Over the past few months I have added pressurized CO2 to two of my planted aquariums, and the result has been significant plant growth, however, quite a bit more algae growth as well.
As such, green water has become an issue when it never was before.
The pressurized CO2 goes a long way to adding to this problem, and I wish that the companies that sell pressurized CO2 systems to fishkeepers and aquascapers, would tell their customers to expect that the additional CO2 in an aquarium also results in more nutrients and green water.
And moreover, that adding a uv sterilizer to an aquarium is the only sure way of getting rid of both green and murky water.
I have been using the AA Green Killing Machine Mini 3 watt unit for the past few days, and in conjunction with my Vortex D-1 diatom filter, the Mini has my 20 gallon aquarium's water sparkling.
The Killing Machine is cheaply made, however, it is very well thought out, with its integrated adjustable powerhead and separate plug for both the powerhead and uv sterilizer.
This means that once you have removed the green water from your aquarium, you can turn the uv sterilizer portion of the AA Mini off until the water starts getting murky again, in order to conserve its bulb.
And you can continue to use the power head portion of the Mini to circulate your water.
I also like the fact that the Mini is fairly compact, unlike the 9 and 24 watt AA Green Killing Machines; both of which are much larger and appear ungainly in an aquarium.
Overall, this is a worthwhile product that does its job at a very affordable price.
The replacement bulbs are expensive though, given that you also purchase the housing unit for the bulb as well as the bulb itself, in order to have a tight seal.
With the wires on the Mini in your aquarium, you want to make certain that the water seal is perfect.
Moreover, even though AA says that the bulb on the Mini is only good for 3 to 6 months, if you only use it from time to time, you may get several years out of it before having to replace the bulb.
Given the cost of a powerhead that circulates 100 gallons of water per hour, The AA Mini is a bargain, with both a powerhead and uv sterilizer in one compact unit for about the price of just a powerhead.
It is also nice to be able to unplug the uv sterilizer while being able to keep the powerhead going all the time.
I usually just pour a small amount of plant fertilizer in front of the AA Mini's powerhead and it circulates the liquid fertilizer better than just pouring it into the tank itself.
I highly recommend this product. It is a very good value.
UPDATE 8/13/2012: I'm upping my review to four stars. I'm giving it more stars because the vendor corrected the product description (see below) and what is listed now describes a very solid product for what it's supposed to do. I'm not giving it five because the two plugs are actually kinda annoying. If the amount of plugs isn't a concern for you though you should DEFINATELY buy this product to control algae. Simly stated it works!
I actually like this product quite a bit. The unit is compact, quiet, and keeps my tank water clear of algae. And yet I gave it only two stars. Why? In the description it says "Requires no tubing; Has one plug to operate both the UV sterilizer and filtration pump." Well, they're half right. The unit has two plugs, one for the pump and one for the UV sterilizer bulb. I ordered it because I only had limited plug-ins available and didn't want to clutter the back of my tank with yet another extension cord.
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This machine cleared my 10 gallon tank within 5 days. I turned it off and the water has stayed clear over a week. Before using this, my 6 week old tank had turned green and was hardly getting better despite more partial water changes. At the greenest, one of my two goldfish got sick and died. I know algae generally aren't harmful to fish, so I wonder if there was a bad bacteria also. This machine supposedly also reduces bacteria in the water. Either way, it looked too green. I avoided anti-algae chemical treatments because have live plants. My only complaint is that I can't find anywhere to buy replacement bulbs. The bulb is estimated to last 3-6 months if constantly on, so hopefully if I only have use it occasionally, it should last much longer.
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When I first received the uv filter, it was missing a part. I thought there would be a hassle getting the part, but customer service went out of their way, sending me an entire new unit, which I received in two days. And instead of having to print out labels and mailing it back, they told me to keep the original one for parts! It is wonderful dealing with a company that goes out of their way for their customers, when so many don't. You have a customer for life.
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Had to order one of these units after repeated disease wipe outs. Reduced casualty rates greatly, but it is a bit pricey.
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You wont go wrong with these bulk aquarium plants. You wont know the difference to name branded product except in pricing! Warning however DO soak these in water with water treatment such as aquasafe as they have a tremendous chemical aroma. I let mine soak overnight in my water change bucket with some aquasafe to neutralize any potentially bad chemicals.Rinsed and put in my tank. Excellent movement and vibrant color. Pending any ill effects on my livestock I would highly recommend. Just take precautions prior to use in tank. Seller was fast and ship time was low. Quality excellent and price beyond reproach. Beats the tar off paying 3-12 dollars a plant at the chain stores.
