algea on the front glass

[rpc07]

So i get a ton of green algae on the front glass of my tank so much that everyday when i get home from work the front glass has a full layer on it and makes my tank look fuzzy so i have to use the magnet scraper everyday when i come home from work, Is this a normal amount of green algae on the front glass or is something going on? something that i can fix so this doesnt happen. Some info:

55g dt
15g sump/fuge
two little fishes phosban reactor ( Running 2 weeks )
phosphates undetectable
aquaticlife 4x54 ho t5 light about 4 inches from the water


Thanks, Ryan

 

[CHEMCHEF]

It seems about normal. I mag float everyday.
However, you could try tilting the back of your light up slightly.

 

[OzoneParkGuy]

Just a question, but is anyone home during the day to see the tank while your at work? If not, why have the lights on. No one is home to enjoy the beauty. Try reducing the light period. If someone is home... maybe have them turn on the lights a little later than what you had it. Also try to have the lights go on 2 hours before you get home so they can extrude outward by the time you arrive so you can enjoy your corals and not worry about scraping. Now you haven't mentioned your light periond. On timers? What is it set for(how may hours on). Play around with the position of the lights over the weekend and see how it works. You'll be there to notice a change. Hope this helped some.

 

[nycdominicanreef]

buy snails, or algea blenny, or tang, they will love u for it

 

[jackson6745]

Your phosphates are through the roof. All regular testkits are useless for phosphate. Improve water quality and you'll see much less buildup.

Are you using RO water in your tank?

 

[rookie07]

That seems like alot of algae growth to me....you should try to correct that problem, ie phosphates, nitrates, etc..... but snails/etc could help a little

 

[batt600]

Yeah sound like po4 are hi It take a week for me to clean my glass but You still cant tell that it needs to be clean . When my po4 were high I had the same problem glass full off brown algae in the front glass. How long is the lights on for ,how much do you feed and do you us RO,DI water for water changes ?.

 

[henrye718]

Thats fast algae growth, Hanna just released a $40 PO4 meter. That should be more accurate than a test kit.

http://www.ecrater.com/product.php?pid=7133267



Barring that, Elos then Seachem will give you a really good idea if you have Po4 in your water. These two are the only accurare chem tests I know of.

Also as a band aid fix, try Microbacter7 at startup tank recomended dosages and watch the glass cleaning intervals. Go down to 3+ days.

If that happens then pick up one of your rocks and shake and turn it underwater if tons of junk comes off, this is your problem your tank is to dirty and your system can not keep up with your bio load.

Use a mechanical means to get the ditrus out, off the rocks sand and out of the sump. Stir it up, keeping it in the water colum, do water changes and filter it. Lower your feedings too, use RO/DI water. Get snails thats will help eat and move it around for you in the future. Increase flow if needed.

 

[Awibrandy]

Hello Ryan, could you tell us what your parameters are, and what test kits you use? Don't believe for a second that your phosphates are 0.lol Not true!

I see you are running a Two Little Fishies reactor, that is a good thing. Keep up with the maintenance on it, and you will surely start to see a difference.

You don't mention a protein skimmer - do you run one?

How long do you run your lights? Do you have them on a timer?

What is your water source? RO, RO/DI, Distilled water, God forbid tap water?

How often, and how much of a water change are you doing?

And no you should not have a green algae film all over your glass front on a daily basis.
Everything in this hobby is fixable.

 

[Lushpan]

Chaeto macroalgae is excellent for exporting phosphates, it has wiped out all the hair algae in my tank, now I clean the glass once a week or two (still can't believe it myself). Also it's good to have a phosban reactor.