Algae film every other day on glass!!

maymond · 09/09/2013, 07:33 PM

My tank is about 2 months running now. Everything seems to be doing great. Im just having a pretty decent amount of a green algae film that I clean off every other day. Is this normal ? IM I have a kent marine rodi unit that has a tds meter and its testing good. 0ppm coming out. I don't have any other algae problem in the DT im starting to get coralline on my rocks and glass . Not much but a little. I do see a small amount of light green algae on my rocks. Also I have my heater in my fuge section, and growing off of the heater is some long green algae. DO I need to clean this off?

Hokies83 · 09/09/2013, 07:41 PM

Im 3 r 4 months in and i have this and the brown stuff.

From what i read it is normal.

I use RO water from Glacer machine at Kroger it reads anywhere from 15ppm to 35 ppm on my TDS meter depending on how long it sits in the bucket.

robotman · 09/09/2013, 07:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maymond

My tank is about 2 months running now. Everything seems to be doing great. Im just having a pretty decent amount of a green algae film that I clean off every other day. Is this normal ? IM I have a kent marine rodi unit that has a tds meter and its testing good. 0ppm coming out. I don't have any other algae problem in the DT im starting to get coralline on my rocks and glass . Not much but a little. I do see a small amount of light green algae on my rocks. Also I have my heater in my fuge section, and growing off of the heater is some long green algae. DO I need to clean this off?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hokies83

Im 3 r 4 months in and i have this and the brown stuff.

From what i read it is normal.

I use RO water from Glacer machine at Kroger it reads anywhere from 15ppm to 35 ppm on my TDS meter depending on how long it sits in the bucket.

pictures do justice, the brown is most likely diatoms, and they come and go, depending on how much nutrients are in the tank, ive had the same question before, most people say if its just in the fuge/sump you could leave it alone depending on the type of algae.

Reefer54 · 09/09/2013, 07:57 PM

Check phosphate. nutrient import (usually food). sunlight (not wanted). photoperiod ( how long your lights are on). flow ( can help with not allowing nutrients to settle in areas). do you have a skimmer? do you have a uv sterilizer?

These should take their course and be done when there are no more nutrients to consume.

products like chemiclean are available but often considered a non longterm solution but a quick fix. some swear by them. I believe you can provide an ecosystem with the proper practice and tools and avoid nuissance algaes for the most part....but at one point or another they are in every system.

ska d · 09/09/2013, 08:14 PM

New tanks can have issues with po4 leaching from rock if it was purchased as live rock. And new sand can leach silicates which can give those diatom outbreaks. If you test phosphate and its high it is a good idea to run some gfo for awhile until the rock and sand have been purged. I find rowaphos to be one of the best.

maymond · 09/09/2013, 08:20 PM

I have not checked phosphates. Ill get a kit tomorrow. For the most part my tank is in a dark spot in my livingroom. I have my lights on for about 12 hours. Is this good? I do have a skimmer nws 200 reef octopus. I do not have a uv sterilizer . Is that a must? I had diatoms when my tank was about 3 weeks old. they came and gone about 2 weeks after. I only have about 15 snails in the tank. Im going to order a small cuc next week.

Stolireef · 09/10/2013, 03:01 AM

This is normal during the first several months to a year. Light feeding, good lighting, water changes and patience will make it go away over time. Don't try to rush it with additives or unusual filtering. Just give it time.

Reefer54 · 09/10/2013, 03:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stolireef

This is normal during the first several months to a year. Light feeding, good lighting, water changes and patience will make it go away over time. Don't try to rush it with additives or unusual filtering. Just give it time.

yup

dmh8801 · 09/10/2013, 03:24 AM

It's the "uglies" stage. I think we're just getting past it on ours.

Kyuss · 09/10/2013, 06:39 AM

Yup, it happens early on in a tanks life. Mother Earth has had her aquarium going for longer than everyone here put together and she still struggles with it.

