does UV help with GHA?

[SlugSnorter]

does UV kill GHA spores in the water? I am working on a GHA issue, and have been fighting it well, but am having trouble with that final step of elimination

 

[Bucs20fan]

It can help but typically not enough to combat it alone. You would need a very powerful one for it to start to affect the algae that is floating in the water column.

 

[Lavey29]

I had a good GHA problem for multiple months. 3 urchins, 2 turbos and raised magnesium to 1500 and GHA is totally gone in one month.

 

[Hallowhead]

I had a good GHA problem for multiple months. 3 urchins, 2 turbos and raised magnesium to 1500 and GHA is totally gone in one month.

did the urchins mess the tank up though? Like displace corals and all?

 

[Lavey29]

did the urchins mess the tank up though? Like displace corals and all?

Not at all so far. They usually have old snail shells on their spines. My frags are glued down well though.

 

[monkeyCmonkeyDo]

If u glue them down tight and secure the urchins will go over them. The snails are more likely to dislodge frags I like top crown snails over mexi turbos.
D

 

[monkeyCmonkeyDo]

Pencil urchins and yes a uv will clear and clarify water. Eliminating algae issues
D

 

[Hallowhead]

Not at all so far. They usually have old snail shells on their spines. My frags are glued down well though.

I'd add it to my frag tank so it's mostly egg crate and plugs.

What urchin do you have ?

 

[Lavey29]

I'd add it to my frag tank so it's mostly egg crate and plugs.

What urchin do you have ?

I bought 3 blue tuxedo urchins from Petco.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Sterilizer is good for spores and what passes through it, therefore answer is no.
Pencil urchin and dolabella sea hare fantastic with GHA. Same with caribbean blue leg hermits, ninja star snails and astrea snails. Emerals crabs too but I have NO trust for them.

 

[Miami Reef]

Agreed with @vetteguy53081

UV may slow the growth of new algae (especially after cleaning the front glass) but once algae has taken hold on rocks, it will not let go unless it’s eaten, manually removed, or dies (unlike some dino species which let go and float around at night).

So, UV is not a cure-all for algae. Herbivores and manual removal is a much better solution.