Green Film on Glass

Airborne · 01/11/2010, 10:46 PM

Quick question:

What exactly is the green film and or type of algae that forms on the glass? I came home and used my magnet cleaner. I went to the LFS to see the new supply of fish and 2 hrs later the film was coming back.

Is this because there is too much light?

DC_40gallon · 01/11/2010, 11:00 PM

I don't know either and would like to know what causes it. I know it ****es me off lol.

How old is your tank?

Bigshow · 01/11/2010, 11:03 PM

Possibly high nitrates and or phosphates. Can be numerous of types but nothing to worry about everyone goes through this. I still do too.

Airborne · 01/11/2010, 11:06 PM

The tank is 3 months old. Also, I have a Phosban Reactor and when I test, the Phosphates and Nitrates.

Thanks for the input.

Flipper62 · 01/12/2010, 02:29 AM

Its a algae build up.

Light is a great source for growing algae. It can be from the lights being on too long.

What do you have for a CUC ( clean up crew ) ???

You need some Turbo snails..Asteria snails......ect.

These guys will keep the glass pretty clean.

Airborne · 01/12/2010, 10:39 AM

I have about 20 hermit crabs, 7 turbo snails and about 15 Astrea Snails, 2 sand stars and about 10 Nassarius Snails. My tank is 120g 48x24x24.

Should I add more?

lordofthereef · 01/12/2010, 11:18 AM

That is a pretty fast growth rate there. I don't know anyone that DOESN'T need to at least occasionally clean their glass. I personally go at it about once a week when I start noticing a "haze". If yours is growing that fast though I would suspect a high nutrient load, probably from overfeeding, or from having overfed recently.

Piscez · 01/12/2010, 11:27 AM

I'm sure I over feed I have to scrape my glass every 2 or 3 days

mmullaly · 01/12/2010, 12:14 PM

I use those magic erasers from Acme (Mr. Clean clone) to clean my algae off. This thing works miracles. I went from every 2 days to about every 5 days. The way I look at it is, your mag scraper just removes it from the glass and back into the water. The eraser actually will remove the algae and hold it in the sponge. Rinse it with water when done and your algae free, until the next cleaning.

jason71832 · 01/12/2010, 12:20 PM

I would be leary about putting a magic eraser in my tank. You may be showing low nutrient levels when you test because as they are entering the water column they are being rapidly consumed by algae, thus leaving the water column on the low side. You do need more clean up crew, especially snails. Watch the hermits, they have a tendency to assasinate the snails. Make sure you are using good water. Not sure of your lighting but old bulbs can cause this as well as too long of a photoperiod. Also if you have sunlight hitting your tank through a window you are getting a photoperiod all day.

XtremeFromHell · 01/12/2010, 12:23 PM

i usualy have to clean my glass every day or so :/

mmullaly · 01/12/2010, 12:39 PM

I was leary about the magic eraser too until I read a thread on here about it. I've been using this method for 6 months now with not one ill efect. I do agree about nutrients and photoperiod and old bulbs. I run my PCs for 8hours and MH's for 4 hours. I replace the PCs every 18 months and MHs every 12 months. Also skim wet and use RO/DI water.

01/11/2010, 10:46 PM	#1
Airborne Moved On Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Burbank,CA Posts: 574	Green Film on Glass Quick question: What exactly is the green film and or type of algae that forms on the glass? I came home and used my magnet cleaner. I went to the LFS to see the new supply of fish and 2 hrs later the film was coming back. Is this because there is too much light?

01/12/2010, 02:29 AM	#5
Flipper62 Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Naperville, Il. Business Owner, President & CEO Posts: 3,045	Its a algae build up. Light is a great source for growing algae. It can be from the lights being on too long. What do you have for a CUC ( clean up crew ) ??? You need some Turbo snails..Asteria snails......ect. These guys will keep the glass pretty clean. __________________ If todays automobile had followed the same development as the computer, A Rolls Royce would cost $100.00. It would get a million miles per gallon, but it would explode once a year killing everyone inside." Current Tanks... 90 gal Reef... My awesome Office BioCube....( 180 was on hold ..no time ) ... The 180 gal has been sold...Yay..yay..yay. Hobby Experience: 19 years Reef...22 years FW

01/12/2010, 10:39 AM	#6
Airborne Moved On Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Burbank,CA Posts: 574	Cuc I have about 20 hermit crabs, 7 turbo snails and about 15 Astrea Snails, 2 sand stars and about 10 Nassarius Snails. My tank is 120g 48x24x24. Should I add more?