RA · 09/10/2013, 06:51 AM

What you are seeing is normal. Most phosphate test kits are worthless, as the phosphate that's available will quickly be absorbed by any algae. The only test for phosphate that is good is a Hanna. I would just make sure that you aren't overfeeding and just keep up with doing water changes and enjoy your tank.

BoricuaMojao · 09/10/2013, 07:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hokies83

Im 3 r 4 months in and i have this and the brown stuff.

From what i read it is normal.

I use RO water from Glacer machine at Kroger it reads anywhere from 15ppm to 35 ppm on my TDS meter depending on how long it sits in the bucket.

Try to find out when they change filters on this machine. When I used to rely on the glacier machine at the grocery store I would get my water one or two days after their weekly filter change and had good low TDS results.

maymond · 09/10/2013, 07:42 AM

Ok thanks guys. I kind of figured it was normal. Because i wasnt getting any other algae on my rock. Thanks for the repsonses . I have a coral beauty and flame hawkfish in the tank. Im feeding once aday. Is the good?

fshlover · 09/10/2013, 07:54 AM

I would also cut your Light time down. Maybe 5-6 hours a day. Turn it on mostly at the time your available to see the tank. Helps give the algae less light to feed on.

faithenfire · 09/10/2013, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BoricuaMojao

Try to find out when they change filters on this machine. When I used to rely on the glacier machine at the grocery store I would get my water one or two days after their weekly filter change and had good low TDS results.

I don't know about other areas, but around here they put the date they change filter on the water machine

kelrn98 · 09/10/2013, 01:34 PM

Quote:

I use RO water from Glacer machine at Kroger it reads anywhere from 15ppm to 35 ppm on my TDS meter depending on how long it sits in the bucket.

Invest in your own RO/DI unit. Mine produces a constant 0 ppm TDS and when it does start to rise, I can tell as I start having some algae in the DT. In the long run an RO/DI unit will save you time and money. It is likely that you will be more willing to do necessary water changes if you don't have to run to the store and lug gallons of water back home.

Dmorty217 · 09/10/2013, 01:48 PM

Are you sure it isn't cyano? It comes in green, red and sometimes a brownish red depending on lighting. If it comes back every other day, that doesn't sound like algae to me. Do you have a picture? What do you feed and how much? You may have a abundance of nutrients in the water causing your problems.

maymond · 09/10/2013, 07:40 PM

If feed prime reef flakes from ocean nutrition. I feed once a day a little pinch. Here are some pics. Kind of hard to see but its just a small film. This is about 24 hours. How many hours should I turn my lights on for? I have a purple tip frogspawn and a small zoa frag. RIght now im turning a true lumen atinic on 30 min before my t5s. Im keeping them on for about 12 hours. One pic that the film algae is bad is on the back of my tank. I haven't cleaned that at all since the tank has been up.

09/09/2013, 07:33 PM	#1
maymond Registered Member Join Date: May 2013 Posts: 120	Algae film every other day on glass!! My tank is about 2 months running now. Everything seems to be doing great. Im just having a pretty decent amount of a green algae film that I clean off every other day. Is this normal ? IM I have a kent marine rodi unit that has a tds meter and its testing good. 0ppm coming out. I don't have any other algae problem in the DT im starting to get coralline on my rocks and glass . Not much but a little. I do see a small amount of light green algae on my rocks. Also I have my heater in my fuge section, and growing off of the heater is some long green algae. DO I need to clean this off?

09/09/2013, 07:57 PM	#4
Reefer54 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Avon Posts: 1,087	Check phosphate. nutrient import (usually food). sunlight (not wanted). photoperiod ( how long your lights are on). flow ( can help with not allowing nutrients to settle in areas). do you have a skimmer? do you have a uv sterilizer? These should take their course and be done when there are no more nutrients to consume. products like chemiclean are available but often considered a non longterm solution but a quick fix. some swear by them. I believe you can provide an ecosystem with the proper practice and tools and avoid nuissance algaes for the most part....but at one point or another they are in every system. __________________ R54 Current Tank Info: 36 x 36 x 25 Cube, mixed reef, A360WE x 3, A350N x 1, 40GB sump, RDSB, Remote LR Cryptic, 2 WP-40's, ummm....

