UV Sterilizer Question

[theratman99]

A friend's 5 gallon tank has been having a pretty bad algae outbreak. There is hair algae, brown algae and algae growing on the glass and rocks.

If we scrub the tank clean and then add a UV sterilizer would it prevent another outbreak?

I know it only has an affect on the water, but I was thinking if all the objects are clean then it'd be able to prevent algae from living in the water and therefore getting onto objects. Is this true?

[Delapool]

I’ve found they help a little but algae still grows quite nicely (curses ). Mostly only good for green water algae.

Reducing light duration / intensity will be more effective.

[Leeatl]

I agree with Dellapool , a UV would be a waste of $ for just algae . You need to get the tank balanced....IE: light,plants,ferts,etc . When you get the tank balanced the algae will recede , but will never disappear . There will be spots of it always and if you think this way it won't drive ya crazy....lol