film algae on glass ,,again..

[SantaMonica]

The "looks" of it do not mean anything. Algae do not consume DOC, so it makes no difference what the growth on the glass looks like. Algae consume Inorganic Nitrate and Inorganic Phosphate. The more there is, the darker algae grow.

Also, at 5 days, algae should still be in its max (exponential) growth phase; not it's reduced growth phase.

[Vannpytt]

In other words, I should leave it for 7 days?

I have never measured N or P on this tank. Not even the slightest detection on my kits, and I've tried several. I might go the Biopellet/skimmer route, or the Zeo route. All this time, my N and P has been undetectable, but I cannot fight against it anymore. My SPS growth is slow at best, and while after the restart, my system is alot better with polyps extending quite a bit, day and night, I'm all out of ideas to make this work for me, and I feel that 1 year is patient enough.

I'm not doubting algae, but it might not be for me or my tank. God knows.

I don't feed alot
I don't have new rocks
I don't have N or P
I use a decent skimmer
I use GAC in a fluidized reactor
I don't have algae in the DT
I have massive growth of algae on the screen
I change 15% water 1-2 times a month
I run a Calcium reactor

Why won't my friggin SPS grow and color out, while I see anorectic SPS tanks with the ZEO system, and also with pellets systems? Is it the bacteria? I read your thread on the Zeo forum. Might the bacterial diversity be lacking?

[SantaMonica]

I use a decent skimmer; I use GAC in a fluidized reactor; I don't feed alot

It's this. You are removing what little particle food (skimmer) and dissolved food (GAC) you do have, that is needed for growth. Since you have no nutrient/algae problems, you can be pumping in much more food per day, which will benefit more that just the sps. Also, by feeding more, your scrubber will grow darker (less "efficient" filtering), which will allow the DOC (and bacteria) to increase further. Lastly, increased feeding/DOC/N/P will allow softies/lps to grow, and maybe even nps if you have enough particles and flow. Try that in zeo/pellet tanks.

Skimmer/GAC is never a good combination with scrubbers, when it comes to stony growth. It defeats the very purpose of the algae, nutrition-wise. Zeo/pellet systems, when they are not bleaching corals, are providing lots of particles (bacteria). With scrubber-only systems, you can't bleach the corals (due to self-limiting algal growth), but you can remove too much of the DOC/particles supplied by the algae.

[new2scrub]

good news! i changed my scrubber bulbs and the algae on the glass is far less! there was still a little growing on the glass but my new snails are doing a great job with it.

[SantaMonica]

How old were they?

[Vannpytt]

I use a decent skimmer; I use GAC in a fluidized reactor; I don't feed alot

It's this. You are removing what little particle food (skimmer) and dissolved food (GAC) you do have, that is needed for growth. Since you have no nutrient/algae problems, you can be pumping in much more food per day, which will benefit more that just the sps. Also, by feeding more, your scrubber will grow darker (less "efficient" filtering), which will allow the DOC (and bacteria) to increase further. Lastly, increased feeding/DOC/N/P will allow softies/lps to grow, and maybe even nps if you have enough particles and flow. Try that in zeo/pellet tanks.

Skimmer/GAC is never a good combination with scrubbers, when it comes to stony growth. It defeats the very purpose of the algae, nutrition-wise. Zeo/pellet systems, when they are not bleaching corals, are providing lots of particles (bacteria). With scrubber-only systems, you can't bleach the corals (due to self-limiting algal growth), but you can remove too much of the DOC/particles supplied by the algae.

And the glasscleaning is an indicator of high nutrient levels? So, basically, to me, this seems like a paradox.

I don't got measurable nutrients, never hard. I don't have visible algae growth in DT. I have good growth, yet my glass becomes covered in algae quickly. Would using a product like "Seachem Matrix" to allow bacteria to populate help? (Basically just external liverock)

[jnad]

Vannpytt:

Maybe it is a little like this:

If you use a magnetic algae remover i think maybe it always will bee some inviseble algae left on the hole area of the glass, therfore the algae on the glass is coming back faster than other places in the DT.

Just a long shot trying to help: try too clean the glass in DT with a rasor blade, then you will get rid of more algae spores on the glass.

When i clean my glass with a rasor blade the DT looks a lot clearer than cleaned with a magnetic alga remover.

jnad

[Vannpytt]

Thanks Jnad, will try it!

[new2scrub]

my bulbs wear less than 2 months old,but i changed anyhow . they wear cheapo bulbs so maybe thats y?

and good points about the magnetic algae cleaner....much like cleaning a scrubber screen,,your not removing ALL the algae just enough to see thru......hummmmm

[Floyd R Turbo]

With scrubber-only systems, you can't bleach the corals (due to self-limiting algal growth), but you can remove too much of the DOC/particles supplied by the algae.

I'm a bit confused, are you saying the algae removes the DOC/particles supplied by itself?