UV sterilizers.. Pros / Cons?

My buddy used to run one to cure ich in his tank, he noticed a reduction in how bad the outbreak was but the outbreak was still there. When it comes to uv it would break down floating algae spores, therefore not allow them to reproduce as much as before, however when you kill them off they become nutrients and need to be effectively removed by a skimmer.

Here is a good read all the way at the bottom of this article on UV. Although it is a little dated, this is one of the first articles I read when I started out. www.advancedaquarist.com/2003/2/beginner

I find the best method for removing any outbreak is attacking it with a larger, oversized skimmer, constant removal and a clean up crew (hint hint kole tang lol) to hit it at the source. If uv is an option for you excellent, however dependent on the quality of the bulb, will need to get replaced every 6-12 months. Is it effective, yes in my opinion if you keep up on the maintenance, and get a skimmer to match or run a lot of carbon each week to catch it. It will make a large dent in the spores ability to spawn. Lastly if you have a refugium that could help a lot, cheaper than a uv, and provides nutrient export that you can see daily, however can become a detritus trap if you don't clean often.

I'd invest in a reactor before a UV sterilizer if you're not already running GFO. I ran a UV on my last set up and a dual reactor (Carbon/GFO) on my current and feel that the GFO better pinpoints what you're trying to eliminate which is phosphates. Also, manually removing (tearing out) some algae will cause it to spread by releasing spores into the water. Personally, I shy away from this method.

I agree, I'm more than likely battling a phos issue. I started my tank with dry rock and tap water... Then I was able to get a 4-stage ro/di. I have an 18 in HOB fuge with about 3" sand bed and macro...

I don't currently have a reactor although I was running GFO and AC in a mesh bag tossed in the fuge... I have a hydro skimmer and it pulls out some pretty greenish but watery gunk.. But it also doesn't foam 100% of the time....

So yeah.. Looking for a way out

-Ryan

My opinion would be to find the source of the Phosphate. Running GFO is suppose to be for polishing off the remaining low reading of phosphate not to hide a problem. I would change the food I was feeding, test your water source, test your tank water, how dirty is your sand bed, what are you using for sand bed substrate, live rock where is it from how was it treated, what type of lighting are you using, if fluorescent or MH how old and what type are the lamps, How is the water movement in the tank, is your skimmer really doing its job. If you are having a major battle with algae running GFO is really a band aid.

oh and make sure pin wheel has not got stuff on it and is intact

... And I should mention... EVERY water change I blast away like a mad man all my rocks and substrate with the siphon tube just inches away....an attempt to get everything I can get my hands on...

I think you should do a little more research about gfo before saying it only polishes off water.....though I do agree it won't magically make your phosphates disappear it will bring then down steadily and once you do get them down it wool continue to help you maintain ultra low phosphates. Witch in a reef tank is always the goal. Your always adding phosphates to your system and there will always be the need to remove them. A gfo phosphate reactor is the most efficient way to do this imho. It also helps with silicates and D.o.c. all things that feed algae.