UV sterilizers

[mr. bojangsjang]

When macros go "sexual" will the use of a UV sterilizer prevent a tank crash? I am setting up a cold water reef that will include some macros and I want zero chance of the macros going sexual on me and killing anything in the tank as I have invested a lot of time and even more money into this tank.

[graveyardworm]

A Uv sterilizer would probably do very liitle to prevent a tank crash after a caulerpa sporulation event. The crash is due partly to the toxins released, and the ammonia spike from the decomposing gametes and plant tissue. Plenty of system water capacity, excellent filtration, and carbon would help prevent a crash. As long as you keep the caulerpa pruned to a reasonable amount then a sporulation should have little effect on the system overall. Caulerpa also gives some cues to let you know its about to happen so there is time to remove the algae before it dies.

[Samala]

I am under the impression that the main problem is the spike in ammonia after sporulation occurs. A UV sterilizer would kill the gametes released into the tank, and potentially add to the ammonia spike. Not sure that a UV would help prevent a crash in other ways though. :)

>Sarah