UV Light

[thadius65]

Folks,

Reading to much can be problematic... I recently read that a uv sterilizer would remove/kill needed nutrients from water in a planted environment. Hope this is not so as I have a planted aquarium with a recently installed Tetra UV2 in-line with one of my canister filters.

Anyone have any info?

Thanks,

Ted

 

[phanmc]

I've read that UV light may affect chelated iron but I haven't noticed any difference when I use it. Now I don't leave my UV sterilizer on constantly but for the weeks that I do leave it on, after introducing new fish or plants, I don't see any signs of iron deficiency.

 

[Mgamer20o0]

i never heard of this before. i thought uv only kill living things like algae.

 

[thadius65]

Read it here:

http://www.aquaticscape.com/articles/algae.htm

"For planted tanks, this is not a good solution since the UV light will also oxidize trace elements needed by the plants and will limit the plant's growth potential. Unfortunately, conditions that are good for growing plants are also good for growing algae."

 

[Mgamer20o0]

are you adding trace ferts? i dont have a uv and never read up on them. if you were adding them i dont think it would be such a big deal. i could be wrong i dont know.

 

[thadius65]

I was adding liquid ferts and just started using Excel.