algae buildup on glass

[reefnoob616]

Been trying to keep my glass clean of algae and move it into my refuge. Anyone have some tips on how to do this? Ive run my lights 24/7 for 2 weeks and still cant get it to not grow on glass in main display. Is it even possible or am I just driving myself nuts. Its not a ton of buildup but just about every day I need to wipe it off.

 

[HiddenUser]

You run your lights 24/7 for your main display? You need to reduce your light cycle if you're trying to get rid of algae. Should also be a period of time where the lights are completely out so that your fish can sleep.

Test your water for nitrates and phosphates. If those are high those will contribute.
Otherwise cut back on how much you're feeding.

 

[reefnoob616]

In refuge not display. I do understand light makes algae grow and fish need to sleep. Nitrates phosphates all at 0 or almost 0. Just cant get the algae in display to move to refuge. Have macro algaes in refuge too.

 

[reefnoob616]

Maybe I should shut lights off for 3 days and leave on in just sump.

 

[Reefing Madness]

Gotta be something wrong with your water parameters, you should not have to wipe your glass down but maybe once a week. Whats your readings on Nitrates and Phosphates?

 

[HiddenUser]

Sorry, I guess I'm misunderstanding that whole moving the algae from the display to the refugium part.

Something must be not quite right if you're still having to clean the glass from your display everyday.

 

[reefnoob616]

Its not alot of algae but enough to be seen. Maybe im just to anal about it.

 

[Dalmatia]

Run your lighting vise versa, so when your lights are on in your DT have them off in your sump.
Really isn't necessary to do vise versa but does help some people.
Does your DT have LEDs or florals?

 

[reefnoob616]

Led lighting. And lfs just checked water and everything is perfect. The problem has to be that the algae in dt is not dying so the macro can take over. Thats all I can think of.

 

[Dalmatia]

Reason for asking is cause some LEDs are programmed to give off more or less lighting through out the day so they mimic the natural outdoors. That being said you can't run vise versa. What's lighting your sump? Hopefully not LEDs? You would only need a 6500k (pink) and maybe an actinic fluorescent for a sump. 6500k is for flowering and the actinic just in case you get some Tunicate algae or something that's more deep water based

 

[Reefing Madness]

I don't have a sump with algae in it, and I don't have to clean my glass every day, or even every other day. I clean mine once a week.

 

[reefnoob616]

I have a 120w led on my refuge with macro in it and it is on 9hrs a night into morning. I have been running blue and white. Should I cut back to just blue? I am not complaining about a huge amount of algae but it just seems to grow faster then I want. I could go 3 days or so before it gets darker spots forming. I just dont like it.

 

[reefnoob616]

220g 30inch tall reef with 600w worth of leds on display tank and 120w on refuge. 2 3200gph and 1 800gph powerheads and a 75g sump with reef octo skimmer, filter sock, phosban reactor not in use right now, 2 1200gph return pumps lifting 5 ft, auto top off

and my fuge with 6inch sand bed and some macro algae.

 

[reefnoob616]

I had my back wall completely clean on saturday and today this is what it looks like. Sorry my tab doesnt take the best pics with the leds on.

 

[Reefing Madness]

Ya got no rock for bacterial growth.

 

[reefnoob616]

Oh sorry I do have about 25 or 30 pounds in the fuge.

 

[mike007]

What are your phoshate readings?

 

[reefnoob616]

Ive got about an even 2 inch sand bed before I added rock and fish and star moved it all around. Maybe I should add more sand?

 

[Reefing Madness]

Ya got me. I don't know why your getting the film on the glass. Got me stumped at this point. Especially with everything your running.
Are you Carbon Dosing at all? That tends to grow a bit of bacteria on the glass.

 

[reefnoob616]

Nitrate 10
Nitrite 0
Kh 250
Ph 8.4
Ammonia 0