anyone use uv sterilizers?

[geaux xman]

I got a buddy thats been pushing me to get one for my new FOWLR 180g, so I've been researching it a bit. Seems like quite a bit of FO guys use UV Sterlilzers.

anyone here use them? care to comment?

 

[IbanezIC300]

I actually just commented about this in another thread but I just started using one on my 210 FOWLR and love it. It has stopped my issue with flukes and at the same time has increased my water clarity. I use a 36 watt turbo twist fed by a maxijet 900.

 

[namxas]

I have a couple...in my closet. I never noticed any difference one way or the other, but some folks swear by them. The thing to remember is that the organisms MUST be waterborne or they won't pass thru the UV unit.

You also need to make sure that power and contact time (flow) are sufficient to affect the size of the organism.

 

[toash]

After I started using one I quit having any "random" parasite type issues in my tank....also seems to have straightened out hair algea outbreaks...to me a worthwhile investment

 

[iamwrasseman]

i had a 160watt unit on my fish only system and never had any multiple tank infestations as the uv killed off everything . it will make your water more clear too .

 

[lhm nole]

I have a 114 watt on my 400 gallon fowlr system and since I added it no problems with ich. I use to help out at a local pet store that used uv sterilizers on the fish systems and never saw ich on any fish, even the wholesalers told her she was crazy for not running copper.Maybe they were just lucky. I helped out there for 6 months and shopped there for 3 plus years before they closed due to a hurricane

 

[iamwrasseman]

the copper becomes an issue as it stresses fish also IMO . and i know for a fact that some wrasses cannot deal with it in any way .also if any get into a reef tank it will stress them so its good to know when you purchase fish if the system has copper in it .if it does you have to really be careful not to get any water from the bag into your reef tank . uv wont really hurt anything except some of the tiny critters that are microscopic and in your water column .

 

[lhm nole]

the copper becomes an issue as it stresses fish also IMO . and i know for a fact that some wrasses cannot deal with it in any way .also if any get into a reef tank it will stress them so its good to know when you purchase fish if the system has copper in it .if it does you have to really be careful not to get any water from the bag into your reef tank . uv wont really hurt anything except some of the tiny critters that are microscopic and in your water column .

All wholesalers run copper in there fish systems and so does alot of pet stores but I am seeing more stores go the hypo route

 

[iamwrasseman]

as i stated some fish cant be kept in copper and thats what i have . realistically the amount of water that gets into your tank from the bagged fish is so small it wont effect the corals in any way i was merely covering myself from the ones that do pour some or all of the bagged water into their tanks .
yes its true that most wholesalers do use copper and may retailers also ,mine does not in any way so thats a plus .