green dust on glass change over help

[brad65ford]

This is going to sound like a strange question but i've been running a 130g for over a year now. Unfortunate for the last 5+ month I had stn on most of my sps's. It was frustating since in all my 20+ years of reefing i've never had it before and just couldn't do anything to turn it around which seems to be the only solution (nothing). Moving forward I do believe the system is past all the stn since most of the sps's died anyway except for a few (weird) and i'm happier at the moment with softies, lps and some easy sps's running lower intensity lighting. But I've always had an issue with this system regarding green dust algae on the glass no matter how clean (stripped) or dirty i run the system. I have a few other systems that have switched over to growing coralline algae instead of this dust algae. This stuff is frustaring since I try to remove, if you scrap it off it just goes back in the system and seeds more of it. Whats odd is the back of the tank and rocks are growing coralline algae.

Any suggestions on what it takes to switch over and start growing coralline instead?

 

[Tripod1404]

green dust on glass change over help

Are you asking why you have green dust algae in your front panel but not coralline? If so the answer is because you are scraping the front panel. This removes microscopic coralline colonies that attach to the front panel. Coralline is a slow growing algae. It won't grow in front panel unless you let it by not scraping. But idk if you would like to have it on your front panel. Once it takes a hold, it can be a pain to remove without scratching the panel, especially for acrylic tanks.

Anyway, one way of promoting coralline growth is increasing the magnesium levels. Coralline algae loves Mg as it makes up a considerable percentage of its calcified body. More so, most non-calcifying algae such as green dust don't like it. By increasing Mg you can make the environment more favorable for coralline and less favorable for green dust. Hopefully coralline can outcompete green dust this way.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[AlSimmons]

The link below might help.

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2003/1/aafeature1

 

[brad65ford]

I've read this article before, not sure if i'm having a hard time comprehending it fully since i didn't see a solution or synopsis since I wasn't sure his goal. Believe he was trying to increase silica for his corals/sponges etc.. which it had an effect on the front glass. Looking to do the opposite.