Chihiros Doctor Algae Sterilizer Controller / Twinstar

[islandguy11]

Anyone ever tried such a device (or the Twinstar brand which came out before this clone)? They claim to eliminate algae or kill pathogenic bacteria depending on which model you get. I don't really have a problem with either issue at this time, but have been looking for a non-chemical way to keep away algae, as I don't want to put in any cleaner fish with my totally un-social Kamfa.

I know there's no substitute for proper tank maintenance, which I'm pretty fanatical about, but thinking of getting one of these just as an extra preventive measure.

So are these electrolysis-based devices effective or just snake oil? Any opinions would be appreciated.
https://www.waterplantstreet.com/ch...erilizer-controller-1686.html#additional-info

 

[Yoimbrian]

I don't get it. What does "change the form of a water molecule" mean? If they are doing electrolysis to break it to h2 and o2 how does that not shock the tank?

I also don't see what it would do for chlorine???

Also hydrogen is crazy flammable. Generating hydrogen and having it rise to hot lights seems like a bad idea if you ask me.

All in all anything that claims to do everything and doesn't even allude to how seems at best fake, at worse dangerous. If you are most concerned about algae and pathogens a UV sterilizer is tried and true and has scientific backing.

Last. If someone I trust proves me wrong, I'd totally buy one.

 

[islandguy11]

Thanks for your input Yoimbrian. Not being the bio-engineer type I can't answer the questions you pose, but have found that the basic idea of using electrolysis as an aquarium sterilizer is really not so new. And the 2 products I mention have been out for a few years at least, and are still pumping out their (not so cheap) units, which I reckon wouldn't be happening if they were killing people's fish/plants.

Even Joey the King of DIY shows how to make a simple $8 aquarium sterilizer:

All of that said though I can't testify to the true efficacy of the products, hence my post looking for others who might have used them.

Actually I would like to use a UV sterilizer but it's simply not practical (that I can figure out) with my tank set up: typical Thai-style tank with hood and good sized internal corner filter, which doesn't allow for easy use of an external canister filter/UV sterilizer. I have one these small internal power head deals with small UV light as a supplementary filter/water mover but I'm not using the light as some have expressed fears that they can melt the cheap plastic and kill your fish with toxins (go to YouTube and search for Sun Sun internal uv filter).