Vortech and alge ?

[JARRETT SHARK]

I just bought a vortech mp40 and ever since I hooked it up my tank glass is getting green alge film. Its sucks because i have to clean it everyday. I did not now more flow will cause this? All levels perfect and yes I use ro water.All my coral are now growing crazy since I bought it but now I have this problem that sucks.I have a 72gal.
vortech speed is on pulse mode and not the highest setting.
Any suggestings?

 

[Euroreefer]

Try running it on reef crest mode. I dont have green film, and Im running it on a low speed. Phosphates?

 

[nanoreefer22]

Phosphates/Nitrates are in the water or else the algae simply wouldn't grow

 

[tosiek]

Its flow based as well as parameter based. I have the pleasure of having a vortec pushing water right on my front pane of glass and the area its hitting does get algae/dietrius alot quicker than anything else in the tank. A little grows and acts as a sticky surface for more algae to get slapped on by the flow. Sort of like spraypainting. Its not bad enough to have to clean daily though but i do notice it and after this long in the hobby I am used to the glass having a slight film so...

I also had a majijet pointing close to my back wall of glass and i have more on the spot its hitting also. So its definately not just a vortec problem. Im sure i have a descent amount of Po4 and nitrates could be lower but everythings getting color and healthy/growing.

How old are the lights, how bad is the buildup, u using a hanna to test Po4, ? BTW....Alot of things go into algae buildup other than just saying "it has to be your Po4/trates". Its just the first easy fix to the problem, usually the root cause on 80% of tanks. Bad/old lights can promote algae buildup with almost 0 traces of Po4 and No3.

Something to munch on: By increasing your flow, parts of your rocks are getting more water movement increasing their filtration rate and you also kicked up alot of sediment thats been in small crevices and under rocks, exposing covered dead spots and other things in your tank. Dunno how that ties in but its something to consider while trying to troubleshoot the problem.

 

[merfin70]

I like the spray paint comparison and agree completely. The two spots on my glass that get algae the quickest are right off to the side of my vortec and the opposite side of the tank where the flow hits the glass again. If I let it grow it looks exactly like a spray paint mark though it takes about 3 days before I feel like I need to clean it off.

 

[JARRETT SHARK]

my alge only grows on the wall were the vortech is and the front, I clean it everyother day cause it looks dirty. My nitrate is zero and my phosphate I don't have a hanna meter. Lights bulbs are brand new when I started to see the alge, also there are good brand bulbs(xm). I am lost what it is?

 

[merfin70]

Besides the algae, how does you tank look? For me, I think its kind of necessary and cleaning the glass is just part of owning a reef tank. I got my tank to ULN (almost no glass cleaning necessary then as all my algae died) via Vitamin C dosing but all my SPS paled. Some nutrients are necessary for healthy corals and creatures.

 

[chazertis]

i don't think your nitrates can ever really be zero. do you run something that chelates phosphate?

 

[reefman]

i can only guess by your input that the algea increase is cause by the extra nutrients from the extra flow. this however may b a blessing in disguise, i.e. the algea would be growing on places u dont want if not for algea on the glass.

 

[JARRETT SHARK]

my tank looks good and no alge on rocks or anywhere else but the glass. I think my sps is growing faster since the vortech, maybe i will not use pulse mode and see what happens.

 

[masterswimmer]

The oceans aren't algae free They seem to grow coral very well.

swimmer

 

[JARRETT SHARK]

thats true