Malta Aquarist Society

 Hi guys

 I wanted some advice on a UV filter. I have never had one, though i know it is a common piece of equipment to have. Does anybody use one, and does it really remove all the algea. I am thinking of getting one, because i want to install some tanks outside, but the fact that the water turns green in such a short time, and you cannot see the fish, makes me think twice about it.

Frank

For sure it works 100%

 It works but not if the tanks are in direct sunlight ofcourse as the algae will grow on the glass just the same.

 I think that although having a UV, you still have to do some maintenance if you have tanks in direct sunlight. It will surely help alot though

martin

Hi thanks for the info, another question, do you install it before or after the filter, or doesn't it make any difference

All uv filteres should be fitted after the water is filtered ,so that you will not damage the glass tube.

 HI charles thanks for the info. i need one for also a big tank i have in the sitting room which  faces a window. The water is getting green all the time, can i use it just to pass water from? or i have to attach it to the filter. I have an internal filter, so i guess i should be able to connect it

frank

Yes for sure you can keeping in mind that the water is already filtered by means of the undergravel.

  HI thanks for the info,  will see what is on the market. I need it because i have  two breeding pairs of discus and the water is getting so green that it looks dirty. However apparantly besides getting rid of the green stuff it also serves another purpose, as i know people who keep discus and have one, even though the water does not get green.

 will go to one of the local fish shops and check them out

frank

 Frank,  have you ever seen the colour of the water discus live in in the wild ???

matin

Hi Martin

 Yes i have, and i know i would be even darker, but i would like to see them swimming around clearly, lol

 Prevention is better than cure. Sort out the reasons why you get green water (too much light or nutrients) & you don't need UV.Green water is an imbalance where higher forms of plant life are not present to take out nutrients.

UV is good for killing free swimming stages of some parasites but is not the best thing since sliced bread. I put one of the first commercial centralised filtration plant for freshwater fish into a UK importers & know what they do or don't do.

You need to replace bulbs at least every 6 months or the bugs just get a nice sun tan passing through.

Have you tried dried banana leaves to increase tanin level?

Personally I would forget UV..........

 Hi Tim

 Thaks for the advice. Well in my case it is just plenty of natural light that is coming in through a big window and glass door. The tank itself has no other light at all . The reason being that it is a bare tank and i am using it as a breeding tank. I cannot shut the window as it is a source of light for all the house itself. Mind you the water is not that green, because it does not get any direct sunlight on it. 

 I will look and research about it, as i did not know you need to replace the bulbs so often.  if you do not replace the bulb would it still destroy that small green plant life?

regards

 Frank

 I think not replacing the bulb in the UV is like having a filter without any filter media inside Frank !!!!!!

martin