[Wet Thumb Forum]-GreenWater & UV Sterilization

[imported_Platy]

Anyone Used a UV Sterilizer to get rid of Greenwater or other micro organisms?

If so, which one did you use and how well did it work?

Thanks!

Dustin

ImaNewbie

[imported_Platy]

Anyone Used a UV Sterilizer to get rid of Greenwater or other micro organisms?

If so, which one did you use and how well did it work?

Thanks!

Dustin

ImaNewbie

[imported_molahs4]

I have a 90 gallon with GW when it first started. I got a 18 watt UV for $50 on sale at petsolutions and the GW went away for good. I haven't had to use it since.

Search the boards for other conversations and debate about them. Many people think they are worthwhile (myself included) but many pro's say that if everything is in a proper state of balance then you don't need it. I'm a rookie and I don't want to have to medicate the whole tank for ich or GW and the UV let's me get away with some mistakes.

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See my profile for tank specs.

[imported_Platy]

wow 18w - I just bought a 9Watt - Claims to be sufficent for a 125 gal, which is what I have.

What pump are you using to power it? Is there anyway for you to know the flow rate in gph?

THanks

Platy

ImaNewbie

[chbak014]

how does this "uv sterilizer" work?
i can't really imagine how it would work.
can anyone with pics of uv sterilizer setups post them and explain how they work?
-charley

http://www.geocities.com/charleybak/aquarium.index.html

http://www.pbase.com/chbak014

[imported_Allen]

Rather than try and explain this... heres an excerp from JBL's webby

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>
"A thin stream of pond or aquarium water is channelled past a UV-C lamp housed in a special watertight casing. The UV-C rays penetrate the flow of water, destroying algae cells and germs. Green water, caused by a mass increase in single-celled, green plankton algae (water bloom), is thus successfully eliminated. The spread of attached algae such as conferva etc. is also reduced as virtually all spores are destroyed. The germicidal effect also promotes the health of fish by reducing the number of germs in the water. The physical effect of the rays does not alter the values of the water and has no negative effect on the ability of the cleansing bacteria to break down harmful substances. "
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

you can go to this link if you wanna see a pic of what it looks like

Allen
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Allen's Tank Pics.
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[Avalon]

I agree with the above.

I've used a 9-watt UV sterilizer for GW on my 100 gallon once when I kicked up some Miracle Grow plant sticks. It worked very well; it took about 48 hours to clear the GW. Needless to say, I don't use Jobe's or Miracle Grow sticks anymore.

[chbak014]

where can i get a cheap one for my 20 gallon?
-charley

http://www.geocities.com/charleybak/aquarium.index.html

http://www.pbase.com/chbak014

[imported_Platy]

I got mine at bigalsonline.com - cheapest i could find... 59.00 and actually i bought the 89 or 99.00 one, because it has a twist effect inside the tube that exposes the water to more uv as it passes through...

ANYWAY 3 Days and my 3 1/2 week Green Water is GONE I ran the uv for 72 hours *give or take a few* and then did a water change to flush out the dead algae and its mostly clear I kept the uv running to clean up what may have been missed. My plants pearled like that havent for weeks

I recommend it Wish I would have had it when the algae first appeared

ImaNewbie -
125 Gal - 3.07wpg - 99% flourite - Pressurized Co2 - Uv Sterilization when needed - Densly Planted

[António Vitor]

I have 300 watts over my 250 liters and I never NEVER had green water...


lots of plants are better against green water than any UV lamp around...

or...
I am wrong and the responsability of my clear water is from litle bugs on my tank water... who knows...

[This message was edited by António Vitor on Fri March 28 2003 at 09:57 PM.]