thomasp123
New member
So what do you all think about this topic? What are the pros and cons?
UV sterilizer or no UV sterilizer
- Thread starter thomasp123
- Start date
thomasp123
New member
it seems impossible that no one has an opinion on this topic
just saw this. I do have an opinion and more than that first hand experience without a UV and with one. When I started into salt water in 2001 I did a lot of research, cycled my tank and even waited beyond just damsels and inverts for 6+ months so the tank would season. I tested my water religously and water quality was great. then when I was ready I started stocking my tank. I had a QT tank, did all the supposedly right things like copper and quaranteen prior to the display tank...lost hundreds and hundreds of dollars in fish not only initially but to ich after everything was supposedly stable. Velvet also showed it's ugly head. as the parasitic cycle continued I was at my wits end.
I then hooked up with a LFS guy that had worked in LA as a major distributor that took in livestock from all over the world on a continuous basis. They employed UV sterilizers for all of their water supply circulating through their holding tanks. He swore by the UV and said when they lost their UV bulbs for any amount of time they had massive outbreaks of ich and other crud that killed off fish. They always stocked extra bulbs.
So I invested in a 25 watt Aqua UV for my first tank and not only did water clarity improve but my fish population stablized. I have now added 2 more Fish Only tanks over the years and plumbed in UV's for both. On my 210 I added in a 57 watt unit and have kept an adult Emperor Angel for 3 years. when my bulb goes out on two occasions I noticed because he would start darting about and itching himself on the rocks. On both occasions I have checked the UV bulb and sure enough it was burned out. On both occasions I replaced the bulb and within a week the Angel returned to normal. I started out in the 210 with that UV and NEVER had an outbreak of ich and I ditched the QT tank and copper years ago. I simply acclimate the new arrivals and into the display they go.
Call me lucky or say the UV makes all the difference for fish only tanks. you should hear all the theoretical opinions that plumbing in a UV to your tank makes no difference because of dwell time of water passing through wouldn't be enough to kill water borne ich parasites or other nasties, but I SWEAR by a UV for FO tanks having lost so many fish and dollars in my early years of keeping marine fish it makes me sick.
Well that's my experience and my opinon.
Jim
I then hooked up with a LFS guy that had worked in LA as a major distributor that took in livestock from all over the world on a continuous basis. They employed UV sterilizers for all of their water supply circulating through their holding tanks. He swore by the UV and said when they lost their UV bulbs for any amount of time they had massive outbreaks of ich and other crud that killed off fish. They always stocked extra bulbs.
So I invested in a 25 watt Aqua UV for my first tank and not only did water clarity improve but my fish population stablized. I have now added 2 more Fish Only tanks over the years and plumbed in UV's for both. On my 210 I added in a 57 watt unit and have kept an adult Emperor Angel for 3 years. when my bulb goes out on two occasions I noticed because he would start darting about and itching himself on the rocks. On both occasions I have checked the UV bulb and sure enough it was burned out. On both occasions I replaced the bulb and within a week the Angel returned to normal. I started out in the 210 with that UV and NEVER had an outbreak of ich and I ditched the QT tank and copper years ago. I simply acclimate the new arrivals and into the display they go.
Call me lucky or say the UV makes all the difference for fish only tanks. you should hear all the theoretical opinions that plumbing in a UV to your tank makes no difference because of dwell time of water passing through wouldn't be enough to kill water borne ich parasites or other nasties, but I SWEAR by a UV for FO tanks having lost so many fish and dollars in my early years of keeping marine fish it makes me sick.
Well that's my experience and my opinon.
Jim
UmpaLumpa
New member
I've been running 3 years without any kind of ick, velvet, or any kind of outbreak and I don't run a UV sterilizer. *knocks on wood* I have probably been lucky but I do have to question Jcfoote. I thought Ick or Ich or what ever was a parasite and if you manage to kill it off with UV why would it ever come back unless you keep introducing it back into your tank by adding something.
thomasp123
New member
Thanks JC I always had good luck with my uv on a freshwater system. When I started my Salt tank I used it along with a canisterfilter. That worked ok I have never had any fish diesease even with new arrivals. I did have some trouble with cyano so idecided to dump the canister and go with a sump fuge. I took all the biomedia out of the canister and built a place for it on the input side of the fuge. That seems to be working well, I have macro algae growing in the center of the fuge and that seems to be working well. However there is no easy place to put the UV sterilizer. I did not want to put it on the output side of the fuge as it would kill off pods etc, the flow there is much to high also for the uv. So I think I will need another small pump and some plumbing for the uv in the main tank. if there are any other opinions I would love to hear them.
