ReefMat vs UV Sterilizer?

Joe.D · May 8, 2023

I’ve had my tank set up for about a year now - Red Sea Reefer 350 (75g display, 20g sump) with 8 fish (2 clowns, 2 bangai, a Lubbock’s Wrasse, a solar wrasse, white tail Bristletooth Tang and a one-spot Foxface (yes, I know I may need to re-home him in a couple of years).

Been reading up on UV sterilizers to control algae as I just pulled all of my rock and peroxided it about a month ago to get rid of a huge bubble algae infestation (I see some bubble algae coming back and try to act quickly to remove) and have some other algae build up on rocks and sand. I only feed a small amount of pellets in the morning and a small chunk of reef frenzy in the afternoon. I travel a good amount for work and trying to have less maintenance and better water clarity - esp for my wife when I’m gone, less glass cleaning.

Was at my LFS yesterday having a good discussion about UV sterilizers when the convo turned to how they liked the ReefMats they had on their tanks. He loves them, way less work than cleaning filter socks, great filtration. I then asked for what I’m trying to do (control algae and water clarity) - if he could only purchase only one or the other which would he choose? He said hands down he’d get the ReefMat - he felt that would help both water clarity and algae.

I’m putting that question out to all of you. Which would you choose? Do you agree with my LFS? Why/why not?

Coolcasino · May 8, 2023

I have both. But I definitely find more benefit in the reefmat. Just not having to change socks is a game changer. UVs are good to have if you have fish with ich. Or if you're managing a tank with diseases. It is also good at clearing bacterial blooms and algae. I do believe that a UV would be more beneficial at removing algae. The Reefmat will likely help as it does remove a lot of detritus that could possibly fuel algae. They each have a specific job that they excel at. I don't think I could set up another tank without a reefmat.

JCATL · May 8, 2023

different tools for different situations, IMO.

For day to day QOL, the reefmat, but if I want to deal with algae specifically, UV.

Reef. · May 8, 2023

Uv might help with floating algae but most grows on the rocks, the reefmat helps to stop algae before it’s a problem.
Definitely the Reefmat.

Muffin87 · May 8, 2023

UV kills algae spores and stops the spread of algae, rather than the growth of existing algae.
Nutrient reduction strategies, including ReefMat, reduce the nutrients that fuel algae, preventing further growth in existing algal patches, and starving algae spores before they create new algal patches.

If you don't reduce nutrients, you'll get patches of algae regardless of UV usage, but it'd take longer. UV merely acts like a bandage (a bad one).

I don't know how long-term use of UV may affect benthic succession and the amount of time it takes for a tank to mature.
If UV increases the amount of time needed for a diverse community of bacteria to colonise your rocks, algae would then find it easier to get a footing.