09/10/2013, 03:01 AM	#7
Stolireef Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Scottsdale AZ Posts: 3,180 Blog Entries: 5	This is normal during the first several months to a year. Light feeding, good lighting, water changes and patience will make it go away over time. Don't try to rush it with additives or unusual filtering. Just give it time. __________________ I want to burn twice as bright and half as long. Oh, and a full tank crash is just an excuse for a new build. Current Tank Info: 125 Rimless Leemar, Apex, Trigger 30 Elite Sump, Vertex 180i Skimmer, 2 X Gen4 Radion XR30W, BM Doser, 2xMP40WES, 2xTunze 6095, Sicce Syncra 4.0.

09/10/2013, 03:24 AM	#9
dmh8801 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Lakeland, FL Posts: 87	It's the "uglies" stage. I think we're just getting past it on ours. __________________ 46 Gallon Bow Front 50 Lbs. live rock 1" Sand Bed Remora-S skimmer

09/10/2013, 01:48 PM	#17
Dmorty217 Saltwater Addict Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Vandalia OHIO Posts: 11,624	Are you sure it isn't cyano? It comes in green, red and sometimes a brownish red depending on lighting. If it comes back every other day, that doesn't sound like algae to me. Do you have a picture? What do you feed and how much? You may have a abundance of nutrients in the water causing your problems. __________________ Fish are not disposable commodities, but a worthwhile investment that can be maintained and enjoyed for many years, providing one is willing to take the time to understand their requirements and needs Current Tank Info: 625g, 220g sump, RD3 230w, Vectra L1 on a closed loop, 3 MP60s, MP40. Several QTs

09/09/2013, 07:41 PM	#2
Hokies83 Moved On Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Roanoke Va Posts: 347	Im 3 r 4 months in and i have this and the brown stuff. From what i read it is normal. I use RO water from Glacer machine at Kroger it reads anywhere from 15ppm to 35 ppm on my TDS meter depending on how long it sits in the bucket.

09/09/2013, 08:14 PM	#5
ska d Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: toronto Posts: 508	New tanks can have issues with po4 leaching from rock if it was purchased as live rock. And new sand can leach silicates which can give those diatom outbreaks. If you test phosphate and its high it is a good idea to run some gfo for awhile until the rock and sand have been purged. I find rowaphos to be one of the best.

09/09/2013, 08:20 PM	#6
maymond Registered Member Join Date: May 2013 Posts: 120	I have not checked phosphates. Ill get a kit tomorrow. For the most part my tank is in a dark spot in my livingroom. I have my lights on for about 12 hours. Is this good? I do have a skimmer nws 200 reef octopus. I do not have a uv sterilizer . Is that a must? I had diatoms when my tank was about 3 weeks old. they came and gone about 2 weeks after. I only have about 15 snails in the tank. Im going to order a small cuc next week.

09/10/2013, 06:39 AM	#10
Kyuss Megistered Rember Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Milwaukee, WI Posts: 470	Yup, it happens early on in a tanks life. Mother Earth has had her aquarium going for longer than everyone here put together and she still struggles with it.

09/10/2013, 06:51 AM	#11
RA Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: S. Jersey Posts: 976	What you are seeing is normal. Most phosphate test kits are worthless, as the phosphate that's available will quickly be absorbed by any algae. The only test for phosphate that is good is a Hanna. I would just make sure that you aren't overfeeding and just keep up with doing water changes and enjoy your tank.

09/10/2013, 07:42 AM	#13
maymond Registered Member Join Date: May 2013 Posts: 120	Ok thanks guys. I kind of figured it was normal. Because i wasnt getting any other algae on my rock. Thanks for the repsonses . I have a coral beauty and flame hawkfish in the tank. Im feeding once aday. Is the good?

09/10/2013, 07:54 AM	#14
fshlover Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 67	I would also cut your Light time down. Maybe 5-6 hours a day. Turn it on mostly at the time your available to see the tank. Helps give the algae less light to feed on.