Ozone or UV Sterilizer Question

I have never heard of anyone anywhere close to hear where i am in Australia
(Queensland) selling distilled water or any kind of water in anything larger
than 1-2 litres drinking water bottles... And at the cost they sell that
water for, it is not an option.
Small drinking bottle (mineral water they call it) around $2.50 AU which is
somewhere near $4.50 US...per small bottle (600ml).

I do have some snails in the tank, I used to have many snails but i have
notices that since the weed took over, alot of the snails abd Hermits have
seemed to have disapeared...
Alot of empty shells laying around now, though there are many NEW tiny red
shelled Snails in the tank. very small and almost translucent.

Cheers
Microbot


"Marc Levenson" wrote in message
. com...
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

Shipping is pretty expensive shipping them over here from what i remember.
We looked into buying one from in the US and shipping it here but from
memory shipping nearly doubles the cost..
We did find a place in AUS that has them and the prices are not too bad, but
the wallet refuses to let go of the cash just yet. hehe
Have a few other bills etc to get out of the way first, which is why i was
asking about Ozone and UV efficiency against the weed.

Looks like I'll have to get a Water Filter....
I'll also remove the Canister Filter and Hangon Filter just in case it IS
feeding the problem..

Cheers
Microbot

"kryppy" wrote in message
...
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?

I only can assume those algae are taking in those nitrate.
As Mislav stated are the method I normally recommend. PS need to very
efficient and must have good water circulation to combat algae. Your PS
should really smell if it efficient enough. Your inhitant like Tang / crab
and or shrimp should be munching on those algae. Try feeding less to your
critter so they get hungry enough to turn to grazing. The large algae may
need to get prune and siphon out at the same time so it will not spread.
Small algae should be taking care by those janitoral crew and or your
grazing critter.

CapFusion,...



"Microbot" wrote in message
u...
Thanks for your reply.
I had no problem with the Algae until I added the rock that had it growing
on it already, since then it has grown out of control.

If i did a test for NitrAtes wouldn't this show up on the test if i had a
NitrAte problem?
I have even tested for NitrAtes by taking the water sample directly from
the sponge in the Hangon Filter and from inside the Canister Filter, All
tests show NitrAtes are very low. (LESS than the first colour on the Test
kit).
Waterflow is good.
Rocks nearby to here are not quite Live Rock quality and I really dont
want to throw the Rocks i have already away and start anew...
The crushed coral is in the sump under a few inches of local mud picked up
from nearby to here.
This is an experiment started by a friend in here..
Filtered water, Ozone and UV are the only things i can think of left to
try to solve this weed issue..

Cheers
Microbot

"Mislav" wrote in message ...
It seams to me that you don't have the problem in the water from tap or
ocean. It is your filtration technique that's causing nitrate problems.
Using canister filters, hangon filters with sponge in it is in fact
nitrate factory. Crushed coral in your sump adds nothing to filtration
but produces nitrates. Your best way would be to use only live rock and
protein skimmer for filtration, combined with regular water changes. Be
sure to provide enough water flow in aquarium with minimum of 10 times
the volume of aquarium per hour.
Since you live near the source of NSW you coul find yourself nice pieces
of live rock and replace those rocks that are overgrown by algae.
If you want there's nothing wrong in using ozone but you must be very
carefoul with it. It must not reach main tank or it can kill its
inhabitants.

Mislav

"Microbot" wrote in message
u...
I HAVE been using natural seawater since i started the Tank, Not exactly
sure the date I started it but has to be in its mid second year by now..
Top offs are done with Tap water which the test kits tell me have non
detectable levels of phosphates, Nitrates, Copper, Ammonia and
everything else that is bad.
I have been using a Protein Skimmer since the start.
I only started getting this dreaded weed algae since i bought some Base
Rock to add to what i already had, this rock had the algae already on it
and i was told it would just die off, I have since realised that this
was not very helpful information and it did not die off but instead has
taken over the Tank.
I keep manually removing the stuff (which takes ages) only to have it
back just as bad as it was before within weeks..

