Is a UV sterilizer safe for my turtle tank to get rid of algae?

Yes, you can rinse filter media (the sponge) using tank water. This will preserve beneficial bacterial populations in the sponge. The plastic filter parts can be rinsed and scrubbed using tap water. Perform a partial water change, no more than 30% total volume, using conditioned water that is temperature matched. To limit algae overgrowth, do not overfeed, limit lighting to 8-10 hours daily and monitor water temp. If possible, turn up filter flow to get the water moving. Algae thrives in slow moving water. Do this only if your fish are not affected by stronger currents.

I would try to keep the algae to a minimum. Algae growth is caused by combination of too many nutritions (food left-overs) in the water, not enough current in the water and more than enough light. So you need to re-visit your husbandry to make sure everything is 100% correct. If the water current and lighting are correct then chances are you are over-feeding him. If you can reduce the left-overs you'll probably effectively remove the source of the algae growth. Hope this helps. Best wishes.

There are different ways to control algae accumulation inside the tank: Limit the nitrate accumulation in it (regular water changes is the most common method of removing nitrate), limit the lighting period in the aquarium (4 hours a day) avoid overfeeding. Try Algone, very effective against nitrate, it is not an algaecide but it can control indirectly algae. If all these methods are not effective, algaecide are then needed.

Thanks for reaching out about Fishy. A UV sterilizer will only help if a bacterial component is adding to the cloudiness. More intense water changes are the best way to remove nitrates. Monitor feeding to limit excess, vacuum bottom of tank to remove degrading detritus. Good luck.

The cloudiness can be due to elevated ammonia or nitrite levels or algae blooms. If the tank was previously cycled, the water change may have disrupted the nitrogen cycle resulting in cloudy water. Check the water temperature and chemistry. It is okay to cycle a tank with a turtle in it. They are hardier than fish and can withstand the elevated ammonia and nitrites until the tank chemistry "settles" down.

This will not provide sufficient levels of UVB lighting. The window and tank glass will block a large majority of the sun's beneficial rays. A UVB light source must not be blocked by glass, plexiglass or fine mesh and should be about 12-16 inches from the surface of the basking area for maximum effect. Without UVB lighting, a turtle cannot properly synthesize adequate levels of Vitamin D3, which is necessary in the absorption and metabolism of calcium. The result will be metabolic bone disease, soft shell and/or stunted growth.

Sometimes a bit of algae will grow if water quality is not optimal, there is too much light or you are overfeeding. You can gently scrub the shells with a soft bristled brush. Scrub tank walls and tank furniture then perform a partial water change. Rinse the filter media with some tank water, not tap water. Limit light to no more than 8 hours daily and remove any uneaten food every day. Maintain water temperature between 75F and 86F. Any warmer and it can foster algae overgrowth. You can refer to the article at the link below for information regarding care. http://www.anapsid.org/reslider.html