What's that fine whitish film on aquarium glass?

[pegasus]

You're not being mean... you're just stating your opinion. Here's mine... you are correct that some sponges use calcium to support their structure (others use silica or sponging structures). I am doubting CG has enough sponges in his tank to warrant dosing every two days. I dose once a week (if I think about it) because I have several hard corals that require a lot of calcium, and my calcium always runs low. According to my Salifert test kit, my calcium runs lower than NSW (425-450)... around 380 ppm. Alk tend to run a little low, also. Mag is normal. Phosphate .016. The only thing left is lighting. This is what the back of my tank looks like, and the thermometer was cleaned a month ago. I think it's time to invest in a new glass scraper...

 

[snakeblitz33]

I guess I should have said some sponges do use calcium. Is that the only opinion you debate or are you arguing with the scientific facts as well?

That's some impressive coralline growth. Great job growing it! I have had more success growing coralline with medium to low levels of lighting. Kind of like what your talking about.

 

[pegasus]

I guess I should have said some sponges do use calcium. Is that the only opinion you debate or are you arguing with the scientific facts as well?

That's some impressive coralline growth. Great job growing it! I have had more success growing coralline with medium to low levels of lighting. Kind of like what your talking about.

You did say "some sponges" in your post. I'm not arguing the scientific facts, as I quoted them in my post: "some sponges use calcium to support their structure (others use silica or sponging structures)." Looks like we both said what needed to be said... lol!

I have a 6' tank with a 4' 6-bulb T5 HO fixture. I run ATI bulbs: 2 x Aquablue Special, 2x Blue Plus, and 2 x Coral Plus. Three of the bulbs run from 6:30am-7:30 pm. The other three from 11:00pm-2:00pm to simulate mid-day sun. Blue LED's on at 6:00am and off at 10:00pm. The coralline algae is growing best in the back of the tank where the three lamps are burning for 13 hours daily. It does grow some on the ends where it's a little shaded, but not nearly as fast as at the top-rear of the tank.

 

[ClaptonsGhost]

Strange, I didn't get email notifications for any of these follow up posts. Yes, I stopped the bio fuel and there was considerably less film on the glass today, most likely spots I just missed when cleaning the glass yesterday.

I have T-5's before and couldn't grow coraline then, either. I'm currently using Current USA LED's (2 36" strips). I've got maximum intensity set to 70 for the blue lights and 81 for the white. My phosphate level is at 0, what with the chemipure elite and phosban reactor with bio-pellets. It's not a major concern, I was just wondering.

So you're saying, with only mushrooms and orange tree sponge (which is really for the Angels and Moorish Idol to eat, I'm not trying to "keep" them) I don't need to dose with Fusion 1 and 2? I do add PhytoFeast for the mushrooms and my green bubbletip anemone. Is that enough?

 

[pegasus]

As king as you're changing water on a regular schedule and using a good salt mix, you should be providing your tank with all the calcium it needs. You're only adding Alk because Calcium causes a drop in Alkalinity. The salt mix has both. Mushrooms (most) and the BTA also use photosynthesis for energy, and as long as you feed them all along, they will thrive. The BTA would probably enjoy a meaty meal, such as chopped shrimp, Mysis, small pieces of fish, etc...

 

[ClaptonsGhost]

Thanks. I find it interesting that the anemone always seems to seek out shade, though. Normal?