algea on glass,,lets find out why

[greenmachine]

Something has always bothered me about the algae that grows on the glass of all our aquariums. For some reason No matter how powerful the scrubber,,,no matter how large the skimmer,,no matter how clean the water,,,we all still get algae growing on the glass. If you compare the surface of your rough, protected,well lit screen in you ATS to the smooth, clean aquarium glass that has grazers all over it how is it possible? Why does the algae like the glass so much?
What kind of algae is it? How does it cover and make green a smooth surface in a matter of 3 days? I went on vacation for the long weekend and when I got home I could not see into my tank,,the glass was covered with bright green powder algae. I am not asking how to avoid this algae nor am I asking how to remove it. What I would like is to understand WHAT this algae is and HOW it can grow so fast on such a poor surface. I think we could learn a lot.,..

[kotlec]

It grows everywhere I thing. The glass is place where you see it best.
Just my $0.02

[Garf]

Sort of a similar theory from me - it grows anywhere that's not already populated by something else, ie nice clean glass !

[cdm2012]

Good question greenmachine. I think it's called green dust algae and for some reason this type of free swimming algae has the ability to avoid plants, rocks and everything else except for the glass, but as for why, I haven't a clue!

[cdm2012]

Could it be because the main ingredient of glass is sand and the sand contains silica?

[Garf]

Could it be because the main ingredient of glass is sand and the sand contains silica?

On the face of it makes sense, but generally, diatoms uptake silica not green algae, so it should be brown. Also, I've got a silica deep sand bed and there's not a trace of green or brown on it, and never has been.

[cdm2012]

On the face of it makes sense, but generally, diatoms uptake silica not green algae, so it should be brown. Also, I've got a silica deep sand bed and there's not a trace of green or brown on it, and never has been.

Hmmm good point

[Garf]

Left my tank for 4 weeks without any glass cleaning as an experiment in August and I got this;
http://i1269.photobucket.com/albums/jj597/Garf1971/12aa3dd479537d307d1342b0b17fd846.jpg (http://http://i1269.photobucket.com/albums/jj597/Garf1971/12aa3dd479537d307d1342b0b17fd846.jpg)
http://i1269.photobucket.com/albums/jj597/Garf1971/a017e070dbd566d219b67c6f01284e76.jpg (http://http://i1269.photobucket.com/albums/jj597/Garf1971/a017e070dbd566d219b67c6f01284e76.jpg)
http://i1269.photobucket.com/albums/jj597/Garf1971/6e6d614cf128e66699a44aa3e9922237.jpg (http://http://i1269.photobucket.com/albums/jj597/Garf1971/6e6d614cf128e66699a44aa3e9922237.jpg)

[kotlec]

I dont thing any live creature can consume silica out of glass. Its should be bond forever. Not many pro grade acids can react with glass.

Nice results Garf !!!

[cdm2012]

I dont thing any live creature can consume silica out of glass. Its should be bond forever. Not many pro grade acids can react with glass.

Nice results Garf !!!
No I didn't mean it consumes it, I just thought maybe it attracted it some how. But I know that's not the reason after Garf's point

[cdm2012]

Here is an article that did an experiment with algae spores and their ability to attach themselves to things such as glass: https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:Ap5UbvPr2DsJ:www.aslo.org/lo/toc/vol_18/issue_6/0884.pdf+why+algae+spores+stick+to+glass&hl=en&gl=us&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEESjLwgR3wiZ9RUNEI3G3g5Q7AwxmaIQyfADCjhBA l2dH9nU8pIgErcrc4_lTK77h1AMYHSATfBNA-A9LKUom40P5Eru60WgmwRUiDLDJRHt-IiZWOBF6Drgh8aWC3jO_lb7N08VA&sig=AHIEtbR2-k7TcrXVjnR61qnHSQ5qiAbRcg

It appears that it is by means of a chemical bond because plate glass does not allow for mechanical attachment. But again it doesn't explain why it chooses to stick to the glass.

[SantaMonica]

It's because of the ammonia in the urea from the respiration of the animals; It hits the glass before it ever hits the rocks, sand, or the scrubber.

It oceans and lakes, it's filtered by phyto.

[cdm2012]

It's because of the ammonia in the urea from the respiration of the animals; It hits the glass before it ever hits the rocks, sand, or the scrubber.

It oceans and lakes, it's filtered by phyto.

Well now we have the 'what', the 'how', and the 'why'.

[sklywag]

CSI reef.

[greenmachine]

santa: what do you mean? Is it due to the powerheads blasting current and the only thing stopping the flow of current is the pane of glass? Any flow in the display HAS to come in contact with the glass where it would be forced to rapidly change direction and diffuse...mmmm,,,am I on to something?