Can someone please dummy down "UV sterilizers"?

[Zari]

Uv generally isn't needed indoors. It's more for ponds to help clear up the green water some caused by algae. Or in indoor systems on a multi tank sump to help prevent cross contamination.

That isn't to say it doesn't provide benefits still for a single aquarium but its not really worth the cost unless you have a specific problem.

 

[Meyjeffery]

depends on how big your tank is, i use an fx5 for my 36w double X sterilizer from coralife. The x is for the flow flow thru design, it has a twisted flow through it. This helps contact time with light. You do not need to run them all the time if you have the proper pump and size. I have mine on a 260 g tank and run it for 2 days and then shut it off, unplug, i keep it attached inline but no need for running and using up bulb life.

 

[Tstone]

Hmm.. my tank is just a little cloudy, and it seems like it always has been since day one... it's fine after a water change, for about a day, then it returns to cloudy again...... so i'm just looking at possible solutions.. you can see my current stock list.. I have an FX5 with 2L of biomax in bottom tray, prefilter stuff and scrubbies in middle tray, and scrubbies in top tray and then a hob tetra filter that's rated at like 340gph... thinking just filling the fx5 up completely with fluval biomax...



edit: reason for media set up, is i originally went with 1L of biomax in bottom, 1L of biomax in middle, and 1L of prefilter in top... it seemed like there was a lot more space for media so I just went and bought some scrubbies at the dollar store and threw em in there..

 

[Meyjeffery]

what do you feed, massivore pellets, they tend to be a little messy, also what size tank

 

[bomber]

Here is a Link for you. Its as dumb as I can make it.

 

[Tstone]

what do you feed, massivore pellets, they tend to be a little messy, also what size tank

either bloodworms, or a mix of shrimp pellets, cichlid pellets, and bottom dweller pellets.. pellets usually jack my water up pretty bad, but the fx5 will take care of that in a day .... also tank is 110, 48x18x31.. hate those dimensions so bad >:/

 

[Tstone]

Here is a Link for you. Its as dumb as I can make it.

ergh -.- haha thank you for that.

Also lol, How do you do that?

 

[Meyjeffery]

if your tank is cloudy, is it food or algae, if food the fx will take care of it, if algae the sterilizer will help, have you tried a diatom filter, i use it in mine and clears up tank in one day to crystal clear, also lights (what kind/ watts) and how long do you leave them on a day

 

[Tstone]

if your tank is cloudy, is it food or algae, if food the fx will take care of it, if algae the sterilizer will help, have you tried a diatom filter, i use it in mine and clears up tank in one day to crystal clear, also lights (what kind/ watts) and how long do you leave them on a day

I believe Algae was a pretty big problem... I one day decided to actaully clean the glass to see if that was the problem, and holy moly, it made a night and day difference, but there still seems to be some algae problems somewhere.... and noo idea what a diatom filter is..

editttttt: I had to scrub the glass so aggressively and so much that my algae scraper thing is like, flimsy and worthless now... Thinking about purchasing one of those magfloat things.. seeing how it works.. but a large one is like, $30.00!? Seems like a lot for something so little..

 

[fisher94]

Mag floats are awesome if you get one size larger than rated. If you are aggressive when scrubbing get 2 sizes larger. You might have to get another brand to get a stronger magnet. If you keep the mag float in the aquarium make sure there is no leaks allowing water in. I melted (corroded) one of the magnets in my mag float that way.
Happy cleaning.