one side (which neither of them get flow) so I don't understand it.

Thanks for all the input, it certainly gives me a place to start.

Fuzz

Brandon's Reef · 03/20/2006, 06:21 AM

do you have a mag-float I have one and cleaning the glass is no problem. I am also bb so I only clean the glass every other week sometimes less than that.

fuzz1974 · 03/20/2006, 06:33 AM

Yeah I have a mag float, that is how I clean the glass. So the sand bed is causing this? It is probably about 2 1/2- 3" thick.

Fuzz

Brandon's Reef · 03/20/2006, 07:03 AM

Im not sure if your sand is causing it but I was in the same boat as you as soon as I went BB it stopped being a problem. I also have a Deltec AP600 this could contribute to the lack of algea.

iaJim · 03/20/2006, 07:36 AM

I'd get more snails. I was in the same situation, and added a Garf reef janitor crew, and I have had to do very little glass cleaning in two months. I love it.

fuzz1974 · 03/20/2006, 10:06 AM

Thanks, everyone.

Fuzz

sssquake · 03/20/2006, 10:59 AM

cutback on your feeding. Once a day is too much. twice a week is more like it. If you have fish that require feeding once a day than I would just target feed those fish only. Also shorten your 10k photo period without starving your corals. Algae does not like actinic lighting. All this with weekly water change should help. frozen Mysis are loaded with phospate, so defrost first with tank water in a bowl and pad dry before feeding.

03/19/2006, 06:52 PM	#1
fuzz1974 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: indiana Posts: 369	Algae on glass Hello, I am having to clean my glass about every day. My lights are on for about 12 hrs. a day. I have 6x65w. PC. 2-actinic, 2-daylight (10k), and 2-50/50. My actinics come on about 30mins. before the rest of the lights, and go off about 30mins after. I feed either mysis or plankton once a day. Also pieces of krill or silverside to my anemones, brain coral scolymia once a week. My nitrates are 0 phosphates are 0. I know that cleaning the glass is required sometimes, but everyday!!! Is there anything I can do to minimize this. I have heard the argument for and against UV sterlizers. Would the addition of a UV cut this down some? Or any other advice is welcomed. Thanks, Fuzz __________________ 125 with 175# live rock. 4x150 HQI. 8x39w T-5. Sump/Fuge combo with 2x18w PC. Mag 9.5 & mag 5 for returns. ASM G1x skimmer. Check my gallery for pics... Current Tank Info: Plan on keepin LPS and SPS corals.

03/19/2006, 07:29 PM	#4
OnTheReef Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Santa Cruz, CA Posts: 340	It's possible that the bulk of the nutrients in your system are bound up in the bio-mass of algae. Also, be sure to check your nitrates and phosphates before you do a water change. In any case, you need to export nutrients out of the tank before they turn into algae growth. Smaller, more frequent water changes during which you vacuum the substrate, protein skimming and a live refugium are all ways of doing this. __________________ 100 gallon reef tank, 40 gallon sump/fuge combo with RDSB 2x ASM G2 with gate valve mod TLF phos reactor w/Rowaphos, Seachem Nitrate sponge 4x55w 50/50 actinic PC Current USA 0 amm, 0 nitrite, 0 n Current Tank Info: 50 & 100 gallon reef tanks

03/19/2006, 07:30 PM	#5
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	For glasscleaning, my margarita snails are really very good: two in my 52 gallon concentrate solely on the back glass and keep things under pretty good control. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

03/19/2006, 07:41 PM	#6
Louisb Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: South Elgin, IL Posts: 218	I would suggest trying to get a Phosban Reactor and filling it up with Carbon. It has done wonders for my tank. Before I added the Carbon I was cleaning the glass every other day. I added the Carbon and now the only time I have to clean the glass is when the coraline starts to grow. I only suggest the Phosban Reactor because Carbon works better if it has a flow of water going through it and the reactors are relatively cheap. It is definitely worth a try. __________________ Hey Bartender.........Jobu needs a refill!!!! Current Tank Info: RSM 130 housing my pair of Onyx Clowns

