I have a bit of an algae problem which I think is caused by my lighting being on too long but I can't get the front of the tank clean! It is all over the glass and my turbo snails are all over it but they just clean off the worst and leave a pretty pattern behind! I have tried one of those scrubbers on a stick but it won't shift - HELP!!!!
Just use a standard razor blade, or glass scraper from your hardware store, that you would use to remove paint. Light alone doesn't make algae, nitrate and phosphate does, so maybe start with some small water changes as well. If you kept your lights on 24\7 and had no nitrates or phosphates then there would be no algae.
Just use a standard razor blade, or glass scraper from your hardware store, that you would use to remove paint. Light alone doesn't make algae, nitrate and phosphate does, so maybe start with some small water changes as well. If you kept your lights on 24\7 and had no nitrates or phosphates then there would be no algae.
Would you advise the use of a UV steriliser or is it not really necessary? I have just cleaned my filter and replaced the PhosBan with new and I have reduced the length of time my lights are on for but is there anything else I can do? My tank looks horrible at the moment and there is a brown film on the top of the water - you can't really see it but if I put my hand in the water it comes out brown!
UV sterilizers, in my opinion, should be used as a last line fo defence against things like diatom or Ich outbreaks and not used on a continual day to day bases as it also removes the good bacteria aswell as the bad..
I have a red sea prizm protein skimmer but it is only running during the day because of the noise, also when I first set it up the collection cup just kept filling up and I'm worried it might do the same overnight and over flow.
Sorry, I think I have been misunderstood. Obviously for algae to grow you need light... But you cannot blame light for algae problems. If that was the case, then water closer to the equator would have more algae. And the last time I checked, that didn't seem to be the case. Nor running high amounts of light, even, dare I say natural light will not cause algae to grow. There needs to be other factors.
Let me put it another way, It's like blaming oxygen for a fire (all things being equal), and not the petrol that started it, or the fuel that is keeping it going. But yes, take away the oxygen and the fire will go away... but the unburnt petrol, and fuel will always remain.
Add lots of oxygen, however in this case there is no or little fuel, the fire will soon go out, but the ability to burn the fuel is increased.
I understand what you are saying but I can reduce the amount of light my tank has to try and reduce the growth of the algae just like I am using phosban to try and remove the phosphate which also contributes to it. I don't want to rid my tank of it completely as I think my snails and blenny might be a bit annoyed but I do want to be able to see into my tank!
I think your tank needs more skimming. I do understand your concern about it overflowing during the night. Yuck.
You might increase the agitation of the surface to try and get some of that film into suspension and add some carbon to the Fluval along with the PhosBan. That will pull some of the dissolved organic material out. If you're already using carbon then all you'll need to do is agitate the surface.
In the meantime, just drag a net over the surface. You might be able to get some of the film out that way.
I also wonder if there is enough overall circulation in the tank.
How about a sleep machine to disguise the noise of the skimmer while you sleep?
I have been leaving the skimmer on later into the evening and the film on top of the water seems to have gone, I do already have carbon in the filter with the phosban. The algae doesn't seem to be getting any worse now I just can't get it off the glass! How would I get more surface agitation and wouldn't that upset the fish?
I would like to add another power head but not sure were to position it, space is getting a bit limited in the tank. Because of the hood everything is hung on back of tank, At one end there is a heater and the inlet to the filter, next to that is the skimmer and then a powerhead, at the other end is the outlet from the filter and the other heater.
