green algae on glass

[Patticakes]

The back of my tank is half covered with green algae. I scrape the sides and front, so I don't have any there. It looks bright green under my lights. I like the way it looks, it's not on the rocks, just the glass. Looks like a bright green carpet. Is it good, or do I need to get rid of it? Sorry, no pictures.

 

[Avi]

It isn't bad, though there are some folks that don't like any algae on any of the glass on their reeftanks. Eventually, the green algae may be superseded in a growth of coraline algae. But, there's no prevailing reason to get rid of it. One thing more...if that green algae growth is very strong, it may well be an indication that you have elevated nitrates or an high phosphate levels, so keep an eye on those with testing.

 

[itz frank]

the first time i had this happen i scraped the sides off and did my 4 week mantainances(water change, filter, etc.) and the algae disappeared on it's own. I had to scrape the front and sides and i couldn't get to the rest because of my aquascaping. But it disappeared on it's own.

 

[coker98]

get something that eats your type of algae and that way you and the fish/invert are both happy.

 

[ghostrida3]

ive got the same problem and i cant get to the back of the tank either, ive read that its an indication of elevated phosphates and can prevent the growth of the desirable purple coraline algae, ive got 275 nasarius snails and 100 blue leg hermit crabs as well as lawnmowe blenny theyve taken care of the main hair algae problem but that stupid green crap on the back and glass keeps coming back, ime wondering if i need a new protein skimmer, using a seaclone right now.

 

[reeftalker]

You said your hermits and crabs have taken care of the main hair algae problem, but in reality your underlying cause of the hair algae is still present in your tank. This is why the algae continues to grow on the glass.

Hvae you tested your water lately??

 

[teggs]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7379732#post7379732 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by reeftalker
You said your hermits and crabs have taken care of the main hair algae problem, but in reality your underlying cause of the hair algae is still present in your tank. This is why the algae continues to grow on the glass.

Hvae you tested your water lately??

I think this is great advice! Here's a quote I read online about algae:

"Algae control is nutrient control."

If you control the nutrient levels in your water, the algae problem will take care of itself.

 

[4MB]

Is it possible that the green stuff on the back is green coralline algae. I had a little bit that I scraped off, and then I scraped it off again and it keeps coming back even worse. My LFS asked me if it was slimy or crusty and when I scraped it if I could see it chip off in to particles. She said I created a worse of a problem. Haven't touched the back of the glass and Im starting to see purple spots mixed in with the green. But by scraping I was releasing the spores to spread throughout the tank.

Also whatever piece of rock that was white is now green.

 

[teggs]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7379812#post7379812 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by 4MB
Is it possible that the green stuff on the back is green coralline algae.

I didn't know that you get green coralline algae ... ?

 

[Blown 346]

Oh yeah, you can get green, pink,the usual purple, orange, red.

 

[Zan]

how do your levels look?

 

[Patticakes]

I had my water tested. Everything looks great. Also, I'm noticing that my purple coralline algae is starting to spread. My tank is only about 3 months old. (When I first set it up, I bought a live rock that was loaded with purple coralline.)

 

[BigWaveDave2]

Wow ghostrida3, you've really got 275 snails and 100 hermit crabs in your tank!!! How big is it? It must be crawling with all those inverts

 

[ghostrida3]

its 72 gallons. I was told u need 3-4 snails per gallon. ime not sure but i think the blue legs are taking out the snails, as far as my water parameters, the only thing i havent tested for is phosphates, nitrates 0 amonia 0 nitrites 0. i have that green stuff to and it looks like green coralline algae. I am going to try to drip kalwasser into the tank tonight i heard that that would cause phosphate levels to precipitate and drop preventing the unwanted algae growth and also encourage the good purple stuff, anybody else had succes w/ this.

 

[4MB]

I have green all over my tank. nitrite levels are just slightly detectable, new live rock and a fish to blame. ammonia 0, nitrate less than 5 ppm, and no trace of phosphate did it twice to verify. One of the LFS said it had to do with my hardness being to low or something. But since adding calcium and some alkalinity stuff for my corals the purple has been increasing. I also have one area with diatoms still (need more snails to finish up with my first algae bloom) and a spot of cyano that I have no idea how im going to fix the flow and not hurt somewhere else.