How to check Protein Skimmer and UV Sterilizers really helping !!

I am not sure if this dumb question..I haven't had protein skimmer and UV sterilizer 2 months back and had only FOWLR. All doing good and when I started adding corals/anemones, installed protein skimmer. In first few weeks, it generate lot of black greenish dry foam, so something like it's doing ..even my tank looks more clear than before, then I added UV sterilizer. I am not sure if it's really helping anything, no change after adding it. it's being 40days by now..little algae before adding and it remains same, they didn't die off. any idea how to check what help UV sterilizer did to my tank?

 

No real way to check. UV needs a sort of break in period and you need to leave it on for it to be effective. Have you had ich in the past couple weeks? If no, then theres your proof its working! Perhaps the GPH through it is high, if you let us know how much flow you give it it may need to be adjusted.

 

It's Pentair aquatics lifegard UV model QL 25 which is rated upto 200 gallons. I have only 80 gallon tank so I think it's sufficient. No ick issues before adding UV as well, so cant stay if it's killed any ick now.

 

Sorry..typo error..it's rated upto 750GPH and I am using surge 3500 pump, I guess that's no high flow and UV bulb being 25 watt.

 

Just remember the slower you run it the better. 500GPHish would be good for that?

 

UV can't kill algae growing on rocks for example. It can only kill algae if it is free-floating. Some algae has a pelagic phase most don't. It may help keep some from speading though as it will kill the spores, but is not going to kill off what is there.