Pros/Cons of using a UV Sterlizier

mdisalvo55

New member
So what are the pros/cons of a UV sterilizer on my 14 gallon nano. I've got a few soft corals in it, it won't harm them will it? Let me know your opinions/experiences so I can decide if I should get one or not.
 
It won't hurt your soft corals.

Pros: Clear water. Also degrades coral toxins. Sized right, it will control fish parasites.

Cons: Expensive. Heats water.


Personally, I'd get one for the water clarity alone.
 
Any bacteria that is beneficial is attached to something in the system; while there are many positives to the sterilizer, the biggest negative is that many of the pods so useful to the tank stay in a planktonic stage for sometime, therefore eventually going through the sterilizer and being killed.
They are nice to have and to run on occasion or when a parasitic outbreak occurs.

Ed
 
well, i won one at a fish club awhile back. Ive got this annoying algae that clings to the walls. You can knock it off VERY easily, but it attached itself to most of the chaeto in my fuge, and yea...so since its free moving much of the time, i figure the UV will kill it

I know i read somewhere that it may weak a fish's immune system? how i dont know.. lol but thas what i read, hence wy i havent tried it
 
it doesn't weaken their system directly.

however, it effectively removes all possible pathogens from the water, or almost all of them... so the fish are never exposed to them... ie. they never get the fish equivalent of a slight cold, so when the flu comes along, if it gets past the sterilizer, they can be more susceptible.

however, many feel this is a load of bunk, and i know many people who use them with no ill effects. i think the general feeling is, if you're doing everything else right, you won't need it, as there really won't be anything to sterilize... so it's kind of a bandaid.
 
Negative a UV Light will kill all Phyto and other small plankyon and algaes that the corals filter out of the water to eat so you will have to dose the tank to feed more often
 
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