I have one Aquaclear 500 hangon filter and a Canister filter.
Also Live rock which i have half filled the 4 foot tank it is in, sorry
no idea how much in weight.
A Hangon Overflow box to a 3 foot sump used only at present to add to
the waters capacity. Nothing in it except for some Mud and Crushed Coral
(which both have only just recently been introduced).

Cheers
Microbot

"CapFusion" wrote in message
...

"Microbot" wrote in message
u...
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..


If you saying you will be using natural seawater and it is clean, then
you do not need filter. Then I would suggest of other thing like
Protein Skimmer. What filteration [natural or man made] method did you
apply to your tank?

CapFusion,...

Thanks,

I do have very good water circulation and the skimmer is working just fine,
it produces some really foul, dark water which i clean out regularly.
I cant imagine feeding my tanks critters any less than i do now, I dont
directly feed the inverts and only give enough food for the fish to eat in a
few seconds.
Nothing is really left to settle on the bottom.
The critters i have seem to feed constantly on the rocks, eating the weed
but it grows faster than they eat it.
I prune the algae out often and yes i siphon the water near and around it
as i pull it from the tank, I have done this more than i care to remember.
The stuff grows on EVERYTHING, I'm sure if i left my finger in there long
enough then it would grow on it too.
As i said, NitrAtes are showing as not being a problem, but the only thing i
have not tried is to remove the Canister filter and Hangon filter i have on
the Tank.
If removing them doesnt solve the problem and Filtered Water doesnt then i
am at a total loss..

Cheers
Microbot

"CapFusion" wrote in message
...
I only can assume those algae are taking in those nitrate.
As Mislav stated are the method I normally recommend. PS need to very
efficient and must have good water circulation to combat algae. Your PS
should really smell if it efficient enough. Your inhitant like Tang / crab
and or shrimp should be munching on those algae. Try feeding less to your
critter so they get hungry enough to turn to grazing. The large algae may
need to get prune and siphon out at the same time so it will not spread.
Small algae should be taking care by those janitoral crew and or your
grazing critter.

CapFusion,...



"Microbot" wrote in message
u...
Thanks for your reply.
I had no problem with the Algae until I added the rock that had it
growing on it already, since then it has grown out of control.

If i did a test for NitrAtes wouldn't this show up on the test if i had a
NitrAte problem?
I have even tested for NitrAtes by taking the water sample directly from
the sponge in the Hangon Filter and from inside the Canister Filter, All
tests show NitrAtes are very low. (LESS than the first colour on the Test
kit).
Waterflow is good.
Rocks nearby to here are not quite Live Rock quality and I really dont
want to throw the Rocks i have already away and start anew...
The crushed coral is in the sump under a few inches of local mud picked
up from nearby to here.
This is an experiment started by a friend in here..
Filtered water, Ozone and UV are the only things i can think of left to
try to solve this weed issue..

Cheers
Microbot

"Mislav" wrote in message ...
It seams to me that you don't have the problem in the water from tap or
ocean. It is your filtration technique that's causing nitrate problems.
Using canister filters, hangon filters with sponge in it is in fact
nitrate factory. Crushed coral in your sump adds nothing to filtration
but produces nitrates. Your best way would be to use only live rock and
protein skimmer for filtration, combined with regular water changes. Be
sure to provide enough water flow in aquarium with minimum of 10 times
the volume of aquarium per hour.
Since you live near the source of NSW you coul find yourself nice pieces
of live rock and replace those rocks that are overgrown by algae.
If you want there's nothing wrong in using ozone but you must be very
carefoul with it. It must not reach main tank or it can kill its
inhabitants.

Mislav

"Microbot" wrote in message
u...
I HAVE been using natural seawater since i started the Tank, Not exactly
sure the date I started it but has to be in its mid second year by now..
Top offs are done with Tap water which the test kits tell me have non
detectable levels of phosphates, Nitrates, Copper, Ammonia and
everything else that is bad.
I have been using a Protein Skimmer since the start.
I only started getting this dreaded weed algae since i bought some Base
Rock to add to what i already had, this rock had the algae already on
it and i was told it would just die off, I have since realised that
this was not very helpful information and it did not die off but
instead has taken over the Tank.
I keep manually removing the stuff (which takes ages) only to have it
back just as bad as it was before within weeks..

