UV Filtration

[Aciambronevt]

I have playing with the idea of adding a UV filter to my upcoming system.

I know the pros of having a correctly sized filter with the appropriate flow rate.

But I can't get any solid cons to having one on a reef tank.

Anyone have any advice?

 

[ShepherdTech]

I’m considering adding one as well and found one possible con being increased water temp. I would guess that depends on a few factors, size of the unit being one.

 

[theMeat]

Will kill helpful bacteria and sterilize helpful pods

 

[ShepherdTech]

Will kill helpful bacteria and sterilize helpful pods

I watched the BRS video on UV sterilizers and according to their info, both of those are not accurate statements. Aside from when you are cycling the tank and trying to establish beneficial bacteria, most bacteria is attached to live rock, etc. And will not go through the sterilizer to be killed. The pods would have to stay in the sterilizer for a period of time to be killed and isn’t very likely. Their videos tend to give accurate information, not the type of info that just generates sales of equipment.

 

[Gareth elliott]

To add to the pro column, if fighting dinos these are about the closest to a silver bullet as we get for some species but smaller ones are also helpful for this.

Can be helpful to keep parasite load lower if planning on a parasite management tank, but personally i would not use to do this if i was.

Is a life saver on my pond for water column algae since i can not control light. Or nutrients 100% given the nature of ponds.

 

[theMeat]

I watched the BRS video on UV sterilizers and according to their info, both of those are not accurate statements. Aside from when you are cycling the tank and trying to establish beneficial bacteria, most bacteria is attached to live rock, etc. And will not go through the sterilizer to be killed. The pods would have to stay in the sterilizer for a period of time to be killed and isn’t very likely. Their videos tend to give accurate information, not the type of info that just generates sales of equipment.

True, it will only kill bacteria/algae that passes through the uv, and true it will not kill pods, it will sterilize them leaving them unable to reproduce. The uv exposure does not discriminate. It effects the bad with the good.

 

[ca1ore]

The only real cons are extra cost and plumbing. They will affect anything that passes through the unit, but your biofilter bacteria is substrate based and very few tanks have a material water column pod population so the affect on them is minor.

It is for that very same reason why UV is not an ich cure. It will reduce parasite pressure by destroying some of the swimming stage, but any that find their way to the sand aren’t affected.