Just wanted to let you know my experience with a new UV sterilizer. I purchased a 24 watt GKM (Green Killing Machine) regularly sold at Pets%$%$rt. I was fighting greenwater in my 75 galon planted tank to no avail, having tried a 4 day complete blackout and still failing to conquer this. I can only say that this device WORKS, and what I used to think was crystal clear water wasn't crystal clear at all!! Tank looks great and I've now addressed an issue that may have caused the problem to start with. (I raised my lights higher over the tank and shortened my photoperiod considerably. Just wanted to share.
UV Sterilizer experience
- Thread starter andyjh
- Start date
Yup - works like a charm. And you're doing the right thing by trying to remedy the root cause of the problem so it doesn't recur.
I'm liking this look so much I'm giving serious consideration to plumbing in an inline UV unit and running it full time. Really sparkling water is something you can get used to quickly, and I'm afraid anything less than this won't satisfy me!
Well, I hope you're not too disappointed over the long run by using UV sterilization on a full-time basis, expecting high clarity. It's certainly great for clearing up green water very quickly, but IME it won't do very much good for other conditions which may affect your water clarity.
I've found this simple combo to be the most effective in maintaining excellent clarity:
1.- Large, frequent w/c's - 2. & 3. - Regular use of Purigen, and plain old filter floss in my filters - (Purigen rotated and re-charged no less frequently than bi-weekly, and double-layered filter floss replaced with new weekly.)
This is my 75 gal.:
http://s1105.photobucket.com/albums/h357/discuspaul/FTS-Osaka260
I've found this simple combo to be the most effective in maintaining excellent clarity:
1.- Large, frequent w/c's - 2. & 3. - Regular use of Purigen, and plain old filter floss in my filters - (Purigen rotated and re-charged no less frequently than bi-weekly, and double-layered filter floss replaced with new weekly.)
This is my 75 gal.:
http://s1105.photobucket.com/albums/h357/discuspaul/FTS-Osaka260
CWO4GUNNER
USN/USCG 1974-2004 Weps
I run UV's on all my tanks using a central timer that controls my UV and filters running in 30 minute intervals ON & OFF 24/7. The only exception are my HOB power filters which run 24/7 without filter inserts because they house huge Pothos plants, and I mean huge! About 3x the size of my avatar photo surpassing the volume to size ratio of what a given planted tank could hold. Between the UV's stopping the blooming of algae-diatoms-pathogens, circumference filters high endurance polishing but running 1/2 wattage, and untreated Mesquite logs which harbor de-nitrification bacteria converting nitrate into nitrogen, and finally huge Pothos filters removing all other harmful toxins, my water-change maintenance is dictated by TDS levels as my water parameters are pristine which require water-changes only about once every 2 months and filter changes only every 6 to 8 months. All while using less power, less materials, and less medication while providing more aquatic space.
Very interesting, Gunner ! But I'm not sure what all you just said. I've been fish-keeping for over 50 years, and I've never heard of anything like this. Are you a chemist or a biologist?
Would be interesting to see your set-ups. Do you have any pics?
Would be interesting to see your set-ups. Do you have any pics?
good to hear... but if you really want to know if you're doing everything right in a planted tank, a full time bandaid is going to mask some of your bad practices. best bet is to only use it when you need it. (mind you i have one plumbed into my planted 50)
Gunner is a sailor. Real sailors read a lot and they can do anything with nothing. He is also a Warrant Officer with the highest rank of warrant officers. He obtained this rank because of superior technical skills and knowledge. When CWO4s speak, the Captains of ships listen.
When I was an Ensign, I was privileged to serve alongside an awesome CWO3. I learned more from him in 14 months than I had in my previous 23 years. When God wants to do something, he first consults with a Warrant Officer on the correct procedure to perform the action.
I wish I could see Gunner's setup in person. I know that I could learn something from studying it. I especially like his use of mesquite's ability to harbor de-nitrifying bacteria in his filtration process. Like I said, sailors can do anything with nothing...
Okay, that said, I run an 18W UV off of a powerhead 24/7 to ensure that any freefloating pathogens are reduced. Fin rot is really ugly...