Algae only on back wall and power heads

[Scritch]

Why is it that algae only grows on the back glass of the tank, and on the powerheads, anybody else have this problem, and is there a fix? I don’t have any problems on the rocks.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Do you have pictures of the algae?

 

[NC AL]

Why is it that algae only grows on the back glass of the tank, and on the powerheads, anybody else have this problem, and is there a fix? I don’t have any problems on the rocks.

Do you have a lot of flow across the back wall. Like you, I don't have any algae in my tank except on the back wall. My foxface and lawnmower blenny keep everything else clean. They do not seem to venture out into the flow across my back wall (I have a gyre turned vertical) as much.

 

[Scritch]

Do you have pictures of the algae?

I’ll post some when I get back home

 

[Scritch]

Do you have a lot of flow across the back wall. Like you, I don't have any algae in my tank except on the back wall. My foxface and lawnmower blenny keep everything else clean. They do not seem to venture out into the flow across my back wall (I have a gyre turned vertical) as much.

I feel like I have pretty good flow back there. I’m maxed out on fish in my tank, and it’s too small for a tang, I’ll post a picture soon

 

[Freenow54]

Why is it that algae only grows on the back glass of the tank, and on the powerheads, anybody else have this problem, and is there a fix? I don’t have any problems on the rocks.

This is what I did. Just block ligh

t

. You cannot see my fix looking at fro

nt of tank. Cost me 30 for three plastic shoe trays. I covered the back glass at first but algae grew on plastic but not as bad. Then blocked light

 

[Rhetoric]

I'm always "that guy"

Atleast it's easy to clean and doesn't mess with corals!

 

[BristleWormHater]

I assume your talking about coralline algae. There's not really a trick to get it to grow on the rock, it usually starts on the back panel and equipment.

 

[Scritch]

This is what I did. Just block ligh

t

. You cannot see my fix looking at fro

nt of tank. Cost me 30 for three plastic shoe trays. I covered the back glass at first but algae grew on plastic but not as bad. Then blocked light

That’s a pretty good idea.

 

[Scritch]

Not the good algae.

 

[Freenow54]

That’s a pretty good idea.

It works. I just cover it with a screen top that I also make very cheap use stainless screen off Amazon , and framing parts from hardware store

 

[BristleWormHater]

Not the good algae.

Ah, I have this issue too. I have hair algae in my overflow, but none in the display, I think of it as a free algae scrubber. I'd turn off flow and use a toothbrush to remove it then suck out the bits in the water with a Turkey baster. You have a beautiful tank by the way.

 

[Scritch]

It works. I just cover it with a screen top that I also make very cheap use stainless screen off Amazon , and framing parts from hardware store

I would totally make something similar, but it would block too much light. I have some corals growing up the back wall.

Ah, I have this issue too. I have hair algae in my overflow, but none in the display, I think of it as a free algae scrubber. I'd turn off flow and use a toothbrush to remove it then suck out the bits in the water with a Turkey baster. You have a beautiful tank by the way.

Thank you! I do a lot of water recycling. I siphon it out into a sock, in the sump. Takes a few days to come back, but it always does. Ha! Maybe I’ll glue a few pieces of star polyps on the back, to compete with the algae for space.

 

[Ryan - Serious Reefs]

My guess is grows on the other panes too but the viewing panes are cleaned much more frequently.

 

[Scritch]

My guess is grows on the other panes too but the viewing panes are cleaned much more frequently.

It does, but it seems to really grab hold of anything black in the tank.

 

[Reef Wizard]

It does, but it seems to really grab hold of anything black in the tank.

Id clean off those powerheads asap. It will hurt the motor over time due to restriction.

My tank also has GHA on powerheads and back wall.

Whats your nitrates and phosphates? also lower red and green lighting channels if you can

 

[Freenow54]

My guess is grows on the other panes too but the viewing panes are cleaned much more frequently.

Yes

 

[Freenow54]

I would totally make something similar, but it would block too much light. I have some corals growing up the back wall.

Thank you! I do a lot of water recycling. I siphon it out into a sock, in the sump. Takes a few days to come back, but it always does. Ha! Maybe I’ll glue a few pieces of star polyps on the back, to compete with the algae for space.

Too bad I have the same issue with my original tank. This one was planned better

 

[Scritch]

Id clean off those powerheads asap. It will hurt the motor over time due to restriction.

My tank also has GHA on powerheads and back wall.

Whats your nitrates and phosphates? also lower red and green lighting channels if you can

Good call on the red/green. I recently increased intensity, at the same time increasing the red/green.