UV STERILIZATION for algae

if i put a uv sterilizer on my tank will it help/get rid of my hair algae,
and nothing i have tried seem to get rid of this stuff somebody help

 

Hi Kedron

it might kill any free floating algae spores, but Im not sure it will help with the established hair algae thats already in the DT

have you tried Phosphate removers? I got rid of a hair algae problem years ago using Rhowphos and manual removal combination

Steve

 

Steve is right, UV steralizers have a light inside so only the water passing through is steralized. You need to find the source. Algae grows because it has food. Lower your nitrates, phosphates by cutting back on feeding and light as well as increasing flow when possible. To get rid of the hair algea that is already established you can get emerald crabs. You only need like one per 30 gallons. They do a wonderful job. I had a nasty hair algea issue when i first got my tank (established tank given to me) It took one large emerald crab one month to completly clear my tank of hair algea. They eat at night, all night long.

 

i have tried everything but emeral crab i think i will get some today but i keep hearing that a uv would do wonders for my tank and everybody that i know that has a nice tank has one

 

I have some gha in my tank and I have a uv. Are your bulbs old or getting old?

 

I wouldn't rely on either a UV sterilizer or emerald crabs to make a substantial dent in an already established algae problem.

The only way to get rid of algae is to rid them of what they need to live. They need nutrient-rich water, among some other things. You'd have to invest some time to determine your particular culprit. As already mentioned, old bulbs can contribute to the problem. High phophates or nitrates weigh in heavily here too.

What are your phosphate levels?
Are you running a phosphate reactor?
Are your bulbs old?
Are your nitrates high?
Are you using tap water?
Is your substrate sand or crushed coral?
Are you running a good quality skimmer? (Algae loves dissolved organics in the water).

Also, check this out.

Good luck to you!

 

bulbs are 3 months old but since algae problem i only turn them on for like 3 to 4 hours now how bout i put some of that red algae stuff in my filter forget what its called

 

red algae stuff , not to sure

have you checked your Nitrate and Phosphate levels?

you could add a Nitrate remover like Kents nitrate sponge and a phosphate removed like Rhowphos or Sea chems Phos guard

I feel these 2 would do far more to help with an established GHA problem

Steve

 

Hey dude,
a heads up...
I used tap water and it caused a hair algea problem in my DT, BAD... I got a lawn-mower blennie and he mowed it down fast. He was comical to watch with his personality.
I also had it in my Frag tank and the emerald didn't touch anything in there and I didn't want to put the blennie in so I got a Sea Hare>>> again, he kicked butt! But he will starve out when it's all gone so you might have to return him when he's done...
But after a while the hair will grow back and you'll need to find the source for it's growth like too much food or tap water.
Everyone is right, UV not only does free floating spores but it "sterilizes" the water... it kills parasites too. Hair algae is not free floating so adding the UV won't help that problem.

 

no i use ro/di water i even started changing water biweekly stil cant find problem