how many people do this?

heliguy71 · 12/07/2009, 11:11 AM

how many people leave the algae on the back of their tanks for fish,snails,etc. and will it hurt anything to leave algae on the back of the tank down the road.

Nor_Cal_Guy · 12/07/2009, 11:14 AM

I have always left it, many of my friends do as well. It's fun to glue frags on back glass and watch them grow on glass.

asl4me76 · 12/07/2009, 11:15 AM

No, your cleanup crew has to have something to eat

However, I think that when having a back panel and it is painted or covered in black, it sticks out in pictures.

So, I like to clean as much as I can off of there and let them scavage for it on the rocks and etc.

Metal Man 1221 · 12/07/2009, 11:32 AM

i just leave the back of my tank when i clean the glass, when algae builds up you can start to see trails from my snails, urchins, etc. other wise they dont get much food lol

s.reef · 12/07/2009, 11:48 AM

I keep mine algae free

grammatron · 12/07/2009, 11:50 AM

Even if I wanted to clean mine, it would be such a pain to scrape down given the location of my tank. I leave it for the snails, and try to keep the front and sides clean for viewing.

SecGenGSX · 12/07/2009, 11:51 AM

I do both. I clean the top half that you can see when looking straight on and leave the stuff behind the rocks. Get best of both worlds I guess...

tufacody · 12/07/2009, 12:23 PM

Hmmm. I don't clean, and the back wall has become coralline encrusted and algae won't grow on it. I think I am one of the few people who feel that the coralline encrusted back wall visually looks more natural and appealing than stark black or blue.

grammatron · 12/07/2009, 01:11 PM

I agree with that, tufacody. My current 90g is still pretty new, so the coraline hasn't really started up yet, but the back isn't painted at all.

maroun.c · 12/07/2009, 01:39 PM

I always thought that a back glass covered with coraline would look more natural. and left my tank for 1 year without cleaning the back. cleaned it jsut before braking down the tank before a move and you can't believe the difference. on comapring the pics and the look i can only say it was filthy.
A frined of mine never cleans his backglass from alga (he doesn't have coraling just alga) on the back glass and it looks more real than coraline alga.

mitsurs01 · 12/07/2009, 01:47 PM

I have had mine up for just over a year now and have never touched the back glass or left side glass. I have a blue background on the back and left side to block sunlight from hitting the tank. There is substantial coraline grown the the glass and I think it looks definately more natural that way.

TeePee · 12/07/2009, 01:47 PM

I don't clean mine due to the fact that its such a PITA to get at it. It doesn't look bad however. I have one of those mini-tunzes that I keep low in the tank and blow right along the back panel to make it hard for algae to take hold.

Shorasp30 · 12/07/2009, 01:52 PM

I clean mine occassionally but only if it gets out of control.

12/07/2009, 11:11 AM	#1
heliguy71 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: larsen,wisconsin Posts: 81	how many people do this? how many people leave the algae on the back of their tanks for fish,snails,etc. and will it hurt anything to leave algae on the back of the tank down the road.

12/07/2009, 11:32 AM	#4
Metal Man 1221 FMMAS Executive Director Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Fargo ND Posts: 1,504	i just leave the back of my tank when i clean the glass, when algae builds up you can start to see trails from my snails, urchins, etc. other wise they dont get much food lol __________________ "My advise is, always look at their aquarium before you take their advise. Because alot of people give advise and they havnt got a clue" ~David Saxby~ "Only after the last tree's cut and the last river poisoned only after the last fish is caught will you find that money cannot be eaten" ~Lamb of God~ Current Tank Info: 125g DT, 45g sump ---- 57g Illuminata, custom sump

12/07/2009, 01:39 PM	#10
maroun.c Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Lebanon Posts: 6,111	I always thought that a back glass covered with coraline would look more natural. and left my tank for 1 year without cleaning the back. cleaned it jsut before braking down the tank before a move and you can't believe the difference. on comapring the pics and the look i can only say it was filthy. A frined of mine never cleans his backglass from alga (he doesn't have coraling just alga) on the back glass and it looks more real than coraline alga. __________________ 390 G mixed reef build Current Tank Info: 390G mixed reef

12/07/2009, 11:14 AM	#2
Nor_Cal_Guy Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: NorCal Posts: 300	I have always left it, many of my friends do as well. It's fun to glue frags on back glass and watch them grow on glass.

12/07/2009, 11:15 AM	#3
asl4me76 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Southeast Oklahoma Posts: 575	No, your cleanup crew has to have something to eat However, I think that when having a back panel and it is painted or covered in black, it sticks out in pictures. So, I like to clean as much as I can off of there and let them scavage for it on the rocks and etc.

12/07/2009, 11:48 AM	#5
s.reef Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Michigan Posts: 269	I keep mine algae free

12/07/2009, 11:50 AM	#6
grammatron Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 51	Even if I wanted to clean mine, it would be such a pain to scrape down given the location of my tank. I leave it for the snails, and try to keep the front and sides clean for viewing.

12/07/2009, 11:51 AM	#7
SecGenGSX Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Murrysville, PA Posts: 156	I do both. I clean the top half that you can see when looking straight on and leave the stuff behind the rocks. Get best of both worlds I guess...

12/07/2009, 12:23 PM	#8
tufacody Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 1,890	Hmmm. I don't clean, and the back wall has become coralline encrusted and algae won't grow on it. I think I am one of the few people who feel that the coralline encrusted back wall visually looks more natural and appealing than stark black or blue.

12/07/2009, 01:11 PM	#9
grammatron Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 51	I agree with that, tufacody. My current 90g is still pretty new, so the coraline hasn't really started up yet, but the back isn't painted at all.

12/07/2009, 01:47 PM	#11
mitsurs01 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: illinois Posts: 306	I have had mine up for just over a year now and have never touched the back glass or left side glass. I have a blue background on the back and left side to block sunlight from hitting the tank. There is substantial coraline grown the the glass and I think it looks definately more natural that way.

12/07/2009, 01:47 PM	#12
TeePee Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: VA Posts: 83	I don't clean mine due to the fact that its such a PITA to get at it. It doesn't look bad however. I have one of those mini-tunzes that I keep low in the tank and blow right along the back panel to make it hard for algae to take hold.

12/07/2009, 01:52 PM	#13
Shorasp30 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 52	I clean mine occassionally but only if it gets out of control.