Uv Sterilisers

[JamesC]

Still got algae problems? . I know you think your CO2 levels are OK but I guarantee you that they are low if you have that much algae. What do you believe, your £5 test kit or what your tank is telling you? EI is not about testing but seeing what the tank is telling you.

James

 

[voo]

Is there a particular area in a tank that is more susceptable to BBA than others? In my tank it's growing on the java fern that's underneath the spraybar, but the java fern on the opposite side of the tank that gets a lot of water flow there's no sign of it (touch wood!!). Also, it's only the java fern that's being affected, not the vallis or hairgrass which are both underneath the spraybar too.

 

[George Farmer]

Is there a particular area in a tank that is more susceptable to BBA than others? In my tank it's growing on the java fern that's underneath the spraybar, but the java fern on the opposite side of the tank that gets a lot of water flow there's no sign of it (touch wood!!). Also, it's only the java fern that's being affected, not the vallis or hairgrass which are both underneath the spraybar too.

Algae is more likely on slower growing plants.

I imagine there's little circulation directly below the spray bar, assuming it is pointing across the tank, so CO2 and other nutrients may not be distributed effectively causing slower growth and therefore increase risk of algae.

 

[MoreCoffee]

Is there a particular area in a tank that is more susceptable to BBA than others? In my tank it's growing on the java fern that's underneath the spraybar, but the java fern on the opposite side of the tank that gets a lot of water flow there's no sign of it (touch wood!!). Also, it's only the java fern that's being affected, not the vallis or hairgrass which are both underneath the spraybar too.

Algae is more likely on slower growing plants.

I imagine there's little circulation directly below the spray bar, assuming it is pointing across the tank, so CO2 and other nutrients may not be distributed effectively causing slower growth and therefore increase risk of algae.

Funny you should say that .... the BBA I had in my tank when I got back off holiday was limited to the P. helferi that were directly below the filter outflow !

With regards to the UV.
I already have a small 9W internal UV unit that is easy to move between tanks, I've not seen any problems with it in any of my tanks. I like to run it from time to time as having shrimp in the tanks really restricts what medications you can use, so it's just as a precaution, however I'd like to fit an external inline unit.

There are a number of UV units out there in the region of 8 - 11W and others higher at around 15W.
Is there a problem using the larger wattage UV units on smaller tanks.
A neighbour of mine has a 15W UV unit he no longer needs, I'm assuming this would be too much for my 60cm tank (but thats just a guess), but might be OK in my 240Ltr tank.

Cheers

 

[Themuleous]

No idea mate! I got a vecton 300 which is 16w (strangely enough the vecton 400 is only 15w ) and that's on a 24lt tank so who knows, I wouldn't think you'd be able to go to big, you cant 'over' kill bacteria! And I'm running it on my eheim classic 2211 which is 300l/h and the UV is rated for up to 960l/h, so the flow rate through it will be slower then its rated for. All in all it should get just about every living thing that passes through it! But I have in the back of my mind that I will one day get a massive 100G tank and also probably a marine tank at some stage so the ability to add it to larger tanks was something I was keen on.

Sam

 

[MoreCoffee]

Thanks Sam,

I can't see how a higher UV will cause any problems and I'll be getting the unit off him anyway. Just wanted others opinions about if it would cause any issues.

Cheers
Al

 

[Themuleous]

Al you might find this interesting http/www.drsfostersmith.com/pic/article....23&aid=1315

Sam