CO2 & UV sterilizer

Hello everyone

Could someone help me ...?


I have my first tank up and running. I do not have any plants just substrate and 10 small tetra/barbs.

After the first couple of weeks I was doing a water change and refilled it from inside the left rear overflow. The running water knocked loose the algae that was growing on the canisters return pipe and a whole bunch of large chunks of algae became free floating in the tank. I figured I would just let it filter out. By morning I had an algae bloom and the tank was filled with a rolling particulate green water (smokey look) algae

So without knowing better about the problems of algaecide I purchased "API - Algae Destroyer Advanced" and dosed it a little less than recommended, my tank water volumne is about 110-120gallons so i did a dose of 105-110gal.

Now I have lost two cherry barbs and the others are at the bottom of the tank breathing heavy and not eating and jerking around frequently, also a couple of the fish have red gills like the dead fish.

** now to my question **

Since I do not plan on ever again using an algaecide in my aquarium when inhabited with fish or plants I plan on purchasing a UV sterilizer.

I am going to purchase an eheim pro 3 and have plans on using CO2 injection running inline through a Reactor 1000 to go back into the tank via spraybar pointed straight down behind plants on back panel of tank.

Is is ok to use an Inline UV sterilizer on the same return line as the CO2 which puts back water into the tank via spraybar

and if so ...

• Should I put the Reactor 1000 before or after the UV sterilizer?
• Do I only run the UV sterilizer when having algae problems or do I run it constanly?

Thanks for helping

I have my return coming from a Rena XP3 filter, to the Co2reactor, into my Vecton UV15, and back to the tank.

Works for me, however YMMV

Peter

Many add the reactor near the top at the very end.

But up to you really.
The flow through is slow on a 1/2"OC(3/8"ID) in/out in the AM reactor, they need larger 5/8" holes/in/outlets etc

Regards,
Tom Barr

Exactly,

i noticed the flow rate of 250GPH for the Reactor 1000. This will therefore not be sufficient for being inline on my eheim pro 3e which has flow rate of 490GPH. I will have to think up of a different plan as the restrict water flow would defeat the purpose of me purchasing the fancy eheim. Mabey I will put it on one of my 2028's and leave the pro 3e for "bio stream" variable flow and UV sterilizer .... BAM !