uv sterilizer and nem

[madean]

So how many people are using a uv sterilizer on their nem tanks? I have been doing some reading on them and there is two designed flow rates, one for pests and the other for algea and bacteria. With a few controllable pumps coming out and a programmer, one could program the flow for half a day to kill the pests and then the other half of the day to go after algea and bacteria. Atleast thats the thought in my head.

So Im just curious to see how many people are actually using them. Seems like it would be a good idea especially for a anemone specific tank. Atleast it could help battle against some of the disease issues.

Maybe its a better idea to only use the pest setting.

 

[D-Nak]

most sterilizers work via contact time -- the more exposure the more it will kill. Therefore just keep it to the slower flow rate and you'll kill algae, bacteria, and pests.

 

[Big Dave PDX]

You got me curious here - what are the possible negative effects of a UV on a nem dominated tank? I have a BTA dominated tank and everything is going pretty well - nems all seem very happy (except one red/green bta that is looking for it's happy place). Always looking to stop any future issues ahead of time, but with things going well, I'm kind of leary to change too much...

 

[madean]

Im not sure about the negatives since I have never used one, I have not done a huge amount of research on them either. It just seems that with such a vulnerable species, and a common problem with having parasites in nem, maybe the use of a uv sterilizer would be a good application. Especially for someone setting up a species only tank full of lets say 4-5 gigs. Thats easily a few grand worth of gigs, so a couple of hundred spent on a pump, some plumbing, and a uv sterilizer might be worth the added insurance. Atleast thats an idea im having right now. So I just thought that I would throw it out there and see if others are using them. Plus maybe someone will point out some negatives if there are any.

 

[cichlidconvert]

I have two uv sterilizers sitting in a box. I have a bta tank with 9 bta's and don't use one because they also kill off free floating food ie, copepods and bacterioplankton. Which helps diversify my menu. I have a tank of Coldwater nems that I have fed only a couple times in 9 months. But Tropicals are even less dependent on food so I see this as an important food source. Since with only the plankton as a food source they have done well then with proper lighting it could serve to feed the nem year round. But I may be wrong as to the impact of disease on h. Mag and gig populations, may outway this part. Although they sound hardy enough once past shipping stress.

 

[ca1ore]

There will always be somebody who has had a bad experience with everything .... but IMO the pros of an ultraviolet sterilizer outweigh the cons. I've been keeping reef tanks on and off for close to 20 years and have always used one. BTW, water pumps will kill free floating live food too, so I don't necessarily see that as a reason not to use UV.