Algae in filter pipes

[Nooboon]

I have an Eheim 2128 which I just got running about a month ago. It's going fine and I was amazed by how quiet it is.
The question I have is that after only about a week of running, the flexible pipes that connect the filter and tank started to grow algae. Now they are almost black instead of green. None of the other piping is having the same problem, just the flexible stuff.
I assume that this is normal but I thought I better make sure. It just means I am going to have to give them a good clean every 6 months or so.

[AquariumPro]

It is normal for algae and bacteria to grow in the vinyl tubing, yes, but a week seems extreme, not that it will hurt anything. Do you have the hoses exposed to a lot of light?

[Nooboon]

No not a lot of light, only one window in the room on the south side (the dark side down here).
I thought it was a bit extreme too but also concluded that it couldn't cause any harm. I'll just keep an eye on it.
Thanks for the reply.

[MJC]

How are the filter pipes?

[Nooboon]

Well, interstingly, once the algae had completely colonized the suface of the pipes it seemed to slow its growth.
The pipes don't look so bad. If you didn't know, you would just think they were meant to be black untill you get really close.
The cause really has me baffled. Algae is not a big problem in the tank itself.
Oh well, if anything the algae will be using up nuisance phosphates and nitrates. Better to be in the pipes than in the tank.:D

Thanks for your interest though Marty. It's nice to know someone else is reading these posts.

[MJC]

Oh well, if anything the algae will be using up nuisance phosphates and nitrates. Better to be in the pipes than in the tank

Be sure to have your pipes cleaned now and then.

The effect you described is similar to an algae scrubber. Water is poured over an acrylic plate and with proper lighting, filamentous algae spores will take hold and grow on the plates. Every few weeks, the algae is harvested and discarded or a few bunches are fed to herbivores (sp?).

[Nooboon]

How often do you recommend I clean them? I was thinking every 3-4 months perhaps.

Also how often should I clean the main filter (eheim 2128). It has a flow meter and they suggest cleaning when it shows reduced flow, but at the moment it is on a really small tank and is still running at full flow. I was going to clean it next week anyway (about 2 months now) but can you suggest a regular interval?

[MJC]

The pipes whould be cleaned out when the accumulation affects the siphon flow or when you clean the Eheim, whichever is sooner.

I'm not a huge fan of cannister filters for the simple reason they can go unattended (out of site, out of mind). HOWEVER, I do know a number of people like them for their efficiency and effectiveness (quiet, self contained). These individuals also take proper care of them and usually clean them every few weeks depending on the type of livestock they keep.

I have one client with a Fluval 404 and he keeps a few tangs, damsels and perculas in his 55G reef tank. I clean it once a month.

I have another client with a Fluval 304 and she has a marine betta, purple tang, a pair of maroon clowns, an anthias, and a christmas wrasse in a 29G reef. She cleans it every other week.

IMO, two months before cleaning is a long time. Detritus is trapped and accumulating making the tank a bit too rich in nutrients. Check and monitor your water quality often and when it shows signs of building up nitrates, clean it. After awhile, you'll note a trend and from that, you could gauge how often it neweds cleaning.

HTH,

Marty

[Nooboon]

Thanks Marty.

The damn manual doesn't tell you how often to clean it and this is my first canister, I've used UG's in the past. I'll probably try to clean it once a month in the future. At the moment it is just hooked up to a little 12 gal tank and the 2128 is rated for a 150 gal!

I am getting a good bacteria population going for when I finally get my new tank. But now would be a good time to get good cleaning practices sorted out.

Thanks again

[MJC]

They wont tell you because everyone's load is different. If you have a large tank and feed often, cleaning comes more regularly.

I believe the frequency of cleaning can subjective. If it's rated for a 150 gallon tank and assuming a regular cleaning schedule is twice or once a month, one might suppose you could clean it twice or once a year.

Take the two examples I gave. One is just pushing it, the other is overdoing it.