Green return line

NedFlounders

NedFlounders

New member
The return line from the sump to the tank has become GREEN. Yet the water in the display tank looks blue and as clean as it should be. What's the dealio? Is this algae?



 
I had the same issue, sorta. My tubing was running through part of my refugium and was growing algae. I just replaced it with black tubing instead.
 
Interesting b/c I'm not sure how light would get that far down in the stand since it has doors on it. Should I be concerned with algae there? Or just let it run its course? (again, i don't see any in the tank itself)...
 
NedFlounders said:
Interesting b/c I'm not sure how light would get that far down in the stand since it has doors on it. Should I be concerned with algae there? Or just let it run its course? (again, i don't see any in the tank itself)...
Click to expand...

My guess is the overflow is not covered and light is coming down from there, the water itself is acting as a light conduit(think fiber optic).Just make a cover from anything flat and plastic-ish, paint it black and it should stop the problem.

If nothing is done to correct the algae will continue to grow and at some point create a flow issue if left to get severe enough.
 
I Agree never use Clear tubing. Black or solid pvc.. This happens on my Chiller line that i have clear just to be sure there is no air getting in there.
 
Light would still get through in your case, since it's coming from the top. With black or solid piping you just wouldn't see it. Black would eliminate the problem only if light getting through the sides of the tubing itself is causing the algae
 
I like the idea of being able to see through the tubing and being able to see if there is an obstruction, etc. Perhaps the OP could wrap black plastic wire loom around the tube which can be removed for periodic inspection?

newblackwireloompic.jpg
 
So what's the problem with having a bit of growth in the drain tube?
In my tank the growth seems to have leveled off as a thin film, no thicker than yours. It is far from obstructing the flow.
I'd leave it as is and don't worry about it.
 
tzylak said:
So what's the problem with having a bit of growth in the drain tube?
In my tank the growth seems to have leveled off as a thin film, no thicker than yours. It is far from obstructing the flow.
I'd leave it as is and don't worry about it.
Click to expand...

I'm sorry, but that is bad advice.

As stated in above posts, the algae can grow worse and obstruct flow. It may not be obstructing now, but it can build up. You don't know how strong the light is getting into his pipe(s) and he may end up with a flood if it is not taken care of.

And on that note, you may want to check your other pipes for algae Ned. I only say this since the light is coming from your overflow and not the inside of your stand.
 
Thanks Cym for the correction. I'll keep an eye on that too.
. . . . Although for the last 11 months the layer of growth seems to have remained constant. -Maybe it just depends on the amount of light getting to it. . .
 
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