Ultraviolet sterilizers

[t.trezona]

Is there any evidence that UV sterilizers will prevent the development of bacterial infections in fish in reef systems where the system and fish are healthy and providing appropriate nutrition and system parameters ie in a system where the fish are not stressed? How about in a system where the fish are stressed? How about in a new system?

 

[RegalAngel]

http://saltaquarium.about.com/od/filtersetupsother/a/aauvsterilizati.htm

"What exactly is UV sterilization? It's actually a very simple process for removing (referred to as filtering) unwanted free floating microscopic water borne bacteria, parasitic, fungal, viral, algae, and other unfriendly pathogens out of aquarium water by exposing it to high intensity ultra-violet (UV) light. UV light has the ability to effect the function of living cells by altering the structure of the cells nuclear material, or DNA. The end result is the organisms die off, eradicating your aquarium water of these unwanted nuisances. "

 

[snorvich]

Assuming that what you are trying to eliminate passes by the UV at the appropriate contact level, it will have an effect. Getting that to happen is easier said than done.

 

[Orcrone]

What you need to keep in mind is that a properly sized UV sterilizer will eradicate bacteria and parasites that actually pass through it. There's no way to make sure that each and everyone actually does pass through. So a UV sterilizer will only reduce your count of these creatures, but cannot entirely eradicate them.

 

[WienerDog]

I can speak from a few years of experience with FRESHWATER aquariums. I have kept a UV in every tank I've had. Huge difference, especially in clarity. I have never had any parasitic issues with any of my fresh fish. My 2 fresh tanks are over 5 years old. Not only that, I have never lost a fish. Like ORCRON said, it must be properly sized and the flow through the UV must be kept to the specs of that particular UV. I am relatively new to marine fish. I have just started stocking my newly cycled tank. I also just installed a UV that bypasses my refugium. If you want to produce pods and keep them, you must consider the placement of the UV and the fuge. I cant speak of it's effects in a salt system, or atleast not yet, other than the fact it cleared my water quite a bit since plumbing it in. Good Luck!
It will only have an effect on what gets pumped through the sterilizer. What doesn't make it through the UV will remain uneffected.

 

[syrinx]

All I can say is when dealing with sharks, rays and eels,- all fish that have issues with bacterial infections from abrasions, and resulting bacterial infections-I have seen UV use greatly benifit these animals. I have seen animals that had issues with one infection after the other, stabilize after a UV system was added. I will also say a lot of my old school fish tanks have UV in the system- and some of those tanks have had ich loss at one time or another, without the tank being treated and cross infection did not occur. That being said-I do not consider a UV to be a treatment- or something to rely on for parasites- but for general water quality- and infection susceptable fish I do Like and recommend them.

 

[snorvich]

As always syrinx, a very interesting post. I may have to reconsider the value of UV.

 

[t.trezona]

OK, let me ask the question a different way. Who thinks this is of value for a new reef system? For an established reef system?

 

[Marinworld]

The way I look at it, you utilize Protein Skimmers, Calcium Reactors, Carbon, Refugiums, etc., etc. All with the intension of helping out in there own individual ways to improve the aquarium environment. So.........why not take advantage of UV, and the benefits it has.

Keeping down free floating organisms is an advantage, and even though it will not eradicate what does not pass through, what does pass through will be taken care of. Lots of variables with UV, flow rate, wattage, etc., but even so, you still will gain from it's use. Just be sure to size it correctly.

Good Luck

 

[Sk8r]

I use one in my koi pond, but not my marine tank. I've not had disease in either. But it does help with algae.

 

[t.trezona]

Many kinds of bacteria, both pathogenic and beneficial, are found in our reef systems all the time. You will never get rid of them. If you are successful at killing the bacteria that flow through your UV sterilizer, you will be lowering the population of beneficial organisms just as you are lowering the pathogens. Is there some reason to suspect that there is a higher concentration of pathogenic bacteria in our reef tanks than in the sea? I doubt it. The same forces which control bacterial populations in the sea are at work in our tanks. We know that our fish are more susceptable to all sorts of infections when the are stressed for any reason. Instead of trying to rid the pathogens, shouldn't we be directing our attention to make sure our fish are not stressed?