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Old 03-30-2010, 03:39 PM
newreefer_59 newreefer_59 is offline
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Default Question re: back of tank - keep glass clean or not?

Attached is a pic taken Jan 1. The space between the wall and back of the tank is just enough to squuueeezze an arm back there to clean with my magfloat and Easy Scraper and is doable - though it is a pain. So, is it generally ok just to let coraline algae, etc to just grow on the back pane (or is it personal choice? As per pic, I did paint the back blue initially. I do get some (not alot) of short hair algae that my blennie munches on, but wondering if it is beneficial to just leave the back pane or should it be kept as clean as the front and side glass.

Thanks.

Last edited by newreefer_59; 09-22-2010 at 10:08 PM.
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Old 03-30-2010, 03:42 PM
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banditpowdercoat banditpowdercoat is offline
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All depends on your preferences. I never scrape the back wall. I used to, but was such a chore, and once it grows in, it will be consistent..
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Umm, a tank or 5
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Old 03-30-2010, 04:32 PM
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deffinitly clean the back. For many reasons too, first off, all reefs look way hotter when clean like that. second off, I believe that you get a better light value when the light is reflected off of clean glass back into the tank then absorbed by algea. and third off which is the most important one is that if you dont clean the algea off of the back wall, you will end up having algea grow, die, grow, die, grow some more and die some more meanwhile creating unexplainable levels of nitrates.......yeah, I clean the back wall of my tank for those reasons.
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Old 03-30-2010, 04:35 PM
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I personally don't clean it, but to each his own. It does look nice when it is clean. But I also think a tank developes character when you just leave it alone.
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Setup: 180G DT, 105G Refuge (approx. 300lbs LR, 150lbs Aragonite)
Hardware: Super Reef Octopus SSS-3000, Tunze ATO, Mag 18 return, 2x MP40W, 2X Koralia 4's Wavemaker
Lighting: 5ft Hamilton Belize Sun (2x250W MH, 2X80W T5HO)
Type of Aquarium: mixed reef (SPS & LPS) with fish
Dosing: Mg, Ca, Alk
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Old 03-31-2010, 12:13 AM
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Personal preference: keep it clean - the colors of the corals and fish "pop" more against a clean black background. And ultimately the whole point in having a display tank is to "display" the inhabitants optimally.

Second option: cover the back in reef ceramics of some sort giving the appearance of a reef ledge providing additional places beyond the rock work to attach corals.
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Last edited by Canadian; 03-31-2010 at 03:50 AM.
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Old 03-31-2010, 12:25 AM
Leah Leah is offline
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Hi Len,

I leave mine behind the rock... where no one can see it...but keep in mind that if you ever want to change your rock work, it will be harder scraping it off...totally up to you though.

Last edited by Leah; 03-31-2010 at 12:47 AM.
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