I have one Aquaclear 500 hangon filter and a Canister filter.
Also Live rock which i have half filled the 4 foot tank it is in, sorry
no idea how much in weight.
A Hangon Overflow box to a 3 foot sump used only at present to add to
the waters capacity. Nothing in it except for some Mud and Crushed
Coral (which both have only just recently been introduced).

Cheers
Microbot

"CapFusion" wrote in message
...

"Microbot" wrote in message
u...
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..


If you saying you will be using natural seawater and it is clean, then
you do not need filter. Then I would suggest of other thing like
Protein Skimmer. What filteration [natural or man made] method did you
apply to your tank?

CapFusion,...

You don't need to remove canister and hang on. They are good for
circulation. Just remove the media from them. If you remove whole media all
at once it can lead to amonia and nitrite rise because you removed oxidizing
bacteria and new bacteria didn't have enough time to colonize in numbers
needed for amonia and nitrite reduction. Remove it slowly over, say two
weeks. You can also put some good qualitiy activated carbon inside of
canister.
The fact nitrates are low is because of algae growing in your tank. They are
depleeting nitrate so you can't read it on your test but that doesn't mean
that your aquarim is not producing too much nitrate.
I'm also suspicious of mud. It also can produce nitrates. Especialy if it is
not something already tested in aquarium. You should let your friend to
experiment in his tank not yours.
It is common now among SPS keepers to run barebottom tanks to avoid buildup
of detritus that leads to nitrate problems. If you don't watn to have
barebotom then I suggest regular sifoning of crushed coral.
Ozone can help but it isn't mirracle. If you don't do other things right it
won't do much.

Mislav

"Microbot" wrote in message
...
Shipping is pretty expensive shipping them over here from what i remember.
We looked into buying one from in the US and shipping it here but from
memory shipping nearly doubles the cost..
We did find a place in AUS that has them and the prices are not too bad,
but the wallet refuses to let go of the cash just yet. hehe
Have a few other bills etc to get out of the way first, which is why i was
asking about Ozone and UV efficiency against the weed.

Looks like I'll have to get a Water Filter....
I'll also remove the Canister Filter and Hangon Filter just in case it IS
feeding the problem..

Cheers
Microbot

"kryppy" wrote in message
...
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?

My only suggestion at this time would be.... continue siphon while you pull
those large algae out like a vacuum cleaner. Do not let it spread awhile you
pruning.

Remove your media from your conister slowly.
Make sure you have good strong ciculation flow to your PS / SUMP etc.
Continue to prune / pull algae.
Less feeding. Your algae should be a food source for your critter.\

CapFusion,...


"Microbot" wrote in message
...
Thanks,

I do have very good water circulation and the skimmer is working just
fine, it produces some really foul, dark water which i clean out
regularly.
I cant imagine feeding my tanks critters any less than i do now, I dont
directly feed the inverts and only give enough food for the fish to eat in
a few seconds.
Nothing is really left to settle on the bottom.
The critters i have seem to feed constantly on the rocks, eating the weed
but it grows faster than they eat it.
I prune the algae out often and yes i siphon the water near and around it
as i pull it from the tank, I have done this more than i care to remember.
The stuff grows on EVERYTHING, I'm sure if i left my finger in there long
enough then it would grow on it too.
As i said, NitrAtes are showing as not being a problem, but the only thing
i have not tried is to remove the Canister filter and Hangon filter i have
on the Tank.
If removing them doesnt solve the problem and Filtered Water doesnt then i
am at a total loss..

