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Obviously any sort of UV system is only going to kill the algae exposed to it, so they won't do anything for algae growing on surfaces, only that suspended in the water pumped through the device. It also won't remove the algae, it will kill it and encourage it to flocculate together into larger lumps, but you need decent mechanical filtration to remove it. I'm mildly surprised that aquarium sterilisers aren't lethal to suspended algae, but can see that algae would necessarily be more tolerant than many bacteria - the UV in sunlight tends to kill bacteria in surface waters, yet feeds phytoplankton. So perhaps understandable if aquarium devices are under-specified for that purpose.
It's worth remembering that you only need one nutrient to be limiting to inhibit growth - might be more effective to target phosphate with something like RowaPhos, unless you are also trying to grow plants in the tank.
It's worth remembering that you only need one nutrient to be limiting to inhibit growth - might be more effective to target phosphate with something like RowaPhos, unless you are also trying to grow plants in the tank.
otolith said:
Obviously any sort of UV system is only going to kill the algae exposed to it, so they won't do anything for algae growing on surfaces, only that suspended in the water pumped through the device. It also won't remove the algae, it will kill it and encourage it to flocculate together into larger lumps, but you need decent mechanical filtration to remove it. I'm mildly surprised that aquarium sterilisers aren't lethal to suspended algae, but can see that algae would necessarily be more tolerant than many bacteria - the UV in sunlight tends to kill bacteria in surface waters, yet feeds phytoplankton. So perhaps understandable if aquarium devices are under-specified for that purpose.
It's worth remembering that you only need one nutrient to be limiting to inhibit growth - might be more effective to target phosphate with something like RowaPhos, unless you are also trying to grow plants in the tank.
Yeah I think the other poster was mistaken on that point actually, usually only low wattage is required for killing algae (my 1000 litre pond only has 11w to keep it clear and that's in full sunshine). It's worth remembering that you only need one nutrient to be limiting to inhibit growth - might be more effective to target phosphate with something like RowaPhos, unless you are also trying to grow plants in the tank.
Normally much higher wattage (and lower flow rates) are required for sterilising bacteria/parasites. They typically need both higher intensity UV and longer exposure to it to be killed compared to algae, as algae are such simple organisms.
Edited by budgie smuggler on Thursday 23 January 10:32
rider73 said:
Here she is - behind it is an open glass window - the filter has a UV light in it, and is set to fast flow rate. the light is on about 7 hours a day.
That's really useful!So...
I'd raise the water level for a start, more volume equals more dilution!
Can't tell if that's a crypt or an echinodorus (scratch that, it's a java fern isn't it? I'm rapidly re-educating myself on freshwater plants!) - but it's reasonably slow growing. I'd add some more to the 'back wall' - but would recommend some fast growing stem plants like cabomba (which you can almost see growing in front of your eyes!).
I'd also think about adding some floating plants, water lettuce is a good one as its a complete 'nutrient sponge', has nice roots that fish love to chill out in - and it provides both shade whilst also being easy to remove excess growth.
Get some shrimp in there, and be diligent with your water changes - and I think you'll be fine...
Turn7 said:
Not criticising, but what’s the thinking with the water level that low ?
yeah - its not ideal - the last water change i messed up the quantities and seeing as i'll be doing another one this weekend, i just left it as is, normally its up to 1cm from the top.thanks for all the info - i did have some shrimp but they all disappeared - i suspect snails or the fish themselves. i had bought 10 at one point, which when to 4 then 1 then ....none
i'll get some floating plants, i like the sound of that.
what about another uv light like this one \/ or perhaps just a chemical additive?
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Aquarium-Sterilizer-Clari...
rider73 said:
i did have some shrimp but they all disappeared - i suspect snails or the fish themselves. i had bought 10 at one point, which when to 4 then 1 then ....none
You've not got a large opening into your filter, have you?Back when we had tropical fish I changed tanks to one of those Juwel ones with the filter stack in the corner...and I didn't think carefully enough until after it was filled...the intake grille at the bottom was wide enough to take a Crystal Red if they wanted to hide, and then presumably the flow prevented them from exiting again. I went from a beautiful colony of 20+ (I bought 5 or 6 and they kept breeding...must have given 20-30 away too) to none in the space of a month or two!
havoc said:
You've not got a large opening into your filter, have you?
Back when we had tropical fish I changed tanks to one of those Juwel ones with the filter stack in the corner...and I didn't think carefully enough until after it was filled...the intake grille at the bottom was wide enough to take a Crystal Red if they wanted to hide, and then presumably the flow prevented them from exiting again. I went from a beautiful colony of 20+ (I bought 5 or 6 and they kept breeding...must have given 20-30 away too) to none in the space of a month or two!
