algae control with uv sterilization

[signde]

i don't really think i have a huge problem with algae however i am a neat freak and the sight of it on holey rocks rubs me the wrong way. even the thinnest layer of algae looks awful on holey rock.

i've read about the reasons for algae
www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/algae_control.php

pretty sure i understand that article quite well. as for the most common causes... currently my tank is far from overstocked and my nitrates are at or below 10ppm. i think i am okay with everything in that article. i have my lights on a timer for 11 hours a day. i could cut back there a little and that would help but i don't know how much.

so here is what i think is the main problem. i have a large double sized window directly by my tank. the windows have blinds however there is still a fair amount of indirect light that comes in even with the blinds closed. based on what i am seeing i am convinced my problem is due to the indirect sunlight. i have rock at both ends of the tank. the side of the rock that faces the window will have a layer. the rest of the rock will look fine. also the rock closest to the window will have significantly more algae than the the rock at the opposite end.

covering the windows beyond the blinds isn't really an option and this was the only location suitable for the tank. i've grown tired of cleaning my holey rock every 3 weeks. its so big i have to take off the canopy, lids, etc just to get it out of the tank. removing the canopy for a 125 by yourself is not very fun. also every time i clean it am killing all the bacteria living on the rock. not to mention the rock is very heavy and am afraid i'll drop it one of these days and break something important like the aquarium.

so... i'm wondering how much a uv sterilizer would really help my situation. i've seen the coralife 9w turbo twist for as low as $99. i read jon's review in the product section. at this point i am thinking it can't hurt.

thoughts?

[oneyoda]

cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=110578116671&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:VRI Odyssea 36wat uv sterilizer. $40 plus $17shipping on ebay!

[jon carman]

I have a 9w turbo twist for $50, comes with pump, lining and return. Needs a bulb from big al's.
But... That won't get it off holey rock, uv's just get it out of the water. The 3 options you have are:

1) Flip the rocks

2) Keep lights off when you aren't home

3) Take a few pieces out at a time and put them in the sun.

On my tank, I only have the lights on a few hours a day, normally from 4pm-10pm max.

[signde]

Thanks for the link. I'd still need an external pump. I'm not want to put a powerhead in my tank.

Jon, I was wondering about that. I wasn't sure how a sterilizer would help with it on the surface. Then again i've seen claims with before and after shots where the tank and surfaces had algae then after the sterilizer it was clear as could be.

Diluted bleach then a few hours in the sun is how I clean them now. It doesn't take much bleach and I give it the sniff test before it goes back in. The problem is every piece is too big to come out without removing the tank lid which means the canopy also.

I'll change my timer hours tonight. I'm sure that will help some. I'm willing to throw money at the problem at this point though so I might get the sterilizer anyway.

[signde]

Is it possible that if I started with clean rocks that the sterilizer would inhibit algae from forming so fast? Does the algae live in the water then land on the rocks and then take up permanent residence? Or does it just grow directly on the rocks?

[davidtcb1]

I agree with Jon. Your best bet with holey rock is just to flip it and practice light control. Bleaching periodically is also an option but is a pain for big pieces. A UV would be fine for your water, but not necessary. You might see a slight increase in the amount of time it takes for your rocks to show algae, but that would be about it. You'd still have to turn/bleach eventually.

[jon carman]

The sterilizer might barely help. The best thing the uv can do is kill ich and algae in water. Once it sets up on the rocks it will grow from there.

[bunnie1978]

What kind of algae is it?

[signde]

Aug 31, 2010 16:03:41 GMT -6 bunnie1978 said:

What kind of algae is it?

green

[bunnie1978]

is it slimy, or does it look like dust or a carpet? Orhair?

[signde]

Aug 31, 2010 16:45:39 GMT -6 bunnie1978 said:

is it slimy, or does it look like dust or a carpet? Orhair?

like dust.

[bunnie1978]

Plecos should eat that kind, or otos if you have soft acidic water. This guide might help you, too...
www.theplantedtank.co.uk/algae.htm

[signde]

hmmm. i have 2 plecos in the tank.

one is about 6" common pleco. i've had him for a couple of years. he doesn't touch the stuff and hasn't in a long time. i've read once they reach this size some of them stop eating algae and move on to vegetable matter. i've recently started feeding him zucchini and he mows through that as soon as i put it in the tank.

i also have a 2.5" bristlenose in that tank. i've read these guys love algae. i suppose he is too small to keep up?

should i add more bristlenose? how many would i need for a 125 and lots of holey rock? i know they don't get quite as large.

[bunnie1978]

Bristlenose get to about 5" depending on sex and fin variety. I should have some at the swap. Bristlenose are also very active. If you see them eating on the algae and getting it clean enough for it to be esthetically pleasing level from what they eat, then adding more would be good, but if you never see him eating on that algae, it would be useless.

Some algaes are virtually impossible to be rid of. I've never had holey rock, but I used to have pieces of coral rock that I picked up off the beach in Maui in one of my tanks. It's very pourous. I used to clean it by just rubbing a toothbrush on it in the tank.

Perhaps adding a tie-down type plant to shade the area and obsorb the nutrients would help, or a floating plant to add shade. Also, make sure you're not overfeeding.... food debris usually leads to alot of extra nutrients in the water that feed algae. A java fern is easy to work with and LOVES indirect sunlight, even if the rest of the lightsare off.

You could also try a siesta period using a timer. That's where you have a time during the day where the lights are off. I used to do 4 hours on 3 off 6 on because I like the lights on until I go to bed. That might help enough to keep your tank nice!!

[signde]

i have africans who will be getting very large so i don't think plants would do well in my tank. they would either uproot them or eat them.

the bristlenose i have now is so small i have no idea if he is making a difference or not. i do see him scrubbing on the surface of rocks but a 125 with hundreds of pounds of rock is a lot of surface area for one little bristlenose to compete with. like i said the common pleco i have stopped "cleaning the tank" years ago. he won't bother with anything but vegetables at this point. but i've read this is the norm with common plecos. bristlenose however continue to eat algae forever, so i have read.

i'm fairly confident i am not overfeeding. i fast my fish once a week and throughout the week feed no more than they can eat in about 10 seconds 3 times a day. i'm well within the golden "30 second" rule. they always appear ravenous, which is how i have read it should be.

i just cut the schedule on my light timer down from 11 hours to 5. hopefully that will help but now i'm wondering if more plecos would be beneficial also. i certainly have room for more, i think.