Uv Sterilizer On A Planted Tank Is A Big No No -- Myth Or Fact?

[Vin Swords]

UV sterilizer on a planted tank is a big no no -- myth or fact?

i use flourish excel.. ppl recon this will distroyed by UV lights.. thats may be explaining my bba proplam.


anyone?

 

[Vin Swords]

[quote name= ''wkndracer'' timestamp='1313855437' post='3097873']
UV use does break down excel as the chemical components are photo chemically reactive that’s a confirmed fact. Chelated Fe is another matter. No disrespect to Ms. Walstad (as you quoted her) but there are several different chelating agents commonly used. What one is effected by may not affect another. High O2 levels accelerate Fe conversion but the UV link has not been verified. To quote another respected authority on planted tanks T. Barr advocates UV use but on a cycled basis. UV sterilization has documented benefit in its use and should not be dismissed.
[/quote]

 

[Vin Swords]

so i switch off the UV and dosed florish excel and another dose of leaf zone.
i usualy water change on sundays.. this time i am planning to leave it untill next sunday to see how is my tank without UV is going on. last sunday i done 60% water change. so i should be fine..

photo of my plants will be posted in here later as too much light in the house.
then i will post anothur detailed pic next sunday. tuned on.

 

[Vin Swords]

Here's what I've heard from a few sources regarding UV and Iron. Don't quote me on this as I'm not a chemist

A UV sterilizer weakens bonds of Fe (iron), causing it to go from the chelated form to a non-chelated form. Non-chelated iron isn't useful to plants,though I think they may still get their iron from the substrate and not the water column. I think the same logic applies to other trace metals as well.