How do you clean back glass?

Discussion in 'Algae' started by Ballgame, Apr 6, 2014.

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  1. Ballgame

    Ballgame Millepora

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    good feedback guys. Im sorta new to this but a little surprised no one cleans the back. I imagine a wall of algea carpet haha. Good stuff.
    But if it covers the whole back wont it cover up the black back?

    Im glad I asked this question. OK Ill stop cleaning the back and let it grow.
     
    Last edited: Apr 7, 2014
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  3. PghSteeler

    PghSteeler Tassled File Fish

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    I clean some of my back wall. I clean the top half and torwads the sides where you can see it if youre staring at the tank. I did leave room behind ockwork for fish to swim, but where I cant see anyway I let it grow.

    Algae is one of the most benefical things in our systems. There is a reason people try to grow a tank of only algae below their setups to keep their tanks healthy!
     
  4. oldfishkeeper

    oldfishkeeper Giant Squid

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    it sounds like you may just need a little more flow where you said you can see the line where the algae starts and ends....flow can help with many things. I know I never fully appreciated having good flow until I had it :)
     
  5. mdbostwick

    mdbostwick Vlamingii Tang

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    I really like the black on the back.

    My first tank I had blue and it was awful. I scraped it and painted it black. it was hard to do since the tank is close to the wall, but i just cut the handle off so i could get back there. and no matter if you use gloss or flat black, the glass is going to give it that shiny glaring finish.

    As far as cleaning the glass. I am pretty anal about the cleanliness of the glass as well but I still will leave the back as is and leave it for my CUC and some fish nibble it as well.

    What type of lighting do you have? Are you able to adjust it to where it doesn't shine as much on the glass and move them more inward?
     
  6. PghSteeler

    PghSteeler Tassled File Fish

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    Flow with cyano, hair and film algae dont mind it lol.

    Not sure what fish you have but give John from reefcleaners a shoutout with some pictures if youre having an issue and he cna help ID the specific algae you are dealing with as well as provide a custom clean up crew to help eat it naturally. His prices are better than any lfs I have ever been too and he is very knowledgable and friendly.
     
  7. mdbostwick

    mdbostwick Vlamingii Tang

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    +1 John will help you out.
     
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  9. Todd_Sails

    Todd_Sails Giant Squid

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    I read your thread title;

    my DT currently has the answer- I don't.

    It's painted black, but within 6 months was covered in all kinds of color of Corrailline.

    I'd ditch the cannister filter IIWY. Any way to get a sump going?
     
  10. DSC reef

    DSC reef Giant Squid

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    Plus 1!!! That canister is a bucket of nutrient overload. The algae on the back is natural and I'm sure it's not a nuisance algae. Let it be, get a turbo snail and watch the coralline grow.
     
  11. Ballgame

    Ballgame Millepora

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    I agree with canister. But literally no way to add a sump. This was all a gift from my wife…she bought tank and stand. Being new but knowing I wasn’t doing reef wasn’t a concern at the time. The stand is why I can’t do a sump. A 10 gallon would barely fit (and I’m not even 100% sure on that) with no way to access it because no room from top of sump to top of inside roof. No room behind it.
    Here is the stand she got me.

    http://www.petsmart.com/gsi/webstore/WFS/PETNA-PETUS-Site/en_US/-/USD/ViewProduct-Start;pgid=WRZiA7wqEvdSRpVOZMjT35n90000LlhFl-If?SKU=36-17295

    Having said all this. If I have a 75 gallon would a 10 gallon sump be enough?

    When I get home Ill get measurements inside this stand. Maybe a 10 gallon long? Do they even make those?!?
     
  12. civiccars2003

    civiccars2003 Great Blue Whale

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    Back to the topic at hand, I dont have any rock on my back wall, so I just use the mag float to keep it clean. When I had my 55, I used a tooth brush to clean the algae and a razor blade to clean the coralline when I had it. As for the rock that laid on the glass, I used a turkey baster to blow behind it.