Algae on rear of tank

Rctreece · Sep 9, 2018

I keep having algae growing on the back of my tank. Do most people remove this every so often or let it go? My fish do graze on it some but not enough to keep it down.

Crabs McJones · Sep 9, 2018

How old is the tank? I never scrubbed my back glass because in time itll be covered in coralline algae

Dom · Sep 9, 2018

If it was my tank, I would identify the nutrients feeding the algae and the source of the nutrients:

1. Check PO4(Phosphate) and NO3 (Nitrates). These are nutrients that feed algae. If elevated, try weekly water changes over several weeks and monitor for a reduction of those nutrients.

2. Do you run a sump? If so, does it have a refugium? Refugiums are great; very simply, you promote algae growth in the refugium so there are few nutrients left to feed the algae in the display tank. If you do not have a sump, there are many HOB ( Hang on Back) refugiums from which to choose.

3. Do you run a protein skimmer? Protein skimmers are the equivalent of a sewerage treatment plant. They remove fish waste from the water column BEFORE they can become nutrients that feed algae.

4. What is your light cycle? You could try reducing the number of hours the lights are on daily.

A picture of the algae your fighting with would be helpful. Not a closeup; preferably a whole tank shot that will allow us to see other things going on in the tank which could help solve the problem. Also, testing results for Ammonia and Nitrates.

lapin · Sep 9, 2018

I scrub the back 2 panels of my tank each week. I have a square tank. With the back panels clean I get a nice reflection making the tank seems 2x deeper than it is. The back panels have a black cloth backing.

ReeferSpot · Sep 9, 2018

My tank is pretty new so I have been removing it about once a week.

Rctreece · Sep 10, 2018

Crabs Mcjones said:
How old is the tank? I never scrubbed my back glass because in time itll be covered in coralline algae

5 months

Subsea · Sep 10, 2018

Relax and ejoy your display.

WV Reefer · Sep 10, 2018

I tend to let it grow on the back wall...... gives everyone something to eat.

redpine42 · Sep 10, 2018

WV Reefer said:
I tend to let it grow on the back wall...... gives everyone something to eat.

I tried that, but then they don't eat up the algae on my rocks. I scrapped the back glass and now they are hard at work clearing the DT.

SPR1968 · Sep 10, 2018

I prefer the clean back wall as I think it gives it more 'depth' but its personal preference.

The Max S500 is similar to my 650 and I let the back wall get covered for 6 months before i cleaned it as I thought it might be beneficial to the system. It made the water cloudy but soon cleared up.

I clean mine about once every 3-4 weeks as soon as I see lots of little white specs appearing whatever they are, and then just get a long handled scraper. It only takes a few minutes and its clean again.

GoPitt88 · Sep 10, 2018

I let my back glass go.....don’t clean it. My Coral Beauty enjoys to nibble on it, and so does my Tuxedo Urchin

I don’t mind how it looks at all. I use a canister filter, an HOB filter, and an HOB protein skimmer, so it hides some of the wires as well.

redpine42 · Sep 10, 2018

GoPitt88 said:
I let my back glass go.....don’t clean it. My Coral Beauty enjoys to nibble on it, and so does my Tuxedo Urchin I don’t mind how it looks at all. I use a canister filter, an HOB filter, and an HOB protein skimmer, so it hides some of the wires as well.

So I was thinking about getting an urchin(Black Long spine urchin) as part of my CUC. How is it? Any concerns keeping it in an aquarium?

lapin · Sep 10, 2018

redpine42 said:
So I was thinking about getting an urchin(Black Long spine urchin) as part of my CUC. How is it? Any concerns keeping it in an aquarium?

None other than moving your frags around like any urchin will, if they are not glued down. Urchins scrub the rocks clean. I have had them in both of my acrylic tanks and have had no issues. They do need algae to eat. If you have none they will starve.

GoPitt88 · Sep 10, 2018

redpine42 said:
So I was thinking about getting an urchin(Black Long spine urchin) as part of my CUC. How is it? Any concerns keeping it in an aquarium?

I have a blue tuxedo urchin, and he leaves my corals alone. They aren't the bulldozer that other urchins are. I love the little guy [emoji4]

Rctreece · Sep 10, 2018

Dom said:
If it was my tank, I would identify the nutrients feeding the algae and the source of the nutrients:

1. Check PO4(Phosphate) and NO3 (Nitrates). These are nutrients that feed algae. If elevated, try weekly water changes over several weeks and monitor for a reduction of those nutrients.

2. Do you run a sump? If so, does it have a refugium? Refugiums are great; very simply, you promote algae growth in the refugium so there are few nutrients left to feed the algae in the display tank. If you do not have a sump, there are many HOB ( Hang on Back) refugiums from which to choose.

3. Do you run a protein skimmer? Protein skimmers are the equivalent of a sewerage treatment plant. They remove fish waste from the water column BEFORE they can become nutrients that feed algae.

4. What is your light cycle? You could try reducing the number of hours the lights are on daily.

A picture of the algae your fighting with would be helpful. Not a closeup; preferably a whole tank shot that will allow us to see other things going on in the tank which could help solve the problem. Also, testing results for Ammonia and Nitrates.

1. Not an issue everything is right where it should be.

2. Yes I do have a sump. Tried growing some chetao (sp) but ended up having some bright green algae grow all over it so I stopped. Now sumo is clean

3. Yep skimmer is up and running. No issues with it.

4. I use saxby routine that a lot use. I guess I could shorten it I think is 10 hours or so

Can’t put full tank pic as the algae doesn’t show up very well.

I am wondering is this part of the new tank uglies or not and will it eventually go away

Rctreece · Sep 10, 2018

SPR1968 said:
I prefer the clean back wall as I think it gives it more 'depth' but its personal preference.

The Max S500 is similar to my 650 and I let the back wall get covered for 6 months before i cleaned it as I thought it might be beneficial to the system. It made the water cloudy but soon cleared up.

I clean mine about once every 3-4 weeks as soon as I see lots of little white specs appearing whatever they are, and then just get a long handled scraper. It only takes a few minutes and its clean again.

Thanks I am going to keep it clean. I do see some purple growing on it