Film on Glass??

tracyclifton · 01/04/2013, 07:37 AM

I hope this will be a simple question and answer. Is it normal for a thin film, like a green algae to build up on the glass of the tank every 3 to 5 days? I am in my 5th month, water parameters are all good, no hair algae, coralline growing, fish all healthy. The cheato in my fuge isn't growing very fast so I think my phosphates are low. I don't test for phosphates because I keep reading if it is there, the test won't pick it up if it is locked up in the live rock and sand. The film wipes right off with my magnet. The pods seem to like it when I don't clean it. Thanks in advance.

Steve Wright2 · 01/04/2013, 08:00 AM

sounds perfectly normal to me tracy

I use the algae magnet on mine once or twice a week normally

Dapg8gt · 01/04/2013, 08:02 AM

Yes it's totally normal. Some get it daily. And IMO you should test for P04 just to know where you at with your tank. What is common for some is not for others. It's never a bad idea to test. It IS a bad idea to not test and not know when something can be controlled before it gets out of hand.

Josh_84 · 01/04/2013, 08:09 AM

Totally normal, It will happen even more if you ever start adding phyto to your tank. Like you said, the pods love it!

BigAl2007 · 01/04/2013, 08:13 AM

It's normal and part of our tasks. Your tank will go through cycles over time of film algae on the glass (more when the tank and tank keeper are new) to extremely clean glass on down the road.

As you progress you'll hone in your feeding/cleaning skills and you'll probably need to clean less and less. Also bumping up your Clean Up Crew can sometimes help so long as you get the right animals to do the job.

I use the Flipper Cleaner on my glass and wouldn't have anything else. I also get lazy now and again and don't clean mine for a couple of weeks and during that time I too can see pods living/eating in the algae film.

sponger0 · 01/04/2013, 08:17 AM

Normal....just clean it off

tracyclifton · 01/04/2013, 08:23 AM

Thanks for all the great replies. I'll add a phosphate test to my next BRS order. I thought it was normal, just wanted to make sure. Thanks again.

ebacon · 01/05/2013, 08:31 AM

I haven't ride, but have heard good things about the flipper. Personally I like the shark mags, a bit pricey but you get what you pay for, just don't get your finger caught in there!

Dapg8gt · 01/05/2013, 10:05 AM

I got the mag flipper from my wife for x mas and I'm not impressed. My mag float has a way stronger magnet.. My tank is stocked heavy and it's difficult to flip the thing without crashing into something. And the glass scraper is plastic.. I would have liked it a lot more if it was aluminum like my kent hand scraper.. Plus side is the pad is quite large.

ebacon · 01/05/2013, 02:59 PM

Does it clean well? Is the magnet strong? Is your only issue a space consideration?

01/04/2013, 07:37 AM	#1
tracyclifton Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 200	Film on Glass?? I hope this will be a simple question and answer. Is it normal for a thin film, like a green algae to build up on the glass of the tank every 3 to 5 days? I am in my 5th month, water parameters are all good, no hair algae, coralline growing, fish all healthy. The cheato in my fuge isn't growing very fast so I think my phosphates are low. I don't test for phosphates because I keep reading if it is there, the test won't pick it up if it is locked up in the live rock and sand. The film wipes right off with my magnet. The pods seem to like it when I don't clean it. Thanks in advance. __________________ Set up on August 20,2012. 180 gallon All Glass 72"x24"x24", drilled from the bottom with dual mega overflows, Current USA Orbit Marine LED, 3 T5HO, Bubble-Magus Curve 7, 35 gallon sump. Current Tank Info: 180 gallon

01/04/2013, 08:00 AM	#2
Steve Wright2 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Shenzhen PRC Posts: 454	sounds perfectly normal to me tracy I use the algae magnet on mine once or twice a week normally __________________ Turbo snails are you kidding me, even I can catch and remove them from my reef tank

01/04/2013, 08:02 AM	#3
Dapg8gt Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Pacifica Posts: 3,741	Yes it's totally normal. Some get it daily. And IMO you should test for P04 just to know where you at with your tank. What is common for some is not for others. It's never a bad idea to test. It IS a bad idea to not test and not know when something can be controlled before it gets out of hand. __________________ 15 years in the hobby yet still learning every day. 280g radium lit sps flat living in my garage rent free. Current Tank Info: 105g SPS dominant euro braced powered by 4 ecotech pumps and lit by an ATI powermodule controlled by a reef angel =).

01/04/2013, 08:23 AM	#7
tracyclifton Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 200	Thanks for all the great replies. I'll add a phosphate test to my next BRS order. I thought it was normal, just wanted to make sure. Thanks again. __________________ Set up on August 20,2012. 180 gallon All Glass 72"x24"x24", drilled from the bottom with dual mega overflows, Current USA Orbit Marine LED, 3 T5HO, Bubble-Magus Curve 7, 35 gallon sump. Current Tank Info: 180 gallon

01/05/2013, 08:31 AM	#8
ebacon Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: St Charles Mo Posts: 1,084	I haven't ride, but have heard good things about the flipper. Personally I like the shark mags, a bit pricey but you get what you pay for, just don't get your finger caught in there! __________________ Everybody Loves Bacon

01/04/2013, 08:09 AM	#4
Josh_84 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Kitchener, On Posts: 201	Totally normal, It will happen even more if you ever start adding phyto to your tank. Like you said, the pods love it!

01/04/2013, 08:13 AM	#5
BigAl2007 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Waynesville, NC USA Posts: 1,737	It's normal and part of our tasks. Your tank will go through cycles over time of film algae on the glass (more when the tank and tank keeper are new) to extremely clean glass on down the road. As you progress you'll hone in your feeding/cleaning skills and you'll probably need to clean less and less. Also bumping up your Clean Up Crew can sometimes help so long as you get the right animals to do the job. I use the Flipper Cleaner on my glass and wouldn't have anything else. I also get lazy now and again and don't clean mine for a couple of weeks and during that time I too can see pods living/eating in the algae film.

01/04/2013, 08:17 AM	#6
sponger0 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Virginia Beach Posts: 6,659	Normal....just clean it off

01/05/2013, 10:05 AM	#9
Dapg8gt Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Pacifica Posts: 3,741	I got the mag flipper from my wife for x mas and I'm not impressed. My mag float has a way stronger magnet.. My tank is stocked heavy and it's difficult to flip the thing without crashing into something. And the glass scraper is plastic.. I would have liked it a lot more if it was aluminum like my kent hand scraper.. Plus side is the pad is quite large. __________________ 15 years in the hobby yet still learning every day. 280g radium lit sps flat living in my garage rent free. Current Tank Info: 105g SPS dominant euro braced powered by 4 ecotech pumps and lit by an ATI powermodule controlled by a reef angel =).

01/05/2013, 02:59 PM	#10
ebacon Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: St Charles Mo Posts: 1,084	Does it clean well? Is the magnet strong? Is your only issue a space consideration? __________________ Everybody Loves Bacon