Algea In Filter Pipes?

[Jazzyc]

After doing a water change yesterday I noticed the pipes on my external filter have Algea in them? Is this normal?

I have my tank im conservatory and I guess its becuase they are getting direct sunlight hit them (The back of the tank is covered so I dont have this problem in the actual tank). I have covered the pipes with some black cable tidy sleeve thing thats a perfect fit and blocks about 90% of the light.... so hopefully it wont get any worse....

Side Note - The flow on my Tetratec EX700 isnt incredibly strong? I was suprised by this...

 

[loachman]

After doing a water change yesterday I noticed the pipes on my external filter have Algea in them? Is this normal?

I have my tank im conservatory and I guess its becuase they are getting direct sunlight hit them (The back of the tank is covered so I dont have this problem in the actual tank). I have covered the pipes with some black cable tidy sleeve thing thats a perfect fit and blocks about 90% of the light.... so hopefully it wont get anyworse....

algae will grow anywhere there is water, light and nutrients.

 

[Jazzyc]

After doing a water change yesterday I noticed the pipes on my external filter have Algea in them? Is this normal?

I have my tank im conservatory and I guess its becuase they are getting direct sunlight hit them (The back of the tank is covered so I dont have this problem in the actual tank). I have covered the pipes with some black cable tidy sleeve thing thats a perfect fit and blocks about 90% of the light.... so hopefully it wont get anyworse....

algae will grow anywhere there is water, light and nutrients.

So it IS normal then......

 

[kniesh]

I'm no algae expert but a small amount of algae in a tank is a good sign. A sign that all is running well. Be careful though that it doesn't start to take over the tnk, this is when you need to act to sort it. But sounds like yours is ok for now.

 

[smmetz]

yes, it's completely normal to have algae grow in your filter tubes. My 4 tanks have the "hang on back" style filters, and I don't even bother cleaning the intake tube more than I can reach with my finger.

 

[Sysiphus]

After doing a water change yesterday I noticed the pipes on my external filter have Algea in them? Is this normal?

I have my tank im conservatory and I guess its becuase they are getting direct sunlight hit them (The back of the tank is covered so I dont have this problem in the actual tank). I have covered the pipes with some black cable tidy sleeve thing thats a perfect fit and blocks about 90% of the light.... so hopefully it wont get any worse....

Side Note - The flow on my Tetratec EX700 isnt incredibly strong? I was suprised by this...

There is a difference between "normal" and "good". Given the circumstances you described it does seem normal, but depending on the type of algea it may not be good. Anyway you can look at pictures of the algea and ID it?

Your darkening the filter is a good idea and may eliminate the algea. The algea in the tubes will absolutely cause a reduction in the water flow. I believe the term is "cavatation" when the draw from the pump motor exceeds the capacity of the tube to allow intake. At the point of cavatation you will see bubbles come out the return, usually sporadically and building to a more frequent event as the ability to take in enough water is reduced. All this reduces the filter efficiency and shortens the motor and rotor life.

You should check the filter media to see how much has come off and lodged once the light reduction begins to take a toll.

Good Luck!

 

[Jazzyc]

After doing a water change yesterday I noticed the pipes on my external filter have Algea in them? Is this normal?

I have my tank im conservatory and I guess its becuase they are getting direct sunlight hit them (The back of the tank is covered so I dont have this problem in the actual tank). I have covered the pipes with some black cable tidy sleeve thing thats a perfect fit and blocks about 90% of the light.... so hopefully it wont get any worse....

Side Note - The flow on my Tetratec EX700 isnt incredibly strong? I was suprised by this...

There is a difference between "normal" and "good". Given the circumstances you described it does seem normal, but depending on the type of algea it may not be good. Anyway you can look at pictures of the algea and ID it?

Your darkening the filter is a good idea and may eliminate the algea. The algea in the tubes will absolutely cause a reduction in the water flow. I believe the term is "cavatation" when the draw from the pump motor exceeds the capacity of the tube to allow intake. At the point of cavatation you will see bubbles come out the return, usually sporadically and building to a more frequent event as the ability to take in enough water is reduced. All this reduces the filter efficiency and shortens the motor and rotor life.

You should check the filter media to see how much has come off and lodged once the light reduction begins to take a toll.

Good Luck!

Well its kind of a bit of green spot algea with some brown as well..... if that helps...

 

[kubora666]

me and my dad had to pull pipe cleaner through as it blocked the entire filter pipes.
if i was your id clean them, it Trippled the effectiveness of the Eheim filter i use.

 

[three-fingers]

I don't see the problem, algae does no bad to a tank, it just looks bad.
Since your algae is in the filter pipes, and these aren't visible anyway, why even bother covering them?
Algae will eat up your nitrates just like plants do.
Are you worried about it clogging the filter or something if it comes loose from the pipes?

 

[Jazzyc]

I don't see the problem, algae does no bad to a tank, it just looks bad.
Since your algae is in the filter pipes, and these aren't visible anyway, why even bother covering them?
Algae will eat up your nitrates just like plants do.
Are you worried about it clogging the filter or something if it comes loose from the pipes?

Not really.... im worried that having algea.. leads to more algea.... there isnt nearly enough to block the pipes so thats my problem.... but i guess i shouldnt worry...

Cheers everybody!!

 

[paul_219]

Yeah it normal mine as some algea but got some algea eater it will take care of it.

 

[ryguy]

i have smae problem so yes it normal . i just clean them like once a noth then it keeps tubes clean for filtering.

 

[three-fingers]

Not really.... im worried that having algea.. leads to more algea.... there isnt nearly enough to block the pipes so thats my problem.... but i guess i shouldnt worry...

Cheers everybody!!

Yep don't worry . Having algae doesn't lead to having more algae, even if you scrubbed it all away it would always come back because it's spores are in the air.
With algae you really need to find the cause and fix it. Usually this means either providing less lights, or planting fast growing plants so they can out compete the algae.

 

[Yazan]

All is well, just the tank needs algea scrubbing on a reular basis but the pipe maybe every month or 3 weeks.

 

[xingumike]

Yeah it normal mine as some algea but got some algea eater it will take care of it.

which algae eater pray tell can get up to your in/out pipes and clean them?

not that i excect you to return to this thread, you never do following your insightful tidbits into fishkeeping.