To use a UV light or not?

[Osimno]

In about the last week the algae growing in my sand on my rocks has dramatically increased in the speed and intensity that it's growing. to the point where I clean the glass that the sand is touching and vaccum the sand and it looks exactly the same as I did before I cleaned it 24 hrs later. I'm currently doing a black out for 3 days and have had minimal algae growth just after 12hrs. although I am running the UV LED on my Ai Prime 16 HD. I don't know if this would be causing that minimal algae growth and if there's any point in running it at all. I'm also not sure if there would be and downsides to only running the UV LED to my fish and corals. I run them at 30% from 9am-10pm. I've also put in some photos of the algae.

 

[Lavey29]

How old is the tank? What are your parameters? What CUC do you have? I've considered a UV light also mainly to prevent bacterial infection in my tank but have no space for one in my cabinet.

 

[Spieg]

Hate to say it but I think you have dinoflagellates. The little bubbles at the end of the stringy bits is the giveaway.
When they get more advanced it look like this;

 

[Osimno]

Yeah I did lots of reading into Dino and cyno and I was a little worried about it becoming that. I think some of the green on the rocks is hair algae thankfully but I'm unsure about what's growing in the sand. that's why I went straight into the black out as I don't want to risk it progressing

 

[Mywifeisgunnakillme]

Use it UV is good.

 

[Osimno]

Use it UV is good.

Okay thank you, I assumed so because it shines down onto the rocks and sand, I'm just worried the light it does give off is growing the algae a little tho?

 

[Mywifeisgunnakillme]

Use a UV sterilizer... buy a nice one...

What size tank? and ill give you some reliable options.

 

[Osimno]

Use a UV sterilizer... buy a nice one...

What size tank? and ill give you some reliable options.

I was looking into UV sterilisers but I have a hang on filter for my tank as it is a stand alone and doesn't have a sump etc, I would have to run tubes to and from the tank to the UV filter. One of the reasons I chose the Ai Prime because of the UV light. Also because I'll be able to transfer/add another Ai Prime when I upgrade my tank in the future

 

[Mywifeisgunnakillme]

Ok, how big a tank?

 

[adittam]

I think a lot of respondents here are assuming the OP means a UV sterilizer. I don't think that's what they are talking about. I think they're asking whether or not they should be running the UV spectrum on their display lights or not...

 

[Osimno]

Ok, how big a tank?

65L/15idh Gal

 

[Osimno]

I think a lot of respondents here are assuming the OP means a UV sterilizer. I don't think that's what they are talking about. I think they're asking whether or not they should be running the UV spectrum on their display lights or not...

Yes, thank you. I probably shouldve tried to be a little more specific

 

[Mywifeisgunnakillme]

15 Watt Advantage 2000+ UV Sterilizer with Hanger Spout

Aqua Ultraviolet UV Sterilizers will eradicate algae, bacteria, and protozoa without any harmful chemicals or additives! UV lamps emit a wavelength that will alter and disrupt the DNA or RNA of single-celled organisms. Combining the UV lamp into a large housing allows for maximum contact time...

www.bulkreefsupply.com

Will kill algae in tank up to probably 50 gallons or so. Parasites die with lower flow in tank say up to say 20 gallons.

Good brand. Hang on. I have one.

Short term use, say a year max. But good for tanks a little bigger.

 

[Mywifeisgunnakillme]

Yes, thank you. I probably shouldve tried to be a little more specific

UV spectrum for reef tank display light is some debatable stuff, certainly not needed for corals as coral grow with lights without it. Some say its good for corals though, provably true, halides and t5s have it and they grow the best IMO.

Never read it cause nuisance algae though. Seems like wrong spectrum for plants, most of the refugium bulbs are higher in the red spectrum.

 

[Mywifeisgunnakillme]

Ghl mitres have uv

 

[Osimno]

UV spectrum for reef tank display light is some debatable stuff, certainly not needed for corals as coral grow with lights without it. Some say its good for corals though, provably true, halides and t5s have it and they grow the best IMO.

Never read it cause nuisance algae though. Seems like wrong spectrum for plants, most of the refugium bulbs are higher in the red spectrum.

Okay that's good to know. I'll keep the UV spectrum on during the blackout. My zoas are fully open so they must be enjoying the light. Atleast I know some of my corals won't be fully disrupted for the black out period

 

[Osimno]

15 Watt Advantage 2000+ UV Sterilizer with Hanger Spout

Aqua Ultraviolet UV Sterilizers will eradicate algae, bacteria, and protozoa without any harmful chemicals or additives! UV lamps emit a wavelength that will alter and disrupt the DNA or RNA of single-celled organisms. Combining the UV lamp into a large housing allows for maximum contact time...

www.bulkreefsupply.com

Will kill algae in tank up to probably 50 gallons or so. Parasites die with lower flow in tank say up to say 20 gallons.

Good brand. Hang on. I have one.

Short term use, say a year max. But good for tanks a little bigger.

I'll look into this, thank you

 

[Mywifeisgunnakillme]

I'll look into this, thank you

Get the flow amount right...

 

[Spieg]

Your AI light only has one UV LED, so probably not going to make much difference either way... but UV is commonly used for growing plants (algae is a plant).

 

[Osimno]

The AI light only has one UV LED, so probably not going to make much difference either way... but UV is commonly used for growing plants (algae is a plant).

Hmm okay, maybe I will turn it off then