Algae on Power Heads

My tank is pretty much algae free - visually anyway.

But I do get it growing on my power heads. I will take a pic and post at lunch.


Sometimes a Nerite will get up there and clean a bit of it off - but generally they don't keep the power heads clean.


Should I worry about this (that is, should I pull the power head and clean it)?

It's not in the rest of the tank - so if it is spreading by being blown through the PH, the CuC is getting it quicker than it can establish... Having just a bit up there on the PH - I figure helps keep my Nitrates down...

What do you think? Leave it alone or clean it?

PS: If it grows enough to block flow through PH, I'll definitely clean.

 

my Powerhead is the same...I don't clean mine...eventually the snails make their way up there and clean it off quite well...

Especially the turbo...he's a fatty.

If it did get a bit clogged...i beleive it could become an issue.

 

It's a pretty normal situation. My water quality is currently tits and I overskim by at least 2x and I still get algae growing on the PHs. I clean it off because I don't want to spread it and because it starts to cast a shadow. But I agree that it probably contributes a tiny amount of denitrification. I don't think the denitrification makes up for the unsightliness (IMO).

 

I clean mine inside out once a month with a brush and baking soda.

 

Why the baking soda?

 

It is a natural PH buffer.

 

Because its gets all the oily stuff off and safe to use... what else am i gona use? soap? :

 

I just scrub them off with course filter material--seems to work just fine.

 

If it gets bad clean it.. Coraline is groing over mine.. I clean my PH every two weeks, just to keep it working good. i also use a brush, or filter pad.. baking soda.. hmm.. good idear!