Ozone or UV Sterilizer Question

I have read on a website that UV Sterilizers can reduce unwanted Algae, is
this true and if so, then how effective is this against the Algae?
Also, I was told a while back by a LFS that Ozone kits are effective for
reducing and/or removing Algae problems, once again, is this true and how
effective is this method against Algae problems?
Last question is that if both can do this, then which one of these methods
would be the best and safest method to use??

I have a Green Hair Algae problem in my tank that is driving me insane, I
dont have filtered fresh water to add yet so it is straight from the tap,
Yes i know that a water filter will no doubt be my best answer but at Filter
prices here in Australia, it isn't on my shopping list just yet, UV and
Ozone are way cheaper options and if they can assist me battling this Algae
untill I can afford a good Water Filter then that's ok to me.
Any help is muchly appreciated.

Thanks in advance
Microbot

Would you consider buying and using distilled water from the
supermarket instead? Your tap water is surely adding
nitrates and phosphates to your tank, and this will
continuously feed and fuel the GHA in your tank. Did you
already read this article?

http://www.melevsreef.com/gha.html

I've not used a sterilizer because it will kill good
bacteria along with the bad bacteria.

I've not used ozone, but if you do be sure to read up on how
to keep using it safely.

Marc


Microbot wrote:

I have read on a website that UV Sterilizers can reduce unwanted Algae, is
this true and if so, then how effective is this against the Algae?
Also, I was told a while back by a LFS that Ozone kits are effective for
reducing and/or removing Algae problems, once again, is this true and how
effective is this method against Algae problems?
Last question is that if both can do this, then which one of these methods
would be the best and safest method to use??

I have a Green Hair Algae problem in my tank that is driving me insane, I
dont have filtered fresh water to add yet so it is straight from the tap,
Yes i know that a water filter will no doubt be my best answer but at Filter
prices here in Australia, it isn't on my shopping list just yet, UV and
Ozone are way cheaper options and if they can assist me battling this Algae
untill I can afford a good Water Filter then that's ok to me.
Any help is muchly appreciated.

Thanks in advance
Microbot



--
Personal Page:
http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com/oanda/index.html
Business Page: http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com
Marine Hobbyist: http://www.melevsreef.com

Yes thanks Marc, I have read your articles and would gladly buy distilled
water if it was cheap enough.
I saw in a thread once that where you guys are it is a rather cheap option,
but here in Australia where i am, I cant find it anywhere close to as cheap.
Just the price alone of the container that holds the water is not cheap
here.
My nitrites are so low they barely register on my test kit.
My Phosphate detects nothing on both the tanks water and my Tap water.
Lighting time is at present 6 hours, Algae seems to grow even if the lights
are off..
I dont mix my water, I use natural seawater..

Cheers
Microbot

"Marc Levenson" wrote in message
om...
Would you consider buying and using distilled water from the supermarket
instead? Your tap water is surely adding nitrates and phosphates to your
tank, and this will continuously feed and fuel the GHA in your tank. Did
you already read this article?

http://www.melevsreef.com/gha.html

I've not used a sterilizer because it will kill good bacteria along with
the bad bacteria.

I've not used ozone, but if you do be sure to read up on how to keep using
it safely.

Marc


Microbot wrote:

I have read on a website that UV Sterilizers can reduce unwanted Algae,
is this true and if so, then how effective is this against the Algae?
Also, I was told a while back by a LFS that Ozone kits are effective for
reducing and/or removing Algae problems, once again, is this true and how
effective is this method against Algae problems?
Last question is that if both can do this, then which one of these
methods would be the best and safest method to use??

I have a Green Hair Algae problem in my tank that is driving me insane, I
dont have filtered fresh water to add yet so it is straight from the tap,
Yes i know that a water filter will no doubt be my best answer but at
Filter prices here in Australia, it isn't on my shopping list just yet,
UV and Ozone are way cheaper options and if they can assist me battling
this Algae untill I can afford a good Water Filter then that's ok to me.
Any help is muchly appreciated.

Thanks in advance
Microbot



--
Personal Page: http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com/oanda/index.html
Business Page: http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com
Marine Hobbyist: http://www.melevsreef.com

On Thu, 3 Feb 2005 21:47:16 +1000, "Microbot"
wrote:

Yes thanks Marc, I have read your articles and would gladly buy distilled
water if it was cheap enough.
I saw in a thread once that where you guys are it is a rather cheap option,
but here in Australia where i am, I cant find it anywhere close to as cheap.
Just the price alone of the container that holds the water is not cheap
here.


