New tank. And uv schedule

[Notsolostfish]

Hi. My tank is 3months old and i have my 57w uv. Running on 520gph 200g. When do i run my uv? What schedule? Only at night? Or on all the time? Some people are saying since its new tank i will kill the good bacteria. And i should only run it at night. Is that true?

 

[Uncle99]

Why are you using UV?
You have Dino’s ?

 

[Notsolostfish]

Why are you using UV?
You have Dino’s ?

No i dont have dinos but i like to use UV in my tanks for prevention and water clarity

 

[Uncle99]

No i dont have dinos but i like to use UV in my tanks for prevention and water clarity

Very bad idea.
This will make maturity of your system 3 times longer.
But go ahead if that’s what you need to do.

 

[Notsolostfish]

Very bad idea.
This will make maturity of your system 3 times longer.
But go ahead if that’s what you need to do.

I mean i didnt know that. Thats why im asking about the schedule been runnint for 2 weeks 24/7 but i didnt. Realize how bad it can be for new systems

 

[DJF]

Agree it’s early. Once necessary then the typical answer is 24x7.

 

[Murica]

Very bad idea.
This will make maturity of your system 3 times longer.
But go ahead if that’s what you need to do.

A little passive aggressive much?

 

[Derrick0580]

I have ran uv 24/7 since my tank was around that age.

 

[Notsolostfish]

A little passive aggressive much?

Agree it’s early. Once necessary then the typical answer is 24x7.

Nah thats uncle he helped me in the past he sounds agressive but hes not. Haha

 

[Notsolostfish]

Agree it’s early. Once necessary then the typical answer is 24x7.

So just turn it off completely and not even run it at night?

 

[DJF]

typically the bacteria you need will not pass thru the uv and be harmed (it stays on the rock surface)

 

[DJF]

So just turn it off completely and not even run it at night?

Yep. Keep it tho! You’ll like it down the road

 

[DJF]

a hard lesson in this hobby (me projecting) is learning to apply things when needed- I dive deep and want to try it all- that could come back to burn you in reefing

 

[Notsolostfish]

a hard lesson in this hobby (me projecting) is learning to apply things when needed- I dive deep and want to try it all- that could come back to burn you in reefing

Thats true. I wasnt sure because i did my research. And u know there was a lot of back and forth between yes turn it on 24/7 or turn it on at night only. So i wasnt sure tbh. But now ima keep it off

 

[DJF]

Thats true. I wasnt sure because i did my research. And u know there was a lot of back and forth between yes turn it on 24/7 or turn it on at night only. So i wasnt sure tbh. But now ima keep it off

Yeah I’ve seen the same back & forth. Uv treats the water sterilizng anything that passes thru so it can’t reproduce. If you’re only running it part of the time (let’s say 1/2 a day) then you are aren’t addressing the full problem. At minimum it would take 2x as long but imho you’d never solve the problem- for dinos I could see only running it in evening when they release into the water column but even then I’d go 24/7

 

[Notsolostfish]

Yeah I’ve seen the same back & forth. Uv treats the water sterilizng anything that passes thru so it can’t reproduce. If you’re only running it part of the time (let’s say 1/2 a day) then you are aren’t addressing the full problem. At minimum it would take 2x as long but imho you’d never solve the problem- for dinos I could see only running it in evening when they release into the water column but even then I’d go 24/7

I cant lie in those 2 weeks i had it on 24/7 that my water quality didnt improve. Crystal clear. But now ima keep it off till the time comes and my tank more mature

 

[Uncle99]

Nah thats uncle he helped me in the past he sounds agressive but hes not. Haha

Poorly worded by me. My fault. Sorry.

I just never understood why many use a device that lessens algaes when that’s what I’m trying to build, in both numbers and types, unless the use was specific, like Dino’s or parasite control, then sure. However once corrected, off it goes.

Many put UV in their systems for algae control, but UV is only effective on stuff passing through the light, substrate algaes remain unaffected.

It’s the algaes and bacteria an their diversity I want to outnumber and outcompete the pest type stuff. A sterilizer works indiscriminately on good and bad.

So I just can’t see the real benefit for full time UV in a reef setting.

If your treating Dino’s, night UV is the most effective as many move into the water from the substrate where they can be sterilized. Once lights on, they go back on the rocks and sand so UV, not very effective at this time.

UV is a numbers game, constantly keeping populations on the low side until goods guys outcompete.

 

[Superd513]

Very bad idea.
This will make maturity of your system 3 times longer.
But go ahead if that’s what you need to do.

UV kills all bacteria good and bad. why throw out the good that can be used to feed your corals. Now if a problem pops up then def run it. IMO.