Hi Tom,

I'm getting ready to install a UV sterilizer and I plan on running it a day or two after every water change as you suggested.

My question is how do you plumb it? Do you leave it in line and just turn the light off or do you put it on a bypass?

Thanks for your help,
Bill VanHorn

Just a quick question to butt in on your thread. Does UV sterilization kill the things in your water, that help plants to thrive?

From what I have read so far people think that it causes problems with the Fe, but I'm not sure if they know this or if it's a theory.

Again from what I have read, you should run it a day or two after a water change then add Fe after turning it off.

I haven't read were anyone says to run it all the time or that it's absolutely necessary. I think it's just a little something extra to help with some types algae and to help keep the water a little clearer.

See this thread for algae instructions Scape sites.

Bill

I run mine continuously ... and have for quite a few years ... I replace the bulbs once a year ...

I did not change my dosing routine, and noticed no difference in my plants after starting the UV ...

Greg

Thanks for getting back with me.

Do you dose Fe? If you do, can I ask you how much?

Bill

For years ... I dosed Flourish every other day ... and Flourish Iron twice a month ...

Later I changed to Platnex CSM+B ... and I continued the same routine ... dosing supplemental Iron twice a month ...

I do this same routine in two 55 gallon tanks and one 10 gallon tank that are not on a UV system ...

I don't personally believe that the UV has any material impact on micro nutrients. I am sure that it can "technically" have an impact, but I haven't seen a real world example where it has any materially measurable impact ...

Of course, that is just my opinion ...

Thanks for the information.

That's kind of how I took it, that it may be more theory than actual fact.

I think there are many scientific applications that people don't fully understands so they call it an art. When you see something like growing plants called an art you can be assured that many of the ideas can be greatly improved on.

I believe the aquascaping is an art but I don't think growing plants is.