uv sterilizer help!

I bought a 9watt submersible uv sterilizer, to clean up the cloudiness in my tank. This tank has only been running for about a month and a half. and my ammonia and nitates are still high.. i am wondering if the sterilizer is keeping it from doing its full cycle. I have read that it also kills benificial bacteria that I need... and i have also heard that it just kills free floating. I dont know what is the truth. Someone help me!

 

turn off the uv sterilizer off for a couple weeks. try using a bag of carbon in your sump or filter to clear water up.

 

the UV steralizer is only going to kill things that go through it. for the most part your bacteria would be colonizing on your rocks/bioballs/sponge filter, basically anything witha surface area. sure they get form one rcok to another in the water column but your UV sterlaizer isnt going to make a big difference.

what size tank, how much rock? what kind of filtration/skimmer do you have?

over a month your ammonia should be gone for sure.

 

it is a 29 gallon fowlr tank it has an inch of sand. 10 lbs live rock. sponge filter and a heater that is set at 78 degrees..I have a protein skimmer but it is not up and running at the moment. (currently broken) I do my normal 10 percent water changes considering i do have a few fish in my tank. (small valentini puffer and two clowns) They dont seem to be affected by the levels of my nitates and ammonia...which is a little odd, because they are at a toxic level. I purchased the sterilizer 2 weeks ago to clean up the cloudy water (did its job...and i took it out today)
I feed once a day, and clean the leftovers if they are not eaten. I am doing everything i can to bring my levels down. However i am aware that doing water changes can make my cycle take longer. but i dont think they should be this high still. I am stumped and the uv is the only thing that i can think of that may be causing this problem.

 

You just need to be patient...The tank will find it's balance. It just may take it a little longer. Every tank is different. Was the rock cured or uncured??

 

They were all seasoned for at least 2 years. Some purple, some completely white. Im just worried I will have a die off. Im surprised the poor fish are doing so well right now.

 

Well Clowns are pretty tough...I would keep doing the water changes to keep the levels at bay. Just give it more time. You most definately had some die off. If you are at a month and a half, you should be getting close. The cloudy water may have even been a bacteria bloom (Good thing) Just keep doing what you are doing...Sounds like you are doing alot of reading up on things. You kinda jumped the gun a little on the fish, but alot of new people do. Hang in there, and stay on this site. We are here to help, and you will learn a ton.

 

Thankyou for your advice. I appreciate it!

 

You are very welcome...ask anytime, lotsa good people on here