UV sterilizer?

[Roy 9121]

So I'm being told i should add a UV sterilizer to my tank. Is that a good idea? And if so, should I go with a in tank unit, or an inline unit? And can I put the in tank unit in my sump?

 

[Diesel]

What you trying to accomplish with the UV?

 

[Roy 9121]

Just trying to keep my tank clean. I'm still having some issues with Diatoms on the glass and sand. Along with the cyano problem I'm dealing with now.

 

[Diesel]

Oh ok.
You know that it will only kill the algae, bacteria and parasites that pass by the light in a controlled flow.
Algae that is on your glass and rocks will be super happy as what ever your UV will kill will be more nutrients for that algae.

 

[Roy 9121]

Oh ok.
You know that it will only kill the algae, bacteria and parasites that pass by the light in a controlled flow.
Algae that is on your glass and rocks will be super happy as what ever your UV will kill will be more nutrients for that algae.

So are you saying you don't recommend them? My tank is 10+ years old, and I've never had one before.

 

[Diesel]

Some ppl like them others use common sense and don't.
I have test them on several systems and didn't see any positive things other than I had it on a 40 breeder with 5 fish in QT with Ick and running it for 4 weeks the Ick disappeared.
Now I know also that isn't possible completely but can't put it any other way.
When used on fresh water tanks the effect will be noticeable more as in salt water.

 

[Roy 9121]

Some ppl like them others use common sense and don't.
I have test them on several systems and didn't see any positive things other than I had it on a 40 breeder with 5 fish in QT with Ick and running it for 4 weeks the Ick disappeared.
Now I know also that isn't possible completely but can't put it any other way.
When used on fresh water tanks the effect will be noticeable more as in salt water.

I'm thinking i may hold off on it for a while. My tank is doing ok, except the cyano thing.

 

[mtraylor]

Only you will know if you need one and what reason you are seeking one. I purchased one years ago to accommodate my Achilles Tang. He seemed to always have a bit of something on his skin (a bit of ich). Once I purchased the UV sterilizer his skin turned milky smooth. Never had an issue after that. When the bulb would get old they would show up on his skin.

What I have learned from purchasing UV sterilizers is that they are not all created equal. If you buy a common uv sterilizer it will not clear the water as much as you think it will as compared to high end ones. You want one to purify the water by killing free floating algae, pathogens, etc that pass through it. The top of the line uv sterilizers are a night a day difference from the every day ones you see on the shelf. Your fish will be healthier and the water will be polished allot more . The only downfall is that the superior ones are expensive.

If you want some good knowledge about UV sterilizers and how they work, go to your local public aquarium and inquire about their setup. They will not mind to show you around and how they rely on them heavily and what they do for them.

Happy Reefing.

 

[Roy 9121]

Only you will know if you need one and what reason you are seeking one. I purchased one years ago to accommodate my Achilles Tang. He seemed to always have a bit of something on his skin (a bit of ich). Once I purchased the UV sterilizer his skin turned milky smooth. Never had an issue after that. When the bulb would get old they would show up on his skin.

What I have learned from purchasing UV sterilizers is that they are not all created equal. If you buy a common uv sterilizer it will not clear the water as much as you think it will as compared to high end ones. You want one to purify the water by killing free floating algae, pathogens, etc that pass through it. The top of the line uv sterilizers are a night a day difference from the every day ones you see on the shelf. Your fish will be healthier and the water will be polished allot more . The only downfall is that the superior ones are expensive.

If you want some good knowledge about UV sterilizers and how they work, go to your local public aquarium and inquire about their setup. They will not mind to show you around and how they rely on them heavily and what they do for them.

Happy Reefing.

I haven't had any issues with ick or anything like that yet. My water is very clear, and i haven't had problems there yet. The only issues I've had so far are with algae.

 

[Alfrareef]

I use common sense and have a UV running almost 24h. It's a low cost to protect the fish high investment... also use Ozone but with a more restricted schedule.
Like said before, the bigger and powerful the better.

 

[mtraylor]

you will get diatom blooms with or without a uv sterilizer depending on whats going on within the aquarium.

 

[randy4083]

Uv isn't good in a reef tank is it because I was told that there not good for them

 

[Dlefty]

Randy4083 that is false. I have been running UV in my current set up as well as have had one running for years in my old set up. They are a good preventative measure for any tank.

 

[Ashish Patel]

Besides removing unwanted algae and bacteria blooms, it remove many free floating parasites which in term prevents them from spreading. Talks about UV not being worth it is non-sense as saying you don't need a protein skimmer. My first Fish only system 20 years ago had no protein skimmer and no UV. I lost all my fish with in 6 months and not until i added a UV and protein skimmer was I successful in keeping fish alive for 10+ years. Free floating parasites are the major cause of issues with parasites and algae issues. You get rid of these your tank will reduce its chance of outbreak significantly. My advice make sure you add an inexpensive one it does not have to be $200+. I added a 36watt Jebao Pond UV filter ($70) and in one day I saw my Protein skimmer get filled with so much junk. The water because crystal clear in 24 hours!I plan on removing mine eventually when my Dry rock becomes established because I don't want the clutter!. However, I Know this UV filter working part time will last me over 5 years+

 

[brandon429]

UV or not is one of those enduring post debates that w never end like sand or no sand

UV is a cheat and not required, hence the myriad people not using them.


UV is among the finest cheats and is completely associated with the hobby since the invention of captured light output hence its history and widespread use in zoos and professional displays in seaworld etc. I would never ever be without such a cheat if I had a large tank of any kind, for the types of pelagic creatures we can burn with it. any plankton lost doesn't matter, you have nano reefers doing full water changes which is more destructive to planktors. we feed refrigerated feed, whats natural in the water doesn't matter now. not the ocean in these boxes

My microbiology lab ran UV and had to outsource their maintenance they were so crucial at our beefpacking plant to control contamination sources. UV has a massive presence in multiple industries, to separate it from other novelties we may use or not use.

UV is rock n roll, and id never buy a correctly sized one for my tank. Id buy the largest possible overage model that would still fit on it. pond size, overage of ten thousand gallons in rating. don't play, burn what we came to burn. or go all natural, all nuances we choose to run or not.

a key to using UV is to hand clean out whatever you are trying to target with it, before you install the uV. you attack only the pelagic rebound transitions for the organisms, its not going to peel them off the glass for us. For the types of organisms that release and free swim at night, some dinos for example and cyano has been seen doing that, it can intercept them at that point but pre cleaning is the best possible cheat.

 

[stevo01]

Besides removing unwanted algae and bacteria blooms, it remove many free floating parasites which in term prevents them from spreading. Talks about UV not being worth it is non-sense as saying you don't need a protein skimmer. My first Fish only system 20 years ago had no protein skimmer and no UV. I lost all my fish with in 6 months and not until i added a UV and protein skimmer was I successful in keeping fish alive for 10+ years. Free floating parasites are the major cause of issues with parasites and algae issues. You get rid of these your tank will reduce its chance of outbreak significantly. My advice make sure you add an inexpensive one it does not have to be $200+. I added a 36watt Jebao Pond UV filter ($70) and in one day I saw my Protein skimmer get filled with so much junk. The water because crystal clear in 24 hours!I plan on removing mine eventually when my Dry rock becomes established because I don't want the clutter!. However, I Know this UV filter working part time will last me over 5 years+

Im running this exact uv sterilizer in a RS reefer 525xl.