Green Algae on Glass Only

[hurdbird]

As the title says, the last three days my tank has been getting a green film algae on the glass only. I've never had an issue with algae on the glass since I started the tank. My parameters are perfect except I am hearing that even the best test kits arn't very good for phosphates which could be my problem. My elos test kit has tested phosphate and nitrate at 0 since I started my tank. My tank has seen a slight temperature jump with the recent warm weather and not ready to turn the central AC on yet. Tank reached 81.5 degrees from the normal 78-79 degrees after the lights being on for the full day. After doing my research I am going to start cutting my lights down from 12 hours currently slowly and try and get it down to about 8 for now. I cut my feeding in half. I also added chaeto to my sump to try and help out. I know this has been discussed a hundred times but I could not find any solid info on the site through the search. How many hours should I be running my lights? Would adding garlic to food have any effect with algae? Thanks in advance.

Sean Hurd

 

[tommy6905]

a picture would help, and do you use ro water?

 

[The Ng Thing]

I wouldn't worry about it. It's natural and theres no avoiding it, just invest in a mag-float or similar and clean it from time to time.

 

[hurdbird]

I have used RODI water since day one and do all water changes with RODI water. I will post a picture tomorrow cuz it will probably be back. It is bad enough that it is not normal maintenance. Shouldn't have to do it everyday by any means. From what I read, should only have to fully clean glass once a week. Side note: Do I have anything to worry about keeping my fuge light with cover touching acrylic? Will it melt acrylic over time? Thank you.

Sean

 

[hurdbird]

Any helpful tips? I know everyone on here has been throgh this at one point. Thanks.


Sean Hurd

 

[Turbosnail]

I clean my glass every other day with a mag float.

 

[aiaman]

various location on my front glass (all that I care about w/a corner tank) get a cleaning
I usually start developing a slight brown haze but not green
as for lights, I leave my day lights (non-actinic) on for 8 hrs
I put the actinic on for 2 hrs pre & post, thats just for me to look at since the actinic do nothing for anything else
as for garlic, anything you put into your tank than can degrade can add to an algae problem
I would keep non-actinic lighting for 8 hrs
don't forget that incidental lighting from the windows can also add to the problem if your close enough

 

[Bobbofin]

I get green fuzz on my glass, have for 21 years. I clean it off every day or two with mag-float. No big deal. It's hair algae that is the pest.

 

[delta]

As long as it is just green algae and not green Cyano the only thing can do is reduce the time frame it takes to grow.
It is normal for a reeftank to have some algae.

 

[jamesdong009]

Wipe it off and just consider it free coral food

 

[hurdbird]

Update. Well it has been a couple more days I worked my lights down 1 hour a day and are now running them at 10 hours. 1 hour of all blues before and after the 8 hour cycle. I reduced my feeding from an entire pellet of frozen brine shrimp to about 1/2 to 3/4 and I added chaeto to my sump. Needless to say my tank has zeroe algae on the glass again. Very excited haha. I also ran my biopellet reactor and I probably will for another week or two to try and eliminate some phosphates. Thanks for the help guys.

Sean

 

[jtmac]

Wipe it off and just consider it free coral food

Thats how I look at it......

 

[Skeeter7424]

Wipe it off and just consider it free coral food

yup, I clean mine right after lights out. Free food!