White film on glass

Maltese · Mar 10, 2015

Hi Randy, I own a 120g system reef tank with refuguim tank. It is 4 years old and i always had a problem with high nitrates 80 mgL. A couple of weeks ago I started to use the vodka method, after 5 weeks of dosing I checked my nitrates using Salifert and now I switched to API that i found it more easily for me to read colours and from the first time till after 5 weeks nitrates parameters remained the same high i did'nt saw any decreasing so I switched to vinegar method, my protein skimmer is skimming much more greenish junk than the vodka method. I think in my tank vinegar is taking more junk than ethanol. My phosphates are less than 0.05 mgL. I have a question to do please if you could help me? Inside my tank it's covering like a white film ( I read about it because I read a lot your articles). The white film that is covering my tank it goes by time or I have to clean it off manually ?

Reefing Madness · Mar 10, 2015

You'll need to clean it off for now, as you go back down to maintenance dosing your tank, the film will go away also.

Maltese · Mar 10, 2015

Reefing Madness said:
You'll need to clean it off for now, as you go back down to maintenance dosing your tank, the film will go away also.

Thanks for your help Reefing Madness.

hart24601 · Mar 10, 2015

I like to keep a large bag of carbon near where my carbon dose enters the water. I use 2 bags of carbon and I cycle them so there is always the older one under the dosing line providing a good surface area for bacterial colonization and keeping them out of the DT, works for me at least. I don't always change the carbon on a regular basis, but I leave it in there for a "home".

Maltese · Mar 10, 2015

hart24601 said:
I like to keep a large bag of carbon near where my carbon dose enters the water. I use 2 bags of carbon and I cycle them so there is always the older one under the dosing line providing a good surface area for bacterial colonization and keeping them out of the DT, works for me at least. I don't always change the carbon on a regular basis, but I leave it in there for a "home".

Thanks hart24601 for for your reply. I have a 750 gramms of carbon and i place it in the last stage (chamber) of the refugium, where the water flows to the tank, because i have a huge overhead refugium, but you gave me a better idea i'll put the carbon in the filter socks. I have a question to ask you?
The white film that forms on the glass is a good bacteria or bad bacteria ?

Reefing Madness · Mar 10, 2015

Just remember that with carbon, it will leach back into the system when it gets full, it must be changed or issues will arise.

hart24601 · Mar 10, 2015

It's very unlikely a bad pathogenic bacteria, probably an extracullular matrix (bacteria secretions) rather than pure bacteria. The bacteria itself is most likely neutral, but it's good in the respect of it growing and using up nutrients and then hopefully getting skimmed out or consumed by other organisms in the tank.

hart24601 · Mar 10, 2015

To expand on the carbon thing. It is a good idea to replace it (I cycle the bags) every month or two according to Randy. It doesn't sound like it leaches much unless it binds other organics if I understand Randy's quote below.

I'd remove it after a while (1-2 months, typically). It may release organics that are bound to it, but that is only likely if it binds other organics in their place (or they are consumed by bacteria on the carbon).

Maltese · Mar 10, 2015

Reefing Madness said:
Just remember that with carbon, it will leach back into the system when it gets full, it must be changed or issues will arise.

I renew it on the 28Th February, do it last for a month?

Maltese · Mar 10, 2015

hart24601 said:
To expand on the carbon thing. It is a good idea to replace it (I cycle the bags) every month or two according to Randy. It doesn't sound like it leaches much unless it binds other organics if I understand Randy's quote below.

I'd remove it after a while (1-2 months, typically). It may release organics that are bound to it, but that is only likely if it binds other organics in their place (or they are consumed by bacteria on the carbon).

Thanks for your useful information hart24601 i really appreciate. On the 28th of February i renew it.

Maltese · Mar 10, 2015

I'm using a drip set to dose carbon, on a 8 hours of light, is it right ? As i was reading Randy's chemistry articles

Kyuss414 · Mar 10, 2015

Yup that's the best way to do it. It helps minimize the ph lowering affect of the carbon source since ph is relatively higher when the lights are on.

Maltese · Mar 10, 2015

Kyuss414 said:
Yup that's the best way to do it. It helps minimize the ph lowering affect of the carbon source since ph is relatively higher when the lights are on.

I think even with the KH\ Alkanity helps, as i read on Randy's chemistry articles ?

Reefing Madness · Mar 10, 2015

Maltese said:
I renew it on the 28Th February, do it last for a month?

Yea, normal change out would be every 4 weeks.

Maltese · Mar 10, 2015

Reefing Madness said:
Yea, normal change out would be every 4 weeks.

Thanks again for help Reefing Madness

Kyuss414 · Mar 10, 2015

Maltese said:
I think even with the KH\ Alkanity helps, as i read on Randy's chemistry articles ?

I remember reading something from Randy about the acetate from vinegar affecting alk, but that was due to it giving false readings on an alk test, and iirc only really a concern when dosing high amounts. I never noticed an issue with my vinegar dosing so I never looked for more info on it past that though.