uv sterilizer

[choupic]

Anybody knows if this uv sterilizer is any good is a great price..
Im having some algae problems.

http://www.petsmart.com/global/produ...ousText=uv&N=2


Thanks

[austinsdad]

$49 is good for a 9w (UV unit and bulb), but I'd wonder about how good it is with such a low price. Just me I'm sure, and my thing about really cheaply priced things. Naturally suspicious I guess.

BTW, how long are your lights on and are you using RO/DI water? Tested for phosphates?

[choupic]

Lights are on from 7:30am till 9:00pm
po4 0 in ro/di tested

[austinsdad]

Way too much light. Cut back your lighting to around 10hrs daily. I did the same thing when I first set up thinking I needed to feed in the AM and see my fish. Let'm stay dark until around 1pm or so. The lights off maybe around 11ish. You can feed once or every other day and view all afternoon and evening.

[roka64]

Cut back your lighting to around 10hrs daily

I cut mine back to 8 hours-2PM-10PM.

You can feed once or every other day

I agree with this also, I started feeding every other day. It cut down on my algae.

[melosu58]

I believe that UV`s serve a purpose in a SW tank but just dont use it as a bandaid. Find out why you have algea and correct the problem and then use UV as a preventitive measure.