Re: Vortex diatom XL vs Tetra UV1

[Chuck H <grendel at usit_net>]

Torrance wrote:

> I have reached a final level of desperation in eradicating that foul nemesis
> know as "cloudy green-water".  I had done the water changes and followed
> through on other practices that I know to be correc, but to no avail.  My
> water parameters are fine:
> 150 gallon w/ ~ 612 watts of 10,000k light (JBJ PC and Oceanic PC)
> Carboplus unit
> Pressurized JBJ CO2 through bubble counter and eheim diffuser:  3 bubble per
> second
> ph 7.4
> kH 5 degrees
> gH 7 degrees
> NO2 ~ 0 ppm
> NO3 < 20 ppm
> NH3/NH4 0 ppm

CO2 seems low.  Just out of curiosity, why are you using Carbo+ and compressed
CO2?  Seems redundant, not that redundancy is necessarily a bad thing.

Another thing:  Especially considering the size of your tank, you might 
want to think about
replacing the Eheim diffusor with a commercial or DIY reactor.  Diffusors 
can be
problematic IME.


> Yes, the nitrates are a bit high, but that should not constitue green-water
> for a 2.5 week period of time.  In short, this situation started when I
> cleaned the filter media in my EHEIM 2028 (boiled it) and killed off my
> nitrifying bacteria.

That'll do it.  I've been able to trace practically every algae bloom I've 
had back to a
shift in the nitrogen cycle.  I.e., ammonia spike = algae attack.  Once 
that algae
genie is out of the bottle, it takes a while to get it back in.


> I am either going to purchase a Vortex Diatom XL or a Tetra UV1 sterilizer.
> Which would you guys suggest as the best investment from your experience.
> Special note:  I have also added Bio-spira (Marineland) to the aquarium on
> last week, but to no avail.  I know that the Vortex diatom and the UV1 will
> work, but what are you ladies and gents putting on your tanks?

If it's a matter of one or the other, go for the diatom filter.  It's a 
very handy piece
of equipment to have around IMO.  I don't think UV tubes are nearly as 
practical.
The only time mine gets run anymore is on the quarantine tank when I get 
new fish.
--
Chuck Huffine
Knoxville, Tennessee