Am I supposed to clean back of tank at all?

[chiefrokka]

I've noticed in most pictures people post in threads that the back of the tank is covered with algae and the sump intake container is even covered sometimes.... Are you supposed to leave that back of the tank alone since that algae is good to have in tank? I clean all 3 sides of tank right now

thanks

 

[Dubbin1]

I really don't like the look of coralline covering the back of my tanks so I keep them clean.

 

[Andrew]

Well if your getting hair algae or ect then remove that but most of the time if you only get coraline then just leave it there. Its really up to you.

 

[chiefrokka]

if you leave it there, is it affecting your chemicals at all? Is it helping your system with beneficial stuff?

I don't have any algae now on back... i'm just curious as i've been leaving it alone and it's starting to build up slowly

 

[smcnally]

I used to leave it covered in coraline. But now I keep it clean. My reason for keeping it clean it that it really makes your corals and rockwork stand out. When your rock is covered in coraling, and the back wall is too, it all blends together.

 

[FDinPA]

IMO it depends mostly on your display and interest. I have never cleaned anything other than the front glass of my tank (and I can only clean 75% of that since a whopper huge T. Deresa clam is leaning aganst the rest of it). The one thing that you may want to consider is that you are talking about a huge surface area. Over the years, along with the C. algae, it will host a large volume of cryptic organisms. These nifty little guys are fantastic water scrubbers. I will always take every little bit of natural filtration that mother nature can provide.

I have always tried to make my tanks look like a window to another world. The heavily encrusted look adds depth to my field of vision (other than staring through to the wall, a royal blue background or one of those cheesy petstore fish backgrounds!) and hides my overflow box from sight.

 

[YoungReefer06]

I personally only clean the glass of the tank that i look through which is the front and the left side(the tank is in a corner), the back and right side i let grow with algae because i believe it helps filter the water and hosts a nice little pod growth in the reclusive areas.

I believe it is your style of tank which makes you decide to clean the back or not.

If your tank in your little section of the reef with all the little niches being filled then you don't clean.

If your tank is a show-piece in your fancy dining-room or something then it gives it a crisp look to clean the back of the tank since it makes the rock and corals stand out more.

-Kyle

 

[Ti]

It's your call

 

[BurntOutReefer]

personal choice