You guys think UV can even handle this???

[JK47]

Long story short, I have a blackwater 125 gallon tank in the dining room between two windows. I cannot have it in any other room in the house nor can I move it out to the garage with the other tank. So I have to make do where it is. The water perams are beautiful, 20% WC every other day. (whole 'nother story) It really is the direct sunlight.

If I buy a UV sterilizer, will fix it kill the algea already on the acrylic AND prevent it from coming back? If so, what wattage should I be running? I will obviously have to overdo it but never owned UV.

I opened the blinds in this pic so you can see the level of light I'm dealing with, same from the front only different time of day and no blinds.


HARD bright green algea on the front always...


From the side, you can see the algea barely exists because little light barely reaches reaches this area.

 

[nishant_datta]

5 -7 watts should be more than ok. nice tank.

 

[Toby_H]

A UV light has no effect on "the tank" but will kill any algae that passes through the UV unit...

So it will not destroy the algae that is in the tank, but it will remove greenwater. Based on personal experience, it does highly inhibit the growth or spread of existing algae...

So all in all I don't think it will completely cure your problem... but I do think it will make a positive differnece...

I agree with Nishant_Datta that a 5~7W unit will be fine for this application.

 

[JK47]

5 -7 watts should be more than ok. nice tank.

Thank you, and wow really only 5-7 watts? I was told by a SW LFS owner today (only local place with UV) and he suggested 36 watts. I guess he's trying to upsell.

A UV light has no effect on "the tank" but will kill any algae that passes through the UV unit...

So it will not destroy the algae that is in the tank, but it will remove greenwater. Based on personal experience, it does highly inhibit the growth or spread of existing algae...

So all in all I don't think it will completely cure your problem... but I do think it will make a positive differnece...

I agree with Nishant_Datta that a 5~7W unit will be fine for this application.

I understand the concept that it only sterilizes free floating cells from the water column itself but you really don't think it will kill off what's present? It's absolute hell to clean and I've already ruined the tank with a magfloat. Which is why I have just left it...

I have absolutly zero green water or algea bloom in the water column, only the front panel of acrylic. The dark color in the water is because it is a blackwater amazon setup and heavily stained with tannins from driftwood and peat. My fav

 

[TRENT]

You could tint the window and tell me how it works out for you. I have the same issue, a 210 next to two windows. I just keep the blinds closed year round. Drives my wife nuts. I may try the Tint thing myself. GL

 

[Davey_8313]

I have most of the windows in my house tinted, lol. I don't like a lot of light. Can't you hang some light-blocking curtains behind it? That's what I had to do w/ 150 when it was in front of a window.

 

[Toby_H]

Like I said, it won't completely remove the algae issue from the tank, but I definitely think it will help.

I would add the UV then the following day clean the algae from the glass. Algae spreads itself via a freefloating stage. Even if you never see the freefloating algae, it's there. The UV will destroy it diring this phase.

Pet Shops are really struggling through this economy. That's no excuse to give bad advice, but 36 W to remove algae on a 125 gal tank is nothing more than that; bad advice. 36W is overkill on a 125 gal tank to kill parasites. I use a 20W on my 125 gal to kill parasites and I feel that's overkill.

They make fairly inexpensive 5 & 7 Watt units that have a built in motor. I suggest going with one of these models.

Now if you want the added benefits that a UV light has to offer, I don't think the 5 & 7W units are powerful enough, even at very slow flow rates. But for killing algae they are fine.

 

[JK47]

You could tint the window and tell me how it works out for you. I have the same issue, a 210 next to two windows. I just keep the blinds closed year round. Drives my wife nuts. I may try the Tint thing myself. GL

lol Trent. I can't wait to tell my wife I am going to tint the sliding glass door, the "other" window

On a positive note it might help my retarded dog not run into the glass anymore...

 

[JK47]

I have most of the windows in my house tinted, lol. I don't like a lot of light. Can't you hang some light-blocking curtains behind it? That's what I had to do w/ 150 when it was in front of a window.

I think that will help but the blinds are already shut on the window behind the tank. I think the bulk of the issue is the sliding glass door on the front side of the tank.

Like I said, it won't completely remove the algae issue from the tank, but I definitely think it will help.

I would add the UV then the following day clean the algae from the glass. Algae spreads itself via a freefloating stage. Even if you never see the freefloating algae, it's there. The UV will destroy it diring this phase.

Pet Shops are really struggling through this economy. That's no excuse to give bad advice, but 36 W to remove algae on a 125 gal tank is nothing more than that; bad advice. 36W is overkill on a 125 gal tank to kill parasites. I use a 20W on my 125 gal to kill parasites and I feel that's overkill.

They make fairly inexpensive 5 & 7 Watt units that have a built in motor. I suggest going with one of these models.

Now if you want the added benefits that a UV light has to offer, I don't think the 5 & 7W units are powerful enough, even at very slow flow rates. But for killing algae they are fine.

I hear what your saying NC, is your 20 watt hooked up to a canister or it's own pump/powerhead? I think I am going to be restricted to getting one of the units that is hooked up to pump on it's own because I only have FX5 and can't run a UV on it, to my knowledge anyway.

Is anyone running UV sterilizer or inline heaters for that matter on their FX5?

 

[tcarswell]

Thank you, and wow really only 5-7 watts? I was told by a SW LFS owner today (only local place with UV) and he suggested 36 watts. I guess he's trying to upsell.



I understand the concept that it only sterilizes free floating cells from the water column itself but you really don't think it will kill off what's present? It's absolute hell to clean and I've already ruined the tank with a magfloat. Which is why I have just left it...

I have absolutly zero green water or algea bloom in the water column, only the front panel of acrylic. The dark color in the water is because it is a blackwater amazon setup and heavily stained with tannins from driftwood and peat. My fav

That sucks about the mag float issues I don't have quite the same issues you have with the sunlight and whatnot but algae was somewhat of an issue due to bad tapwater so I needed something. All my tanks now run UV my 90 gallon has an 18 watt turbo twist and in my experience it gets about a third as much algae on the glass and decor. Definitely a noticeable improvement.I didn't get the UV for that specific reason just something I noticed in using them. I am wondering if maybe there is a window sheeting you can apply to cut down the UV or maybe just plain old drapes would help ?

LOL I just tinted my sliding glass door problem solved there Tacky but I live alone so whatever.

Edit. I had this thread up before I ran some errands I didn't get a chance to read all the other posts really my bad.