Salinity and UV questions

albatross666 · 04/01/2008, 09:28 AM

Hi

I have an issue with green hair algae. A auto-feeder fell into the tank and all the food dispersed into the tank. That was about a month ago, and I cleaned and did a lot of water changes.

A lot of my algae is gone, but there is still a lot left.

I have a new Coralife UV sitting that I am thinking of using. Its a 9 watt and the tank is 55 gallons. Every time i clean the algae, there are a lot of floating pieces that get suspended in the water.

Also, my top-off is not working. So my water levels are up and down, and affects the skimmer. I have to adjust daily. But within a week, my salinity rises a lot.

First question: Should I use the UV? Is it OK to take out coral and rock into a bucket and scrub the algae off with a toothbrush?

Second question: Are the higher salt levels bad? Do they contribute to the algae problem?

Thanks!

Randy Holmes-Farley · 04/01/2008, 09:35 AM

Higher salinity will not encourage algae, IMO, unless it is so high that it is stressing organisms and they cannot grow and so are not taking up nutrients that are then left for the algae.

The UV may help kill some of the free floating algae and spores, but the dead algae, unless skimmed out, will simply release its nutrients back into the water and be taken up by more algae on the rocks, etc. I personally wouldn't bother to use it.

Taking the rock out is an OK plan.

04/01/2008, 09:28 AM	#1
albatross666 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: MD Posts: 69	Salinity and UV questions Hi I have an issue with green hair algae. A auto-feeder fell into the tank and all the food dispersed into the tank. That was about a month ago, and I cleaned and did a lot of water changes. A lot of my algae is gone, but there is still a lot left. I have a new Coralife UV sitting that I am thinking of using. Its a 9 watt and the tank is 55 gallons. Every time i clean the algae, there are a lot of floating pieces that get suspended in the water. Also, my top-off is not working. So my water levels are up and down, and affects the skimmer. I have to adjust daily. But within a week, my salinity rises a lot. First question: Should I use the UV? Is it OK to take out coral and rock into a bucket and scrub the algae off with a toothbrush? Second question: Are the higher salt levels bad? Do they contribute to the algae problem? Thanks!

04/01/2008, 09:35 AM	#2
Randy Holmes-Farley Reef Chemist Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Arlington, Massachusetts Posts: 86,233	Higher salinity will not encourage algae, IMO, unless it is so high that it is stressing organisms and they cannot grow and so are not taking up nutrients that are then left for the algae. The UV may help kill some of the free floating algae and spores, but the dead algae, unless skimmed out, will simply release its nutrients back into the water and be taken up by more algae on the rocks, etc. I personally wouldn't bother to use it. Taking the rock out is an OK plan. __________________ Randy Holmes-Farley Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef