Should I scrape green algae off back glass?

WienerDog · 10/12/2011, 09:46 AM

I leav it on there for the angels to pick and they do...often at that. Is it causing a problem? My numbers are OK. My phos is a little high.... .65ppm. I am thinking of scraoing it because I am bored. Will I take away some natural algae from them? My Blenny, angels, and chromis munch on it.

carpenterman23 · 10/12/2011, 09:55 AM

I never scraped the back glass. All my fish, snail, and little starfish feed on it..

frankpayne32 · 10/12/2011, 10:11 AM

I like to scrape it for aesthetic reasons but like you mentioned it could be a good food source for your fish. Also, having the algae growing on the glass will actually help lower the nitrates/phosphates in your water. If you don't mind the look then leave it, it's not hurting anything and is actually helping a little.

b0bab0ey · 10/12/2011, 10:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WienerDog

I leav it on there for the angels to pick and they do...often at that. Is it causing a problem? My numbers are OK. My phos is a little high.... .65ppm. I am thinking of scraoing it because I am bored. Will I take away some natural algae from them? My Blenny, angels, and chromis munch on it.

The algae will actually absorb your phosphates a little bit and is being used by your fish as a supplemental food source. Don't mess with it! If you're bored, find something else in your tank that needs fixing/improving.

WienerDog · 10/12/2011, 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by b0bab0ey

The algae will actually absorb your phosphates a little bit and is being used by your fish as a supplemental food source. Don't mess with it! If you're bored, find something else in your tank that needs fixing/improving.

I am def gonna leave it. They chow on it. In regards to me being bored...I may decide to research the inception and developement of Swedish tupperware trays and their many uses.

Toddrtrex · 10/12/2011, 11:07 AM

I always scrape mine -- like the look of a clean back ground.

BTW -- .65 is pretty high for phosphates. Are you using RO/DI water?

WienerDog · 10/12/2011, 12:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toddrtrex

I always scrape mine -- like the look of a clean back ground.

BTW -- .65 is pretty high for phosphates. Are you using RO/DI water?

I am using RO/DI. I think I may need to get new cartridges.

aleonn · 10/12/2011, 01:05 PM

I usually leave algae to grow on the back of the tank and overflow. I'd address the high phosphate levels, however, and that will greatly improve the algae situation, as well as allow calcifying corals to grow.

Toddrtrex · 10/12/2011, 01:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WienerDog

I am using RO/DI. I think I may need to get new cartridges.

The pre-filter/carbon should be changed every 6 months -- at the most. I personally do it around 3-4 months, any longer and the pressure starts to drop and it takes longer to make the water.

The RO membrane should last for 2-3 year -- even longer depending on the starting TDS.

The DI resin should be changed whenever the TDS is above 1.

What is your tap's TDS and post DI's? What all do you have in the tank, livestock wise.

10/12/2011, 09:46 AM	#1
WienerDog Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Atlantic City, NJ Posts: 980	Should I scrape green algae off back glass? I leav it on there for the angels to pick and they do...often at that. Is it causing a problem? My numbers are OK. My phos is a little high.... .65ppm. I am thinking of scraoing it because I am bored. Will I take away some natural algae from them? My Blenny, angels, and chromis munch on it. __________________ "Winners do what they have to and losers do what they want" Phill 4:13 Current Tank Info: 5.5g Spec V Pico Reef

10/12/2011, 10:11 AM	#3
frankpayne32 Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 1,177	I like to scrape it for aesthetic reasons but like you mentioned it could be a good food source for your fish. Also, having the algae growing on the glass will actually help lower the nitrates/phosphates in your water. If you don't mind the look then leave it, it's not hurting anything and is actually helping a little. __________________ Frank Payne Advice to new hobbyists: listen to people that have a tank you would like to have one day, not to those with a high post count. Current Tank Info: 125 gallon in-wall (build thread is my homepage).

10/12/2011, 11:07 AM	#6
Toddrtrex Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Carol Stream, IL Posts: 23,162	I always scrape mine -- like the look of a clean back ground. BTW -- .65 is pretty high for phosphates. Are you using RO/DI water? __________________ Click my name and then "visit toddrtrex's homepage" for tank pictures Current Tank Info: 210g reef and 65g reef

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10/12/2011, 09:55 AM	#2
carpenterman23 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 181	I never scraped the back glass. All my fish, snail, and little starfish feed on it..

10/12/2011, 01:05 PM	#8
aleonn Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 4,041	I usually leave algae to grow on the back of the tank and overflow. I'd address the high phosphate levels, however, and that will greatly improve the algae situation, as well as allow calcifying corals to grow.