Cheers
Microbot

"CapFusion" wrote in message
...
I only can assume those algae are taking in those nitrate.
As Mislav stated are the method I normally recommend. PS need to very
efficient and must have good water circulation to combat algae. Your PS
should really smell if it efficient enough. Your inhitant like Tang /
crab and or shrimp should be munching on those algae. Try feeding less to
your critter so they get hungry enough to turn to grazing. The large
algae may need to get prune and siphon out at the same time so it will
not spread. Small algae should be taking care by those janitoral crew and
or your grazing critter.

CapFusion,...



"Microbot" wrote in message
u...
Thanks for your reply.
I had no problem with the Algae until I added the rock that had it
growing on it already, since then it has grown out of control.

If i did a test for NitrAtes wouldn't this show up on the test if i had
a NitrAte problem?
I have even tested for NitrAtes by taking the water sample directly from
the sponge in the Hangon Filter and from inside the Canister Filter, All
tests show NitrAtes are very low. (LESS than the first colour on the
Test kit).
Waterflow is good.
Rocks nearby to here are not quite Live Rock quality and I really dont
want to throw the Rocks i have already away and start anew...
The crushed coral is in the sump under a few inches of local mud picked
up from nearby to here.
This is an experiment started by a friend in here..
Filtered water, Ozone and UV are the only things i can think of left to
try to solve this weed issue..

Cheers
Microbot

"Mislav" wrote in message ...
It seams to me that you don't have the problem in the water from tap or
ocean. It is your filtration technique that's causing nitrate problems.
Using canister filters, hangon filters with sponge in it is in fact
nitrate factory. Crushed coral in your sump adds nothing to filtration
but produces nitrates. Your best way would be to use only live rock and
protein skimmer for filtration, combined with regular water changes. Be
sure to provide enough water flow in aquarium with minimum of 10 times
the volume of aquarium per hour.
Since you live near the source of NSW you coul find yourself nice
pieces of live rock and replace those rocks that are overgrown by
algae.
If you want there's nothing wrong in using ozone but you must be very
carefoul with it. It must not reach main tank or it can kill its
inhabitants.

Mislav

"Microbot" wrote in message
u...
I HAVE been using natural seawater since i started the Tank, Not
exactly sure the date I started it but has to be in its mid second year
by now..
Top offs are done with Tap water which the test kits tell me have non
detectable levels of phosphates, Nitrates, Copper, Ammonia and
everything else that is bad.
I have been using a Protein Skimmer since the start.
I only started getting this dreaded weed algae since i bought some
Base Rock to add to what i already had, this rock had the algae
already on it and i was told it would just die off, I have since
realised that this was not very helpful information and it did not die
off but instead has taken over the Tank.
I keep manually removing the stuff (which takes ages) only to have it
back just as bad as it was before within weeks..

I have one Aquaclear 500 hangon filter and a Canister filter.
Also Live rock which i have half filled the 4 foot tank it is in,
sorry no idea how much in weight.
A Hangon Overflow box to a 3 foot sump used only at present to add to
the waters capacity. Nothing in it except for some Mud and Crushed
Coral (which both have only just recently been introduced).

Cheers
Microbot

"CapFusion" wrote in
message ...

"Microbot" wrote in message
u...
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..


If you saying you will be using natural seawater and it is clean,
then you do not need filter. Then I would suggest of other thing like
Protein Skimmer. What filteration [natural or man made] method did
you apply to your tank?

CapFusion,...

Thanks, I'll keep doing this and see where it gets me..
Cheers

"CapFusion" wrote in message
...
My only suggestion at this time would be.... continue siphon while you
pull those large algae out like a vacuum cleaner. Do not let it spread
awhile you pruning.

Remove your media from your conister slowly.
Make sure you have good strong ciculation flow to your PS / SUMP etc.
Continue to prune / pull algae.
Less feeding. Your algae should be a food source for your critter.\

CapFusion,...


