I recently installed an Eheim UV500 sterilizer on my 88 gallon / 330 liter freshwater bare bottom tank housing a single 10 inch Kamfa. Before the install I had super clear water and almost 0 algae (except a very light bit on the back wall and on some air lines).
To my surprise, over the last week, while I still have super clear water, there has been a quite noticeable increase in light colored algae on the tank surfaces, incl. on side and front walls which had literally none before for 8 months. Were not talking huge amounts, it's still very light, but it's in places i never had before for sure.
My main intention for installing the sterilizer is extra protection against pathogens, bacteria, etc. To reach this level of sterilization Eheim recommends a flow rate of 400 liters/105 gallons per hr -- which mine is measuring 390-400 liters/hr. They recommend 800 l/hr for algae control.
So what gives, why am I actually seeing way more algae now than before -- any algae that was in the water should have been nuked at that slow of a flow rate...
Might sound stupid but is algae that was perhaps free floating in the water column before trying to save itself now by adhering to the glass so it won't go through the sterilizer?? I didn't know algae were so smart lol, but who knows maybe they have a collective conscience like some huge moss systems.
Any alternative explanations would be very welcome, as I'm at the point of thinking to take out the sterilizer.
To my surprise, over the last week, while I still have super clear water, there has been a quite noticeable increase in light colored algae on the tank surfaces, incl. on side and front walls which had literally none before for 8 months. Were not talking huge amounts, it's still very light, but it's in places i never had before for sure.
My main intention for installing the sterilizer is extra protection against pathogens, bacteria, etc. To reach this level of sterilization Eheim recommends a flow rate of 400 liters/105 gallons per hr -- which mine is measuring 390-400 liters/hr. They recommend 800 l/hr for algae control.
So what gives, why am I actually seeing way more algae now than before -- any algae that was in the water should have been nuked at that slow of a flow rate...
Might sound stupid but is algae that was perhaps free floating in the water column before trying to save itself now by adhering to the glass so it won't go through the sterilizer?? I didn't know algae were so smart lol, but who knows maybe they have a collective conscience like some huge moss systems.
Any alternative explanations would be very welcome, as I'm at the point of thinking to take out the sterilizer.
