Running UV - 24x7 ?

[AquAttila]

Hi. I am curious if most of you run UV 24x7 or have it on a timer for specific times to run? recently spoke to a friend of mine and said UV kills good bacteria and never really considered this at all. This is a reef tank and actually dealing with some weird outbreak of some sort that has been taking out a fish a day. So right now I actually ordered a new bulb for my UV as I have not replaced for over a year. But once I go back to normal, I wonder if it is not a good idea to run UV 24x7.

Thanks

 

[The_Paradox]

In a healthy system most of your bacteria is on surfaces not in the water column. I only run my UV 24/7 if there is a problem. Otherwise it runs 6 hours a night and over laps the one hour all lights are off. Especially this time of year I do not feel the need to run what basically amounts to a heater.

 

[Doctorgori]

I’m running 24/7 following a active outbreak, but after 45 days or so set my apex to run at 9p-9a and/or shut off 82F>
edit add: also Helps to have a “odometer” for bulb changing purposes

 

[twentyleagues]

In a healthy system most of your bacteria is on surfaces not in the water column. I only run my UV 24/7 if there is a problem. Otherwise it runs 6 hours a night and over laps the one hour all lights are off. Especially this time of year I do not feel the need to run what basically amounts to a heater.

agree all your bacteria in a cycled aquarium is on the surfaces not in the water column. I ran mine on most of the time but my sump was in the basement so not to worried about it causing an overheat situation. In my new house when I set up my 180 I will probably run it at night only if not having any issues.

 

[AquAttila]

Thanks all for the quick responses and suggestion. Once I have things under control with this outbreak of Ich (or whatever it is), I will put it on a timer and run during the night.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Hi. I am curious if most of you run UV 24x7 or have it on a timer for specific times to run? recently spoke to a friend of mine and said UV kills good bacteria and never really considered this at all. This is a reef tank and actually dealing with some weird outbreak of some sort that has been taking out a fish a day. So right now I actually ordered a new bulb for my UV as I have not replaced for over a year. But once I go back to normal, I wonder if it is not a good idea to run UV 24x7.

Thanks

I run mine at night as phyto and other organisms generate during the day under lighting and would be reduced by UV during daytime