"Microbot" wrote in message
...
Thanks,

I do have very good water circulation and the skimmer is working just
fine, it produces some really foul, dark water which i clean out
regularly.
I cant imagine feeding my tanks critters any less than i do now, I dont
directly feed the inverts and only give enough food for the fish to eat
in a few seconds.
Nothing is really left to settle on the bottom.
The critters i have seem to feed constantly on the rocks, eating the weed
but it grows faster than they eat it.
I prune the algae out often and yes i siphon the water near and around
it as i pull it from the tank, I have done this more than i care to
remember.
The stuff grows on EVERYTHING, I'm sure if i left my finger in there long
enough then it would grow on it too.
As i said, NitrAtes are showing as not being a problem, but the only
thing i have not tried is to remove the Canister filter and Hangon filter
i have on the Tank.
If removing them doesnt solve the problem and Filtered Water doesnt then
i am at a total loss..

Cheers
Microbot

"CapFusion" wrote in message
...
I only can assume those algae are taking in those nitrate.
As Mislav stated are the method I normally recommend. PS need to very
efficient and must have good water circulation to combat algae. Your PS
should really smell if it efficient enough. Your inhitant like Tang /
crab and or shrimp should be munching on those algae. Try feeding less
to your critter so they get hungry enough to turn to grazing. The large
algae may need to get prune and siphon out at the same time so it will
not spread. Small algae should be taking care by those janitoral crew
and or your grazing critter.

CapFusion,...



"Microbot" wrote in message
u...
Thanks for your reply.
I had no problem with the Algae until I added the rock that had it
growing on it already, since then it has grown out of control.

If i did a test for NitrAtes wouldn't this show up on the test if i had
a NitrAte problem?
I have even tested for NitrAtes by taking the water sample directly
from the sponge in the Hangon Filter and from inside the Canister
Filter, All tests show NitrAtes are very low. (LESS than the first
colour on the Test kit).
Waterflow is good.
Rocks nearby to here are not quite Live Rock quality and I really dont
want to throw the Rocks i have already away and start anew...
The crushed coral is in the sump under a few inches of local mud picked
up from nearby to here.
This is an experiment started by a friend in here..
Filtered water, Ozone and UV are the only things i can think of left to
try to solve this weed issue..

Cheers
Microbot

"Mislav" wrote in message ...
It seams to me that you don't have the problem in the water from tap
or ocean. It is your filtration technique that's causing nitrate
problems. Using canister filters, hangon filters with sponge in it is
in fact nitrate factory. Crushed coral in your sump adds nothing to
filtration but produces nitrates. Your best way would be to use only
live rock and protein skimmer for filtration, combined with regular
water changes. Be sure to provide enough water flow in aquarium with
minimum of 10 times the volume of aquarium per hour.
Since you live near the source of NSW you coul find yourself nice
pieces of live rock and replace those rocks that are overgrown by
algae.
If you want there's nothing wrong in using ozone but you must be very
carefoul with it. It must not reach main tank or it can kill its
inhabitants.

Mislav

"Microbot" wrote in message
u...
I HAVE been using natural seawater since i started the Tank, Not
exactly sure the date I started it but has to be in its mid second
year by now..
Top offs are done with Tap water which the test kits tell me have non
detectable levels of phosphates, Nitrates, Copper, Ammonia and
everything else that is bad.
I have been using a Protein Skimmer since the start.
I only started getting this dreaded weed algae since i bought some
Base Rock to add to what i already had, this rock had the algae
already on it and i was told it would just die off, I have since
realised that this was not very helpful information and it did not
die off but instead has taken over the Tank.
I keep manually removing the stuff (which takes ages) only to have it
back just as bad as it was before within weeks..

I have one Aquaclear 500 hangon filter and a Canister filter.
Also Live rock which i have half filled the 4 foot tank it is in,
sorry no idea how much in weight.
A Hangon Overflow box to a 3 foot sump used only at present to add to
the waters capacity. Nothing in it except for some Mud and Crushed
Coral (which both have only just recently been introduced).

Cheers
Microbot

"CapFusion" wrote in
message ...

"Microbot" wrote in message
u...
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..


If you saying you will be using natural seawater and it is clean,
then you do not need filter. Then I would suggest of other thing
like Protein Skimmer. What filteration [natural or man made] method
did you apply to your tank?

CapFusion,...

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.