UV lights again

[timrandlerv10]

do UV sterilizers have an affect on the tank (and by 'affect' i mean positive affect!)?

will it kill cyano bacteria? ich?

why would you run one if there was nothing wrong with your tank?


the bacteria that support the nitrogen cycle arent free-floaters, correct? so would i be correct in assuming they wouldnt be hurt by running a uv lamp?

any other pros and cons?

thanks!

tim

 

[ThePhytoMan]

UV lights , IMO, help with algal blooms. As far as I am concerned, they will kill both cyano and ich. I could, however, be wrong on both counts.

As far as the Nitrogen cycle microscopic life, once againI believe youa re correct. they are not noticeably affected.

 

[lazzinaro]

UV lights again

I have UV lights running on most of my tanks. They do not affect the nitrogen cycle, the bacteria will live mainly (not solely) in your sand bed and any bio-balls you may have in your sump. The UV light will only kill what flows through it. Having said that I have had tanks with ick and cyano that were running uv filters. The UV filters may help, but I wouldn't expect them to get rid of or prevent either.

 

[8BALL_99]

UV won't do much for ick. If a fish has it or gets it UV doesn't do anything for it. I'm not to sure how much it will help with Cyano either... Now if its a good thing or not is hard to say.. I've read some acticles that say its the greatest thing since the sun, But I've also seen articles say it does almost nothing for a reef tank except kill green water and the bacteria in the water. Good and bad. You have alot more good btw..

IMO I think they might be good for fish breeders or maybe LFS.. Any setup where your constantly adding new fish..But on a reef tank I just don't think they are a good idea.. Most of the Bacteria in a established tank seems to be a postive thing. Yes you have Bacteria in the sand and on the LR not just in the water.. But if you constantly kill the good Bacteria in the water I don't see how this is a good thing..

It helps alot for green water though. I use it on my Koi pond.. Infact just got a new larger one.. That said though I add live green water to my reef . Not the same Green water BTW

Will