Thanks
Tom
Thanks
Tom
I'm not saying my UV kills all ich, no way...I've read that's just not possible, rather what I believe as some stage of ICH or parasitic cycle there is a water column stage that UV can help control the cycle and reduce any potential outbreak in addition to affecting water clarity like freeborn algae spores and such. So whatever the scientific reason I do believe in UV's for active and potenitally stressful Fish Only tanks to benefit and give the fishes natural immune system a better chance at warding off potential outbreaks of parasites. For reef with a few docile fish? Maybe not a requirement since stress for the fish is at a minimum.
is it a good idea to run uv 24hrs on a mixed reef tank?
most've been a stupid "?" no response.
I use 3 uvs on my tanks(a total of 94 watts) and run them slow.Based on my experience I think they are highly overated for disease control.They are good for water clarity. If large enough and dwell time is slow enough the may have some effect on the density an virulence of parsites short term but pathenogens will equilibriate in a recirculating system to a point where they reproduce as fast as you kill them. I doubt a sterlilizer unless significantly oversized could kill a relatively large ich parasite anyway. They may be effective to a greater degree against velvet spores and bacteria in the short term. They are no sustitute for quarantine and treatment..
If a uv is used,there is no reason not to run it 24/7 on areef tank of which I am aware. I'm sure there will be many arguments about killing beneficial bacteria ,etc. but they just don't add up. Uvs are a good tool for water clarity with very minimal peotential effect on disease , in my opinion.
thanx ihcorals&tmz
UV is a nice insurance policy especially during the stocking phase. I would't buy a tang without one.
Run 24/7 after adding livestock for a couple weeks. I never had a problem turning it off after new arrivals were fat and happy.
Never had issues running UV 24/7 on reef tanks.
Make sure you read Aquatic Systems Engineering by Escobal so you know how to use it correctly.
Run 24/7 after adding livestock for a couple weeks. I never had a problem turning it off after new arrivals were fat and happy.
Never had issues running UV 24/7 on reef tanks.
Make sure you read Aquatic Systems Engineering by Escobal so you know how to use it correctly.
miwoodar
Likey the bikey
No thanks. It's a nice idea in principle but I don't want to pay for one, pay for the electricity, maintain it (constant bulb cleaning and changing), and I don't want to be concerned about he heat it would impart on the water. Seeing that you are fairly new to the hobby, I would guess that you have many other pieces of equipment to purchase and/or upgrade before you spend your budget on a UV. Skimmers, a reliable calcium/alkalinity scheme, PO4 reactor, lights, and maybe an ATO? I made a DIY battery backup that will run my circulation pumps for >30 hours for less than the price of a decent UV.
Hint on fish...buy used fish from other hobbyists as they change their tank lineups. You'll find it to be a waaaay easier way to go. Less disease and proven adaptability to captive life.
Hint on fish...buy used fish from other hobbyists as they change their tank lineups. You'll find it to be a waaaay easier way to go. Less disease and proven adaptability to captive life.
*leeinengland*
New member
i dont run one but i screen every thing that goes into my reef anyway's beside i havnt bought a fish for two years and my 2000ltr is at stock levels now with 11 fish, corals dont carry ich so 1 weeks quaranteen is enough,
i have run them thou and do see there bennifits as i used to have a 6 inch powder blue that broke out for fun, so uv and garlic suppliments was always on use, nowmy paired regals are without threat i aint had it for care to remember, ( touch wood) uv also over steralize in my opinion thats why i dont use one
i have run them thou and do see there bennifits as i used to have a 6 inch powder blue that broke out for fun, so uv and garlic suppliments was always on use, nowmy paired regals are without threat i aint had it for care to remember, ( touch wood) uv also over steralize in my opinion thats why i dont use one
