scottnlisa
Member
Are UV sterilizers worth it? Do they really cut down on algae growth? What kind of algae does it help control?
Are UV sterilizers worth the price?
- Thread starter scottnlisa
- Start date
scsinet
Active Member
UV units, when properly deployed, will kill free floating algae spores in the water. They will do nothing to stop algae growing on the rocks and glass, and they will have very little effect on slowing or stopping the spreading of the latter algae.
They are expensive to buy and expensive to maintain, because the UV lamp - which is not cheap - needs to get replaced frequently, and often there are other consumables in the unit such as the quartz sleeve and inner liner that must also be replaced.
Using a UV unit to attack an algae problem is attacking the symtom, not the cause. If you've got an algae problem, you need to look at the nutrients that are fueling the algae growth.
IMO no, not worth the price unless running one on a quarantine tank.
They are expensive to buy and expensive to maintain, because the UV lamp - which is not cheap - needs to get replaced frequently, and often there are other consumables in the unit such as the quartz sleeve and inner liner that must also be replaced.
Using a UV unit to attack an algae problem is attacking the symtom, not the cause. If you've got an algae problem, you need to look at the nutrients that are fueling the algae growth.
IMO no, not worth the price unless running one on a quarantine tank.