UV Sterilizer as Algae Prophylactic

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Dopey

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Dec 5, 2002
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Does anyone have any experience using a UV sterilizer in their planted tank?

I've read that the use of a UV sterilizer in a planted tank is not advisable since the sterilizer will also oxidize the trace elements needed by the plants.

However, it seems logical that you could run a UV Sterilizer for perhaps two days per week, removing all algae spores.

Then it would be a simple matter to add the trace elements back into the tank. Higher order plants should have plenty of trace elements stored to get them through such a short famine unscathed.

So, is my logic faulty?
 
Dopey said:
I've read that the use of a UV sterilizer in a planted tank is not advisable since the sterilizer will also oxidize the trace elements needed by the plants.
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I've heard people say that, but never seen any scientific evidence....and the people I've heard say that prefer a false negative to a false positive...as in, they assume it must be a bad thing and that assumption is safer to them.

Anyway, I've been running UVs on my planted tanks for a while now. It does kill free floating spores. This doesn't significantly effect most algae, but it will completely eliminate green water. The other benefit is that, say you scrape off some green spot or green dust algae, that stuff that is floating will be killed before it can reattach.

Basically, I'm all for one.
 
Green water has never been an issue for me. But brush algae and beard algae can be. However, if I start with a bleached, algae free set up... no visible algae anywhere... would a UV sterilizer prevent an infestation? Say, if a fish came in with some in it's intestinal tract or a plant came in with spores. I'm not really clear on HOW algae spreads.
 
Dopey said:
Green water has never been an issue for me. But brush algae and beard algae can be. However, if I start with a bleached, algae free set up... no visible algae anywhere... would a UV sterilizer prevent an infestation? Say, if a fish came in with some in it's intestinal tract or a plant came in with spores. I'm not really clear on HOW algae spreads.
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A UV will not prevent BBA. BBA is a symptom of unbalanced co2/light. Either increase co2 or decrease your lighting.
 
Dopey said:
Hi Jeffrey,

Not arguing... just curious. Your answer seems to simplistic. Why do you say that that imbalance must be the culprit that causes BBA?
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Because it actually is that simple. People think it is more complex and therefore often "chase the dragon" trying to eliminate their BBA woes, when all the while they could have simply increased their co2, or if not possible because it's already as high as livestock will allow, decrease their lighting.

People think that nutrients are a variable...and they are, to some extent. But, you can eliminate nutrients as a variable from the equation simply by ensuring you supply an ample amount of nutrients, in the form of EI, PPS, or one of the other prescribed dosing methods. If this is done, the only two variables of concern are co2 and lighting.

Other things will kill BBA, but only increasing co2/decreasing lighting will prevent it from coming back (or appearing the first place).
 
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