Uv Sterilization + Filter Necessary?

Hi,

I set up a small 5 gallon for shrimp and got an algae problem. The water itself is clear, but diatoms and green algae are taking over the glass, sponge filter and on my plant leaves (anubias). Also, I tied the anubias to cholla wood and that has a BUNCH of hair algae. Also, the leaves have darkened and I cannot even rub the algae off with my fingers.

So here's the question.

Will a uv sterlization unit work on this algae? Do you know or recommend any budget ones? It would be nice to have a filter and uv sterilization unit so I can take the sponge filter out for more room. If not, I'm thinking of getting a marina s10 (slI'm HOB) and putting the attachable UV on the filter.

Any other suggestions?!

Before you say lighting and cleaning might help...I'm trying to grow baby dwarf tears as a carpet and working on a CO2 unit as well which is why I have the light on for maybe 8-12 hours a day.

Thanks!

 

A uv sterilizer will destroy the algae spores/bacteria present in the water column, not on the decor. To start, lower your lighting to 6 hours a day, at least until you get the co2 sorted out. 8-12 hours to grow an HC carpet, especially without co2 is way too much. Pick up a timer on amazon, so you don't get "maybe" 6 hours of light, and stay consistent. Are you dosing ferts? What's the substrate?

 

A uv sterilizer will destroy the algae spores/bacteria present in the water column, not on the decor. To start, lower your lighting to 6 hours a day, at least until you get the co2 sorted out. 8-12 hours to grow an HC carpet, especially without co2 is way too much. Pick up a timer on amazon, so you don't get "maybe" 6 hours of light, and stay consistent. Are you dosing ferts? What's the substrate?

Hey! Thanks a bunch for the quick advice! No ferts. Caribsea ecocomplete. I figured that I’m going to restart this whole tank as a whole with the UV so algae won’t even start. I’ll keep the sponge filter for the cycled bit tho. So once I have the CO2 in play how much light should I give? I'm building the DIY version with baking soda and citric acid.

 

Sorry to tell you this, but restarting the tank won't get rid of your algae problems. It will still grow on the glass/decor/plants, just won't be present in the water. Planted tanks are a balancing act. Use the lights as a gas pedal, start with lowest and work from there. Start with 6 hours of light, (which should be enough if you're only growing HC), and troubleshoot from there, algae wise. As for the DIY co2, it's fairly inconsistent. Might result in BBA (black beard algae) instead of just regular green algae, which is a PITA to get rid off. Since this is a shrimp tank, they should be getting all of the algae in the tank, and scrubbing the walls shouldn't be a problem. As the tank adjusts and balances it should reduce, assuming you actually balance everything.

 

Sorry to tell you this, but restarting the tank won't get rid of your algae problems. It will still grow on the glass/decor/plants, just won't be present in the water. Planted tanks are a balancing act. Use the lights as a gas pedal, start with lowest and work from there. Start with 6 hours of light, (which should be enough if you're only growing HC), and troubleshoot from there, algae wise. As for the DIY co2, it's fairly inconsistent. Might result in BBA (black beard algae) instead of just regular green algae, which is a PITA to get rid off. Since this is a shrimp tank, they should be getting all of the algae in the tank, and scrubbing the walls shouldn't be a problem. As the tank adjusts and balances it should reduce, assuming you actually balance everything.

I see I see...well, I was thinking of restarting just because of landscaping issues and I heard pool filtration sand causes diatoms to bloom more than usual because of silica. Hope that everything will balance out tho! How would you suggest getting rid of the hair algae on the cholla wood?? Scrub it down with a toothbrush?

 

Diatoms are common in new tanks, it's nothing to worry about. As for the hair algae, yes, scrub it with a toothbrush, and find the root cause.