Insanely dirty glass

Koh23 · Jun 15, 2023

Ok, really lost here, not a clue what is happening.

Corals are great, tank is two years old, water testing shows that all major parameters are spot on, but i have problems with dirty glass.

After cleaning with tunze magnet, in some 15-20 minutes after, there is already slightly cloudiness on glass, after a hour or two, it get greenish tint, if i leave it until tomorrow, it gets very dirty, with green and red shade.

So, i need to clean glass at least 3 times per day, of course i dont do it, but....

What is going on, what causes such rapid "growth" on glass?

thatmanMIKEson · Jun 15, 2023

do you have high nitrates and phosphates? what about high silicates?

Reefer Matt · Jun 15, 2023

Could possibly be cyano.

Koh23 · Jun 15, 2023

No3 are around 2-5, po4 <0.02, for silicates really dont know.

Refugium with chaeto is running, everything else is doing great, only frustration from dirty glass....

billyocean · Jun 15, 2023

Dosing any bacteria or things that would cause a bloom?

Rp8 · Jun 15, 2023

Post a pic. Verify your testing is correct. What’s your light schedule like?

Rp8 · Jun 15, 2023

Light and nutrients make algae grow. It’s one of the other

Dburr1014 · Jun 15, 2023

Carbon dosing? As Billy asked.

For haha's...
Dose more po4, get it up to 0.05 or higher and see if it goes away.

besskurz · Jun 15, 2023

billyocean said:
Dosing any bacteria or things that would cause a bloom?

Red sea reef ab can cause bacteria booms like you mention, but scraping 3x a day... have you made any water changes recently? Water could be with some unwanted nutrients..

vetteguy53081 · Jun 15, 2023

Koh23 said:
Ok, really lost here, not a clue what is happening.

Corals are great, tank is two years old, water testing shows that all major parameters are spot on, but i have problems with dirty glass.

After cleaning with tunze magnet, in some 15-20 minutes after, there is already slightly cloudiness on glass, after a hour or two, it get greenish tint, if i leave it until tomorrow, it gets very dirty, with green and red shade.

So, i need to clean glass at least 3 times per day, of course i dont do it, but....

What is going on, what causes such rapid "growth" on glass?

Im needing to clean glass more often, but am getting slight UV across room in the evening. Is your tank by chance at or near a window?
Ive slowed mine down by directing Some flow towards glass which prevents the film you see from forming so quickly. Snails such as astrea and cerith should help
Any pics you can furnish ?

Koh23 · Jun 15, 2023

Of course, i will post pics tommorow, i wrote post after cleaning glass....

I dont dose anything beside alk,ca and mg. Some phyto now and then, and i rarely change water. For top off i use rodi, 0tds.....

Light is, in my oppinion on low side, 2x90w leds, mixed settings, 5h full power on blue channel, rest is at 50%.

Only thing i can think of, maybe i did dose too much phyto.....?

Cuc are millions of snails, few strombus snail, few turbo, few babylonia, some hermit crabs, cleaner shrimp.....

Dburr1014 · Jun 15, 2023

Could be the phyto. Is it green?
Oops, yes it is, with red.

thatmanMIKEson · Jun 16, 2023

I could tell you a way to cheat and cut down on how often you will need to clean the glass....use algaefix at least once per month, I've used it a few times in a reef tank and almost never cleaned the glass. I don't recommend this but I've done this and had no coral issues even with acropora and sps in the tank.

besskurz · Jun 16, 2023

diwit said:
If you're experiencing rapid growth and dirty glass in your coral tank, there are a few possible causes to consider:

Algae growth: The greenish and reddish tint on the glass is likely caused by algae growth. Algae can thrive in aquariums due to excess nutrients (such as nitrates and phosphates) or inadequate lighting conditions. It's possible that the nutrient levels in your tank are imbalanced, promoting algae growth.

To address this, you can take the following steps:

Ensure proper filtration: Check that your filtration system is functioning optimally and remove any debris or waste buildup.

Control nutrient levels: Test the water for nitrates and phosphates, and if they are elevated, consider implementing strategies to reduce them. This can include regular water changes, improving protein skimming, and limiting overfeeding.

Check lighting conditions: Assess your lighting setup and ensure it is appropriate for your coral species. Some corals require specific lighting spectrums and intensities, so adjusting your lighting accordingly may help prevent excessive algae growth.

Insufficient water flow: Inadequate water flow can contribute to the accumulation of detritus and algae on the glass. Ensure that there is sufficient water movement and circulation in your tank, especially in the areas where the glass tends to get dirtiest. Consider adjusting the positioning of powerheads or adding additional circulation pumps to improve water flow.

Improper cleaning technique: While it's important to clean the glass regularly, improper cleaning techniques can contribute to faster algae growth. When cleaning the glass, make sure you are using a clean magnet or algae scraper specifically designed for aquarium use. Avoid using chemicals or cleaners that may harm your corals or upset the water parameters.

Overstocking or overfeeding: If your tank is overstocked with fish or you're overfeeding, it can lead to excessive nutrient levels in the water. Evaluate your stocking levels and feeding habits to ensure they are appropriate for the size of your tank. Adjusting the amount and frequency of feeding can help control nutrient levels and reduce algae growth.

Regular maintenance, including water testing, proper feeding, and monitoring nutrient levels, is crucial for maintaining a healthy aquarium. Addressing these potential causes should help reduce the rapid growth of algae and keep your glass cleaner for longer periods.

I doubt you are not using chat gpt.

BZOFIQ · Jun 16, 2023

besskurz said:
I doubt you are not using chat gpt.

Haha, I thought the same.

Koh23 · Jun 16, 2023

This is all true, but, this is not my first rodeo...

It all comes down to phyto, maybe i did dose bit (a lot) more...

Ok, i forgot to say, this stuff is dusty, clouds water when i clean glass.

And pics, this is 24h growth....

vetteguy53081 · Jun 16, 2023

Koh23 said:
This is all true, but, this is not my first rodeo...

It all comes down to phyto, maybe i did dose bit (a lot) more...

Ok, i forgot to say, this stuff is dusty, clouds water when i clean glass.

And pics, this is 24h growth....

Film algae when removed will cloud the water but the suspended matter should be trapped by filters, filter socks and reduce amount of suspended particulates.

billyocean · Jun 16, 2023

vetteguy53081 said:
Film algae when removed will cloud the water but the suspended matter should be trapped by filters, filter socks and reduce amount of suspended particulates.

Could also dose some diy coral snow after wiping the glass.

LadAShark · Jun 16, 2023

thatmanMIKEson said:
I could tell you a way to cheat and cut down on how often you will need to clean the glass....use algaefix at least once per month, I've used it a few times in a reef tank and almost never cleaned the glass. I don't recommend this but I've done this and had no coral issues even with acropora and sps in the tank.

No harm to your inverts or herbivores? So many report stuff dying that I've been chickening out from trying it.