algae on glass issue

[rsantangelo3@co]

algae on glass almost imediatly after i mag the frnt. In 2 days gotta do again in its entirety. When does that fade out?

 

[Fishamatank]

I don't think it really does. Many (myself included) clean the glass daily. Carbon dosing may get nutrient levels low enough so algae doesn't grow on the glass, but I still had regular glass cleanings when I was carbon dosing.

 

[skiergd011013]

it really doesnt go away. i have to magfloat my glass at least every 3 days.

 

[unclejed2]

I clean the glass every day. It is a sign of a healthy tank. I know it is annoying but see it as sign of a healthy environment.

 

[thebanker]

Yeah, it never really stops. Doesn't that suck?

One good solution is that if your tank's design permits, try to angle the light fixture so that the front glass isn't getting blasted with intense light. If you use T5 bulbs, putting actinic or blue bulbs in front may help slow the growth a tad.

 

[McCrary]

Algae is caused by phosphates in the water, if you get rid of the phosphates the algae will go away as well. GFO (granular ferric oxide) is what you can use to get rid of the phosphates and you can get it at: bulkreefsupply.com.

Carbon dosing may get nutrient levels low enough so algae doesn't grow on the glass

Carbon can help to maintain low DOC's (dissolved organic compounds), but it also releases phosphates. This is why most reefers will run GFO with carbon, to help reduce the amount of phosphates released into the water.

 

[thebanker]

Carbon ... also releases phosphates. This is why most reefers will run GFO with carbon, to help reduce the amount of phosphates released into the water.

Not to nitpick and derail the thread, but how does carbon release phosphates?

 

[McCrary]

Carbon is often washed in phosphoric acid (PO4H3), so that's how it "attaches" to the carbon and when the activated carbon begins to "grab" other stuff it "let's go" of phosphate.

 

[unclejed2]

Not all algae rely on phosphate or other nutrients. Some are strictly photosynthetic.
Here is a good little article;
http://www.thetropicaltank.co.uk/algae.htm

 

[McCrary]

unclejed2- I'm not sure I understand what your saying.

Reducing phosphates has always been one of the key things I've done to get rid of algae.

 

[Fishamatank]

Carbon can help to maintain low DOC's (dissolved organic compounds), but it also releases phosphates. This is why most reefers will run GFO with carbon, to help reduce the amount of phosphates released into the water.

You misunderstand, I was not talking about activated carbon, I was talking about dosing organic carbon as a means to drive bacterial growth....

I run GFO all the time, there is still algae on the glass. Cheap GAC may release phosphates, but the good stuff should not.

 

[McCrary]

Cheap GAC may release phosphates, but the good stuff should not.

Yup, sometimes you get what you pay for

You misunderstand, I was not talking about activated carbon, I was talking about dosing organic carbon as a means to drive bacterial growth....

Lol, totally missed that. What's dosing organic carbon?

 

[Fishamatank]

Vodka, vinegar, sugar, vitamin c, etc... are all carbon sources.