what the heck is this

[coolperson]

on my glass aquarium (inside) are streaks of white stripes on the glass i have to clean it off with a algae scrubber is this algae or what cause i thought algae was brown or green but this is white and it usually comes back really fast so i have to clean it again WHAT IS THIS

 

[coolperson]

anyone?

 

[bob the builder]

That could be calcium building up on your glass. This usually happens when of coarse, you calcium is way too high. Coraline algea wont grow that fast, so its not that. Calcium tends to build up over hours. Im not 100% sure of it though. Im not thinking it is any sort of algea, since most of the time, algea takes a day to be visible. Also, there is no reason to say "anyone?". When someboday knows what it is, they will post back. It will never happen when you want to. Hope i helped!

 

[zack schwartz]

That sounds like Calicum

 

[zack schwartz]

That sounds like Calicum

 

[coolperson]

how do i get rid of CALCIUM

 

[bob the builder]

Calcium is a good thing , not bad. Well, it is bad only if it is higher than 500ppm. Do 10% water changes every week or so till you calcium is down. Fist thing we have to do is find out why it got high in the first place!
1) HAVE YOU BEED ADDING ANY BUFFER?
2) have you been doing water changes?
Just do the water changes to slowly get it down. Just dont get it down too fast or that can end up killing your inverts.

 

[coolperson]

i have been doing water changes and i have no inverts plus i used just i little bit of buffer yesterday bit there was still alot of calcium before that and suggestions

 

[wamp]

Can't say for sure what it is but doubt it is calcium. If your not adding it it will stay at the level of the salt your mixing providing nothing is using it up.
Exactly what is in your tank? Corals? Lights? Fish?
If it were calcium deposits I would think it would be harder to scrap off. Calcium, when formed, is hard and is the sructure of all reefs and corals. It is used in many types of algea also. The white may be the formation of coraline algea but if it is in streaks it is hard to say.

 

[bob the builder]

HMMM. I would think it was coraline, but the fact that it is in streaks and grows really fast sounds a lot like calcium. Coraline doesnt grow that fast, DOES IT?

 

[coolperson]

also i forgot to ask this but the tank is cloudy with a white cloud also it used to be clear but its fairly cloudy, is this calcium

 

[wamp]

Well.... that changes everything... Details are important..
Now it is starting to sound like calcium. Get a good calcium test kit and see what your level is. This is the ONLY way to find out for sure.
Bob, coraline can go really fast if given the right conditions. My first 180 was completly covered (back glass and overflow) within 1 month of setup. I was amazed at the growth. That is when I used Kalk. Since then, I have added a reactor and all has dissapeared from the glass but still grows wild on the rocks.

 

[bob the builder]

OH! Now we are gettin somehwhere! Sounds much more like calcium now. Check you levels for calcium. It should be between 400-450ppm. I would not be suprised if it is at 600ppm <img src="graemlins//uhuh.gif" border="0" alt="[U-Huh]" /> . Also, you said you added a buffer? For what level did you need to "boost"? You said your calcium was fine before that...RIGHT? You just probably riased that after you added the buffer. Either that or my head is on backwards

!

 

[broomer5]

Hi CoolPerson,
Can you describe these streaks a little more please ?
Are they vertical ?
Are they horizontal ?
Are they straight across the tank lengthwise ?
Are they crooked with no noticable pattern ?
lastly - how old is the this tank ?

 

[bob the builder]

Originally posted by broomer5:
<strong>Hi CoolPerson,
lastly - how old is the this tank ?</strong><hr></blockquote>
It's 3 years old? Look in his profile. It says years in hobby-3. That might be months, days, weeks, years? Just look in the profile. All the info is there...

 

[coolperson]

its hard to say its just all over

 

[coolperson]

so if it is what u say like 600 is there a way to lower it and what wil make my water clearer once the calcium goes away will that make it clearer

 

[wamp]

If your calcium is that high, water changes can be done to lower it. What else do you have in the tank?

 

[bob the builder]

The only thing i know of is water changes. If you do do water changes, make sure the water that you are using has a low calcium(400-430) to get it down a bit faster. Im sure about the water changes, but i know there is something else that i cant remember...

 

[broomer5]

Test your alkalinity, calcium and pH and post your results.
Without knowing that information first - most everything else would be a guess at this point.