How fast does algae grow on your glass?

[Treefer32]

I have a 230 gallon tank that is 4 months old now. (Still new tank Syndrome most likely). I get algae on the glass (pretty thick-- blocking view) within 4-6 days of cleaning the glass.

Within 3 days the green film algae is back in spots, and within 2 more days a thicker (fuzzy) brown algae is grown over the green algae.

I spend on average 1-2 hours a week cleaning the glass. (it's a tall tank, so Harder to get to the bottom).

I'm running apollo reef LEDs at around 2-3 watts per LED using Apex to dim them throughout the day. Just wondering if Adding a good UV sterilizer would keep algae from growing on the glass, or am I better off running phosguard or GFO? Or would non of the above really stop it from growing on the glass? I've got Chaeto growing in the sump, I had gotten a small ball, it's probably doubled in size over the last 2 months. (Very slow grower).. I rotate it weekly, and Have broken off some that is now in two balls. . I would like it to get big enough to fill in the whole refugium before I start extracting it...

Any suggestions to reduce how often I clean the glass. I was leaning towards an 8 micron filter sock with phosguard and throwing it near the sump outlet - high flow area...

Phosguard because it looks like it doesn't need to remain in constant motion or risk clumping like GFO.... However, I don't want to waste the money and risk damaging my corals by having my phosphates too low.... I'm also dosing prodibio digest. 6 vials (treating 300 gallons of water) a week. What have people done to keep their glass clean for longer periods. I'd be happy with 10-14 days having to clean it. vs. starting to fill in within 3 and looking horrendous by the 5th day...

Heh, I need a robotic glass scrubber and polisher!! HA!

 

[Dashiki]

I have a uv sterilizer on my 300 and that cut down glass cleaning a ton. get your phosphates lower and it will slow too.

 

[Treefer32]

That's what I've been reading. Sterilizers kill the algae in the water column preventing it from growing on glass.. But, wondering if Phosguard would accomplish the same thing at around 1/10th the cost...

 

[GHill762]

I start to get build up after a few days also, not as bad as my last tank though.. I find it much easier to run the mag float once every other day or so than it is to deal with it after there is legitimate algae or coralline growth..

 

[rworegon]

Just schedule 5 minutes of so each day and run a magfloat over the glass. You probably spend that much time staring at the tank each day anyway.

 

[seargentslice]

+1 What I do

 

[mike007]

Since i got my alk level stablized i am not having to clean my glass as often. Also i carbon dose and run mag float every few days which keeps algae from forming too quickly.

 

[Treefer32]

I have roughly 200-400 Dwarf Cerinths on my glass everyday, I hate to knock them down every day.... Poor guys climbed all that way each day only to be knocked down... ha!

 

[GHill762]

I have roughly 200-400 Dwarf Cerinths on my glass everyday, I hate to knock them down every day.... Poor guys climbed all that way each day only to be knocked down... ha!

hey you stoopid snails, get off my glass!! :xd:

I always knock them down and within a minute or two they are halfway up the glass again..

 

[MSD60178]

I run GFO and clean with a magfloat every few days. The GFO I get from Bulkreefsuppy.com and use about 3 cups a month I also change my carbon every week and do bi weekly water changes. I think the key is to keep phosphates as close to 0.0ppm as you can. I was having to deal with a green fuzzie algae for months and months so I started useing the GFO and even cut back on feeding to every other day and since cutting back on feeding all algae is gone and glass stays clean for days with out having to clean.

 

[Treefer32]

Yeah, I've been debating running GFO or Phosguard and Carbon in just filter socks in a high flow area... I don't want to deplete it too much I hurt corals.

 

[turbo21]

Who has time to clean the glass?

Just get one of these guys

Cleans it automatically. My lfs has one on a tank. And it's pretty cool but pricey

http://www.robosnail.com

 

[Treefer32]

You figure GFO or Phosguard for a larger tank and it would recoup your cost in 2-4 months at most... Problem is that the robosnail only handles .40" glass, and I think my glass is thicker than that.

 

[ryanscott]

I usually clean my 120 every day but I can leave it for almost two weeks before it will build up bad. I run ozone and keep my ORP around 500 which helps.