I put some (allegedly) Amano shrimp in one of my planted tanks. They all gradually disappeared. I found a load of them living in the filter - fully developed, but smaller and more of them than I put in. Amano shrimp larvae are generally accepted to require brackish water to develop, so I suspect that what I was sold was some other species of freshwater shrimp. Haven't seen any of them in ages, though.Back when we had tropical fish I changed tanks to one of those Juwel ones with the filter stack in the corner...and I didn't think carefully enough until after it was filled...the intake grille at the bottom was wide enough to take a Crystal Red if they wanted to hide, and then presumably the flow prevented them from exiting again. I went from a beautiful colony of 20+ (I bought 5 or 6 and they kept breeding...must have given 20-30 away too) to none in the space of a month or two!
otolith said:
I put some (allegedly) Amano shrimp in one of my planted tanks. They all gradually disappeared. I found a load of them living in the filter - fully developed, but smaller and more of them than I put in. Amano shrimp larvae are generally accepted to require brackish water to develop, so I suspect that what I was sold was some other species of freshwater shrimp. Haven't seen any of them in ages, though.
Could be that you were sold Ghost shrimp. They don’t require a brackish phase for the life cycle and breed quite easily in aquaria as I understand. Crystal red shrimp are prone to disappearing due to being sucked into power filters with intake grilles or slats that are wider than the shrimp. Some power filter designs are more shrimp friendly than others.
Apologies - I don’t know how to add multiple quotes to a post but the green water problem might be down to an excess of nitrates and/or phosphates combined with the high light levels in the conservatory. Blocking light entry to back and sides (e,g by using a tasteful printed aqauarium background) and adding a fast growing floating plant sucks up excess nitrates and phosphates will help a lot I reckon - water spangles (Salvinia minima) is easy to grow and spreads really quickly without being as much of a pain in the rear as duckweed, which is smaller.
rider73 said:
what about another uv light like this one \/ or perhaps just a chemical additive?
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Aquarium-Sterilizer-Clari...
Is the water actually green though? It looks okay in your pic. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Aquarium-Sterilizer-Clari...
If it really is going green, I wouldn't buy that particular product.
If you have an external filter you want something like this:
https://aquacadabra.com/products/fluval-in-line-uv...
If you have only internal filtration, then you want a Green Killing Machine or similar (that takes a proper florescent UV tube)
https://www.aa-aquarium.com/gkm
There are a lot of freshwater filters claiming to be 'UV clarifiers' or 'sterilizers' but actually just have a couple of s
tty UV LEDs inside; those will do nothing.Edited by budgie smuggler on Friday 24th January 15:02
Redone my tank over Christmas finally got some photos after a month of being set up added some new tetras last week to build back up the group. Happy so far still some things not happy with but a lot better than what was there before
Edited by MG CHRIS on Wednesday 12th February 19:04
Oberheim said:
That’s a good-sized tank, looks nice. Is that a Madagascar Rainbowfish I spy in there? I rarely see those for sale. I had a group of these many moons ago in a 4-foot tank. Gorgeous fish, especially the males when they get the full colours in their finnage.
It is did have 2 but one got bullied by the big rainbow boss so a friend of mine had him still going strong now. May get some more if i can find them stunning fish once matured. Just got to be careful specially with the 3 pearls in there can be some spats specially when the 2 big rainbows start getting stroppy.
Edited by MG CHRIS on Wednesday 12th February 23:46
Caddyshack said:
I have been looking back through the thread but can’t find the manufacturer people used for large tanks. I need a 7ft x4ft (front to back) and 2ft top to bottom, stand and sump.
Based on current feedback/experiences of mates (and a superb quote I got personally) - I'd not go anywhere except for Mick at MBM...If you want a bargain, without the fine details, them ND Aquatics are the staple.
I would have recommended Aquariums4Life, but a couple of mates have had some 'concerning' issues with longer term quality/customer care.
Some 10-15 years ago I bought a second-hand D-D carbon dioxide regulator which recently died; seemed to be working OK but a cylinder was only lasting a week instead of a good six months.
Not really the kind of thing I'd feel comfortable trying to repair, and a replacement D-D or similar known-branded regulator is close to £100, so I gambled on a cheapie Aliexpress one (about £30 including a 3/8 to M10 adapter). Only been going a few hours but it seems fine, and the rate adjuster is very smooth and precise.
Not really the kind of thing I'd feel comfortable trying to repair, and a replacement D-D or similar known-branded regulator is close to £100, so I gambled on a cheapie Aliexpress one (about £30 including a 3/8 to M10 adapter). Only been going a few hours but it seems fine, and the rate adjuster is very smooth and precise.
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