Algae on glass always!?

[vetteguy53081]

I can’t get water parameters right now at work but last time everything was stable. Tanks fully cycled, bioload established, and yet I’m having algae on the glass everyday.

I have a 37 Gallon Tall.
Fish:
2 Clowns
1 Yellow Watchman Goby
1 Bicolor Blenny

Inverts:
4 Turbos
2 Astraea Snails
8 Hermits Red/Blue Legs
1 Halloween Hermit
1 Pistol Shrimp

Also got 3 rock nems. I feed once or twice a day depending on work and only what my tank can consume. I got phosphate remover in the filter and a protein skimmer that’s rated for a 60 gallon.

However I always have algae on the glass I run 8-12 hours of lights, and I can’t understand why I’m having my full front glass covered in algae daily. I understand algae is expected but my other tanks have no where near this problem. I’m sorry I can’t get water parameters atm but does anyone have any ideas?

Is this tank by chance at or near a window?
Also, what is your nitrate and phosphate level?3
Are you using RODI water or tap water from the faucet ?

 

[Duncan62]

I can’t get water parameters right now at work but last time everything was stable. Tanks fully cycled, bioload established, and yet I’m having algae on the glass everyday.

I have a 37 Gallon Tall.
Fish:
2 Clowns
1 Yellow Watchman Goby
1 Bicolor Blenny

Inverts:
4 Turbos
2 Astraea Snails
8 Hermits Red/Blue Legs
1 Halloween Hermit
1 Pistol Shrimp

Also got 3 rock nems. I feed once or twice a day depending on work and only what my tank can consume. I got phosphate remover in the filter and a protein skimmer that’s rated for a 60 gallon.

However I always have algae on the glass I run 8-12 hours of lights, and I can’t understand why I’m having my full front glass covered in algae daily. I understand algae is expected but my other tanks have no where near this problem. I’m sorry I can’t get water parameters atm but does anyone have any ideas?

There's something wrong if you don't need to clean your glass every few days. It's ok.

 

[Hoodstream]

Is this tank by chance at or near a window?
Also, what is your nitrate and phosphate level?3
Are you using RODI water or tap water from the faucet ?

Rodi water only. Nitrate was around 5ppm Friday haven’t tested yet today made this post from my desk at work, stopped home at lunch and saw glass and got frustrated. Phosphate untested as well atm. With my skimmer and phosphate remover I recently skipped it.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Rodi water only. Nitrate was around 5ppm Friday haven’t tested yet today made this post from my desk at work, stopped home at lunch and saw glass and got frustrated. Phosphate untested as well atm. With my skimmer and phosphate remover I recently skipped it.

Tank at or near a window?

 

[Hoodstream]

Tank at or near a window?

No there’s a window 5 feet but since it’s in my basement it’s got curtains drowning out light.

 

[Freenow54]

I forgot something. I have a UV filter put it in this morning. Will see

 

[Koh23]

Someone mentioned it - good magnet cleaner....

Sounds like a joke, i know, but forget those "2$ magnet glass cleaners", i tried 3 different magnets, from small and cheap, to large, and still fairly cheap....

Run 3 streaks, each with different magnet, one next to another..... The better the magnet, the longer glass remains clean....

Sadly, best of them are sooooo expensive, so, i clean glass everyday, until i force myself to give serious money for some quality magnet......

 

[Hoodstream]

Someone mentioned it - good magnet cleaner....

Sounds like a joke, i know, but forget those "2$ magnet glass cleaners", i tried 3 different magnets, from small and cheap, to large, and still fairly cheap....

Run 3 streaks, each with different magnet, one next to another..... The better the magnet, the longer glass remains clean....

Sadly, best of them are sooooo expensive, so, i clean glass everyday, until i force myself to give serious money for some quality magnet......

I just spent $100 on Magfloat :/

 

[dking271]

I scrape my glass every 2-3 days if I want my tank looking pristine. I let the cleanup crew (fish, hermits, & snails) go after the scrapings. If I have to let it go longer, I try to suck up as much as I can during a water change. For me it’s always just part of reefing and I don’t worry about it as long as my corals are healthy and growing. I’ve run low nutrient tanks and have had multiple battles with dino, so I’ll gladly scrape the glass.

I’ve yet to find a magnet that cleans as well as a quality scraper and algae pad. I have to net my clowns to use a pad as they are quite ferocious if my hands hit the water at times drawing blood from the webbing between my fingers.

 

[DeniseAndy]

I have a large acrylic tank and use a mighty magnet. Expensive, but worth it.
My glass tanks just use a standard Mag float and for my pico I have this orange one that I have found works best. Nice strong magnet.

 

[Koh23]

For 100$ i want not only to clean my tank, i want to sing to me ;)

 

[Hoodstream]

For 100$ i want not only to clean my tank, i want to sing to me ;)

I bought 3 because I’m an idiot and made a tank out of a Topfin 37 because I got it for $20 and had glass cut since no canopy fits it and the Topfin canopy meant for the 37 doesn’t fit it, so it’s basically a whole assembly process to even enter the tank. Im praying it sings lullaby when I’m trying to drown out the skimmer

 

[DeniseAndy]

If you are upset about $100, do not even go near the mighty magnets. :)

 

[A Young Reefer]

I have both 0 phosphates and 5 ppm nitrates (working on raising them). I still have to clean my glass twice a day. I really don’t know what causes it I just gave up the fight.

 

[Koh23]

For a 100$, i will dive into tank and scrub everything with a small toothbrush...

 

[Erireef25]

My first 6 months was getting alot algae on front glass and cleaned x 2 a week but for last few months I hardly ever clean it.
I do add more of the appropriate cuc when tank tells me to so this will help me.
Clean glass like 1x a fortnight now sometimes longer and most tje time is when doing water change and drip water down outside of glass lol
Not sure how old your tank is but maybe in time you will have clean glass less.
And probably a good idea to add more cuc that clean glass to help you as your tank telling you need more cuc if glass always dirty.
I only add say 6 snails at a time in my 80 gallon then assess it week or so after if need more .
But cuc there to help me and not entirely do all of it as I'm the janitor of my tank but I can appoint some help havha

I read you guys often, I have a 120gall and i go through all the things u have said. Now I am having the green algae on glass and rocks. I've cleaned every 2weeks, change filter floss every other day and it's still there. My question, what is cuc? I may have to appoint some help, I cant handle so much .

 

[Freenow54]

I read you guys often, I have a 120gall and i go through all the things u have said. Now I am having the green algae on glass and rocks. I've cleaned every 2weeks, change filter floss every other day and it's still there. My question, what is cuc? I may have to appoint some help, I cant handle so much .

For back glass I blocked the light with boot trays. No Algae. For the front Glass still get Algae. Have had to accept it. For Rocks added, Bumble Bee Snails They seem to stay in the substrate so maybe keep it clean cannot say for sure. Trochus snails, and I believe the most responsible for the rock are Nassarius always grazing. Rock actually changes colour

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Cleaning glass every 2 weeks is neither unusual nor an indication of any problem, IMO. It’s just a fact of life in a reef tank.

I have to clean mine significantly more often than that.