UV Sterilizers

[drewster]

Alright, i need input from you guys on these devices. I have green algae coming out of my ears and i'm sick of cleaning my substrate every few days. My clean up crew isn't doing their job it seems. I bought a Lawnmower Blenny yesterday and so far he hangs out in the rocks and stares at me all day. I've done some research on these UV sterilizers and i'm still not sure whether or not they work or if one would help for me. I have a 55 gallon reef tank that now houses 2 clownfish, blue tang, coral beauty angelfish, and a lawnmower blenny. Any ideas on if a UV sterilizer would benefit me? Would it solve my algae problems? Would my tang then starve or would there be enough algae for him to eat? Help me plz!!!

 

[drewster]

I use purified tap water. I bought one of those countertap water filter system thingies because i couldn't afford to buy a RO system. I'm pretty sure i don't overfeed. I feed my fish once a day and i basically give them a few pellets and maybe 1/5 of a Formula 1 cube. I read that the UV sterlizers stop algae production too. If i'm wrong, let me know.

 

[reptilicus]

Hi,
the short answer is yes, it will HELP your algae problem, but not nesseccarily cure it. A UV steriliser will significantly reduce the amount of algae in your tank, but you have to look at the bigger picture. While it does reduce algae, it also reduces everything else in your tank as well. Everyhing that passes through it, from ick parasites to copepods, will be killed. You will have a very sterile tank, which is good in some ways but no so good in others. Just depends on what sort of tank you're after. However, having said that, while a UV steriliser will help control the problem, it will do nothing to fix the source. Use RO water if you don't already do so, and you could also consider cutting back your photoperiod for a while, particularly if you have Metal Halide lighting. Using something like Phosguard may work as well.
HTH,
Tom

 

[broomer5]

Hey Drewster,
You didn't mention your water quality numbers ? From what I understand, most often large amounts of algae are due to either high nitrates, high phosphates and lont light periods ... that is the food for the stuff. I think large amounts of phosphates probably are the most often overlooked culprit. I agree with the previous post, you may want to try some sort of phosphate removal product ( if indeed you are registering high levels of phosphates ). I am not an expert by any means but I have read a lot lately, and if any of us have algae problems, we need to determine if the phosphates are coming into the tank from our top off / water changes, our hands if we happen to have soap residues not completely rinsed off, or if the phosphates are coming from over-feeding and detritus accummulation. Is the algae all over the tank or are there spots that seem to have more than growth than others. If you see spots where it grows more, that may indicate areas of the tank with little or low water circulation, and debris will settle in that spot.
If I were you I would double check double test your water for nitrates and phosphates and if both are high - concentrate on measures to get them down first.
Good luck dude !
Broomer

 

[drewster]

Well, nitrites and nitrates are still at zero like usual. I don't have a test for phosphates though. Should i buy some phosguard just to see if it does something? My calcium levels are kinda high, not sure if thats a problem. They are probably around 650. I have my lights on 12 hours a day. Too much? They are on a timer so i can easily reduce it.

 

[broomer5]

I would consider either taking a water sample to your lfs to test it for phosphates, or getting a test kit for phosphates for your own use. Aquairium Systems makes a kit called SeaTesT ( reef aquairium multi-test kit, for calcium, low-range nitrate and phosphates ) that is pretty easy to use. Or I'm sure there are others equally as good or better.
The phosgaurd is a good idea, but without knowing before and after phosphate levels in your water, you'd just be hoping for the algae growth to subside, not really knowing for sure what caused and fixed the problem.
My opinion only Drewster

Broomer

 

[salt one]

i just bought a pond UV sterilizer and put it on my tank, and i did reduce the alge, but didn't get rid of it, its mostly for protecting your fish from disease, ex. if you brought home a sick fish and put it in your tank, the disease would not spread.

 

[shellback787]

Have you tried distilled water? I use Buffalo Don's Steam Distilled Drinking Water and I have no algae problems. Also, how is your sand bed set-up? Does the algae seem to be more proliferic at the substrate? If your sand bed is not set-up correctly it will cause lots of problems. Namely algae problems.