Opinions On Using Uv To Remove Algae Spores?

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Curiosity101

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Just wondering really, I don't have an algae problem (or I wouldn't say I do), but every 2 weeks I have to give the glass a quick once over with a scraper to remove GSA. Obviously I'm doing water changes once a week, and it's no hardship for me to give the glass a quick scrape.
Plus it's never too bad, but it's one of those things were I think hmm...surely there has to be something easier than this.

My idea is to buy a very small UV filter.
Either
Aquael Internal UV filter 500 (£24)
or
Internal Aquarium UV Sterilizer (9W) (£25)

So my question is, if I had one of these running for the next few weeks, in theory will it eventually remove any algae spores in the water (obviously only killing GSA when I remove it from the glass.
And is it worth it?

Is there anything I'm not taking into consideration?
 
Just wondering really, I don't have an algae problem (or I wouldn't say I do), but every 2 weeks I have to give the glass a quick once over with a scraper to remove GSA. Obviously I'm doing water changes once a week, and it's no hardship for me to give the glass a quick scrape.
Plus it's never too bad, but it's one of those things were I think hmm...surely there has to be something easier than this.

My idea is to buy a very small UV filter.
Either
Aquael Internal UV filter 500 (£24)
or
Internal Aquarium UV Sterilizer (9W) (£25)

So my question is, if I had one of these running for the next few weeks, in theory will it eventually remove any algae spores in the water (obviously only killing GSA when I remove it from the glass.
And is it worth it?

Is there anything I'm not taking into consideration?


what is lighting duration?

i dont believe UV will help cure GSA

[URL="http://www.theplantedtank.co.uk/algae.htm"]http://www.theplantedtank.co.uk/algae.htm[/URL]
good link for algae!
 
it can break down chelators
by making the water free of pathogens it can theoretically make your fishes immune system weaker if anything gdoes attack
The water changes will remove the spores, not all of them, but plenty to stop it coming back ith a vengence.

Besides, cleaning the glass every 2-4 weeks is normal anyway. I always do mine whenever i do a water change to remove biofilms which algae feed off, i have some pictures, and you will notice i am only getting diatoms along the substrate line where i cant give a thorough clean... it may also link to ammonia being released at higher concentrations there too.

Give it a go, only takes a few minutes, or do a little experiment... clean 1 half of the tank wall every week and the other every 2 weeks. You will see the difference if you are prepared to put up with it :lol:
 
The worry I had was weakening the fishes immune systems by removing all pathogens.
I was just hoping someone would tell me I was being silly! Nevermind eh.

Like I said I don't have a 'problem'. It's not even bad enough for me to be bothered to go get a phosphate test kit. I figured that along with my incredibly low nitrates my phosphates are probably low aswell, which if I'm right may be aiding the GSA? It was meant to be being dosed with TPN+ but my dad, who had fish back in the stoneage and who also told me not to do a fishless cycle :rolleyes:, has blamed any and all algae on adding fertiliser so I have to really keep on at him to keep up dosing when I'm not at home.

Nevermind, I guess I'll just have to keep up cleaning the glass. And I'd noticed the bio-film too. Although I'd presumed it was snail residue :lol:
I may well do a little test of only cleaning 1/2 of the glass one week and then comparing the difference after 2 weeks.
 
I figured that along with my incredibly low nitrates my phosphates are probably low aswell, which if I'm right may be aiding the GSA?

not always, see if you can get a water report online or ring the water board up, that is what i do rather than tests kits, but yes low PO4 can lead to GSA
 
The worry I had was weakening the fishes immune systems by removing all pathogens.
I was just hoping someone would tell me I was being silly! Nevermind eh.

Like I said I don't have a 'problem'. It's not even bad enough for me to be bothered to go get a phosphate test kit. I figured that along with my incredibly low nitrates my phosphates are probably low aswell, which if I'm right may be aiding the GSA? It was meant to be being dosed with TPN+ but my dad, who had fish back in the stoneage and who also told me not to do a fishless cycle :rolleyes:, has blamed any and all algae on adding fertiliser so I have to really keep on at him to keep up dosing when I'm not at home.

Nevermind, I guess I'll just have to keep up cleaning the glass. And I'd noticed the bio-film too. Although I'd presumed it was snail residue :lol:
I may well do a little test of only cleaning 1/2 of the glass one week and then comparing the difference after 2 weeks.


trying to keep the nitrates and phosphate low is probably not a good idea, if you run out of either then problems can arise.
but as aaron pointed out if you are using tap water for changes then your figures probably arnt as low as you think!
the nitrate could be as high as 50ppm and phos 5ppm in tap water, depends on the source.
 
Calcium 4.2375 - mg Ca/l
Magnesium 2.3613 - mg Mg/l
Residual chlorine - free 0.15 - mg/l Cl2
Residual chlorine - total 0.19 - mg/l Cl2
Coliforms 0 - no/100ml
Aluminium 46.974 - µg Al/l
Fluoride 0.056 - mg F/l
pH (Hydrogen Ion Conc.) 7.73
Iron 30.90 - µg Fe/l
Manganese 5.54 - µg Mn/l
Nitrate 2.5979 - mg NO3/l
Nitrite 0.0093 - mg NO2/l
Sodium 24.59 - mg Na/l
Copper 0.0231 -mg Cu/l
Lead 1.468 - µg Pb/l

Don't expect you to neccesarily read all that. But there it is anyways. And did you know that Yorkshire Waters website actually has more accurate and useful information on fish than many local fish shops. Hehe.


When exactly did I say I was TRYING to keep phosphates and nitrates so low? I said the exact opposite.

And my tap water has a Nitrate value of 3ppm, Phostphate is lower than that.
 

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