Use plastic fuel containers. New of course, old detergent 60 gallon
drums and cooking oil containers are nice as well as garbage cans.

Finding a container is not a problem, it is finding a source of the water to
put in the container!
Purified water just is NOT cheap here, Just water purifiers for your home
taps that you can buy at hardware stores can start at around $399.

Cheers
Microbot

"kryppy" wrote in message
...
On Thu, 3 Feb 2005 21:47:16 +1000, "Microbot"
wrote:

Yes thanks Marc, I have read your articles and would gladly buy distilled
water if it was cheap enough.
I saw in a thread once that where you guys are it is a rather cheap
option,
but here in Australia where i am, I cant find it anywhere close to as
cheap.
Just the price alone of the container that holds the water is not cheap
here.


Use plastic fuel containers. New of course, old detergent 60 gallon
drums and cooking oil containers are nice as well as garbage cans.

What does a gallon of distilled water cost at the
supermarket? Here is runs about .50 a gallon, maybe .10
less or .20 more depending on the store.

Do you have snails in the tank to help eat the algae that
you can't pick off?

Marc


Microbot wrote:

Finding a container is not a problem, it is finding a source of the water to
put in the container!
Purified water just is NOT cheap here, Just water purifiers for your home
taps that you can buy at hardware stores can start at around $399.

Cheers
Microbot

"kryppy" wrote in message
...

On Thu, 3 Feb 2005 21:47:16 +1000, "Microbot"
wrote:


Yes thanks Marc, I have read your articles and would gladly buy distilled
water if it was cheap enough.
I saw in a thread once that where you guys are it is a rather cheap
option,
but here in Australia where i am, I cant find it anywhere close to as
cheap.
Just the price alone of the container that holds the water is not cheap
here.


Use plastic fuel containers. New of course, old detergent 60 gallon
drums and cooking oil containers are nice as well as garbage cans.






--
Personal Page:
http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com/oanda/index.html
Business Page: http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com
Marine Hobbyist: http://www.melevsreef.com

On Fri, 4 Feb 2005 15:26:01 +1000, "Microbot"
wrote:

Finding a container is not a problem, it is finding a source of the water to
put in the container!
Purified water just is NOT cheap here, Just water purifiers for your home
taps that you can buy at hardware stores can start at around $399.


I use ocean water also.
I do use a small amount of RO/DI, but with enough fresh ocean water
you can practically forget about it....I was listing what I use to
haul mine from the sea.
I got a great RO/DI filter from Canada for $100 US. How is shipping
to AU?

Microbot wrote:

I have read on a website that UV Sterilizers can reduce unwanted Algae, is
this true and if so, then how effective is this against the Algae?

Perhaps someone found this to be true. I have two 8 watt U/V sterilizers, one on
each of my Fluval cannisters. I also have an infestation of hair algae that is
completely out of hand. It's responding a bit to the 50 hermit crabs I just
added, but I think they need some more help.

IME, U/V does nothing to control algae.

George Patterson
I prefer Heaven for climate but Hell for company.

Thanks, I think i'll be giving the UV a skip for now..


"George Patterson" wrote in message
...


Microbot wrote:

I have read on a website that UV Sterilizers can reduce unwanted Algae,
is
this true and if so, then how effective is this against the Algae?

Perhaps someone found this to be true. I have two 8 watt U/V sterilizers,
one on
each of my Fluval cannisters. I also have an infestation of hair algae
that is
completely out of hand. It's responding a bit to the 50 hermit crabs I
just
added, but I think they need some more help.

IME, U/V does nothing to control algae.

George Patterson
I prefer Heaven for climate but Hell for company.

Hi George,
It seems to me you have the same problem as Microbot,
you are both producing large amounts of nutrients (mainly nitrate) in
your canister filters etc. which is encouraging and fuelling the algae
growth, not measurable because the algae is consuming it as fast as
your producing it. Your filtration should consist only of live rock (
about 1.5 to 2lbs per gall of tank capacity, much more than 2lbs will
be counter productive ), the live rock needs to be reasonable size
pieces, ( the bigger the better) small pieces will not generate an
anaerobic area, a DBS, plenty of main tank flow ( 10 tanks per hour
bare minimum, I use 20 or more ) plus a good protein skimmer. This will
take care of your nutrient problem which in turn will take care of the
algae problem, but not over night !! you need plenty of patience with a
marine tank. You could help things along with plenty of nitrate,
phosphate and silicate FREE water changes until you start to see a
reduction in the algae.
regards,
unclenorm.