01/12/2010, 11:18 AM	#7
lordofthereef One reef to rule them all Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Leominster, MA Posts: 5,299	That is a pretty fast growth rate there. I don't know anyone that DOESN'T need to at least occasionally clean their glass. I personally go at it about once a week when I start noticing a "haze". If yours is growing that fast though I would suspect a high nutrient load, probably from overfeeding, or from having overfed recently. __________________ "A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than you love yourself" ~ Josh Billings Visit My Home page for current build thread (click my user name and select "Visit LordoftheReef's Homepage" in the drop down menu!

01/12/2010, 12:14 PM	#9
mmullaly Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Feasterville, PA Posts: 97	I use those magic erasers from Acme (Mr. Clean clone) to clean my algae off. This thing works miracles. I went from every 2 days to about every 5 days. The way I look at it is, your mag scraper just removes it from the glass and back into the water. The eraser actually will remove the algae and hold it in the sponge. Rinse it with water when done and your algae free, until the next cleaning. __________________ Nothing like the smell of skimmate in the morning ! Current Tank Info: 155G Bow, 40G sump, Shallow Sand Bed, Mixed Reef, ETSS SumpBuddy 60 Skimmer,6 AI Sol Blue lighting, 2 Vortec MP40w, Apex Lite Controller, Iwaki MD40RLXT Return, Iwaki MD55RLT for Skimmer, ATS, GFO and GAC Reactor

01/11/2010, 11:00 PM	#2
DC_40gallon Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 1,474	I don't know either and would like to know what causes it. I know it ****es me off lol. How old is your tank?

01/11/2010, 11:03 PM	#3
Bigshow Registered Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Paseo District/Oklahoma City, OK Posts: 256	Possibly high nitrates and or phosphates. Can be numerous of types but nothing to worry about everyone goes through this. I still do too.

01/11/2010, 11:06 PM	#4
Airborne Moved On Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Burbank,CA Posts: 574	The tank is 3 months old. Also, I have a Phosban Reactor and when I test, the Phosphates and Nitrates. Thanks for the input.

01/12/2010, 11:27 AM	#8
Piscez Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: PoCo, B.C. Canada Posts: 56	I'm sure I over feed I have to scrape my glass every 2 or 3 days

01/12/2010, 12:20 PM	#10
jason71832 RRMAS Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: DeQueen Arkansas Posts: 182	I would be leary about putting a magic eraser in my tank. You may be showing low nutrient levels when you test because as they are entering the water column they are being rapidly consumed by algae, thus leaving the water column on the low side. You do need more clean up crew, especially snails. Watch the hermits, they have a tendency to assasinate the snails. Make sure you are using good water. Not sure of your lighting but old bulbs can cause this as well as too long of a photoperiod. Also if you have sunlight hitting your tank through a window you are getting a photoperiod all day. __________________ No son, fish don't like cheeto-s. 46 Gallon Bowfront, custom stand and canopy 2-150w HQI's***2-39 watt T5's 9 Blue/ 9 White Moonlights NEW TANK BUILD 156 with a 45 sump Will be LPS/SOFTIE dominant.

01/12/2010, 12:23 PM	#11
XtremeFromHell Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Miami, FL (hialeah area) Posts: 735	i usualy have to clean my glass every day or so :/

01/12/2010, 12:39 PM	#12
mmullaly Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Feasterville, PA Posts: 97	I was leary about the magic eraser too until I read a thread on here about it. I've been using this method for 6 months now with not one ill efect. I do agree about nutrients and photoperiod and old bulbs. I run my PCs for 8hours and MH's for 4 hours. I replace the PCs every 18 months and MHs every 12 months. Also skim wet and use RO/DI water. __________________ Nothing like the smell of skimmate in the morning ! Current Tank Info: 155G Bow, 40G sump, Shallow Sand Bed, Mixed Reef, ETSS SumpBuddy 60 Skimmer,6 AI Sol Blue lighting, 2 Vortec MP40w, Apex Lite Controller, Iwaki MD40RLXT Return, Iwaki MD55RLT for Skimmer, ATS, GFO and GAC Reactor