03/20/2006, 06:11 AM	#7
fuzz1974 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: indiana Posts: 369	As far as a clean up crew, I have about 25 hermits blue and red leg, 25 snails astrea, turbos, nassiarius(?), I have an aqua c remora which I run 2 MJ1200"s with. As far as checking my levels before a water change, that kinda goes without saying doesn't it. If I cut my photo period, do I just decrease a half hour every couple days so they have a chance to get used to it? I usually put those phosphate pads in my overflow so all the water runs through it. Not sure if this method is as effective as a phosban reactor. My returns, one in each corner are fed by a mag 9.5, both returns hit the front glass, the thing is I get none of this on my back glass or the one side (which neither of them get flow) so I don't understand it. Thanks for all the input, it certainly gives me a place to start. Fuzz __________________ 125 with 175# live rock. 4x150 HQI. 8x39w T-5. Sump/Fuge combo with 2x18w PC. Mag 9.5 & mag 5 for returns. ASM G1x skimmer. Check my gallery for pics... Current Tank Info: Plan on keepin LPS and SPS corals.

03/19/2006, 07:17 PM	#2
splateee Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Flower Mound, Texas Posts: 561	How long have you had your tank set up for? You may want to cut back a little on the lights also, maybe run them for about 8 hours. What are you running for filtration and clean up crew? From what i understand a UV filter helps with green water, when the algae is suspended in the water colume. I too am having a major algae problem also, but my tank has been setup for about a month and it is still going through its normal cylce process. I have to clean the glass everyday. Hopes this helps.

03/19/2006, 07:24 PM	#3
exacta123 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Philadelphia Posts: 352	increase your water flow on the glass try pointing flow outlets directly on glass that should help some also throw in about 5 mexican turbo snails they will keep your glass free of algea

03/20/2006, 06:21 AM	#8
Brandon's Reef Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Orange Park, FL Posts: 766	do you have a mag-float I have one and cleaning the glass is no problem. I am also bb so I only clean the glass every other week sometimes less than that. __________________ Brandon Fields, PROUD HURRICANE SURVIVOR Current Tank Info: 24gallon Aquapod 65 coralife super skimmer 1x150w 14k metal halide on 30g oceanic stand 54gallon corner bowfront RR, Current Outer Orbit 1x150 HQI PC supplemented, ATO, Deltec AP600 skimmer,100 pounds of Marshal Island Live Rock, SPS domintated

03/20/2006, 06:33 AM	#9
fuzz1974 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: indiana Posts: 369	Yeah I have a mag float, that is how I clean the glass. So the sand bed is causing this? It is probably about 2 1/2- 3" thick. Fuzz __________________ 125 with 175# live rock. 4x150 HQI. 8x39w T-5. Sump/Fuge combo with 2x18w PC. Mag 9.5 & mag 5 for returns. ASM G1x skimmer. Check my gallery for pics... Current Tank Info: Plan on keepin LPS and SPS corals.

03/20/2006, 07:03 AM	#10
Brandon's Reef Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Orange Park, FL Posts: 766	Im not sure if your sand is causing it but I was in the same boat as you as soon as I went BB it stopped being a problem. I also have a Deltec AP600 this could contribute to the lack of algea. __________________ Brandon Fields, PROUD HURRICANE SURVIVOR Current Tank Info: 24gallon Aquapod 65 coralife super skimmer 1x150w 14k metal halide on 30g oceanic stand 54gallon corner bowfront RR, Current Outer Orbit 1x150 HQI PC supplemented, ATO, Deltec AP600 skimmer,100 pounds of Marshal Island Live Rock, SPS domintated

03/20/2006, 07:36 AM	#11
iaJim Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: south central Iowa Posts: 590	I'd get more snails. I was in the same situation, and added a Garf reef janitor crew, and I have had to do very little glass cleaning in two months. I love it.

03/20/2006, 10:06 AM	#12
fuzz1974 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: indiana Posts: 369	Thanks, everyone. Fuzz __________________ 125 with 175# live rock. 4x150 HQI. 8x39w T-5. Sump/Fuge combo with 2x18w PC. Mag 9.5 & mag 5 for returns. ASM G1x skimmer. Check my gallery for pics... Current Tank Info: Plan on keepin LPS and SPS corals.

03/20/2006, 10:59 AM	#13
sssquake Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: bay area Posts: 136	cutback on your feeding. Once a day is too much. twice a week is more like it. If you have fish that require feeding once a day than I would just target feed those fish only. Also shorten your 10k photo period without starving your corals. Algae does not like actinic lighting. All this with weekly water change should help. frozen Mysis are loaded with phospate, so defrost first with tank water in a bowl and pad dry before feeding.