UV Sterilizers?

[DDRR]

Does anyone here use a UV Sterilizer on their reef tank? If so what is your reasoning? There seems to be many opinions on this subject, looking for any input from those who have experience with UV.

 

[sland]

I have one, only reason is for the clearer water, I noticed a good difference once I installed it, only real reason I got one.

 

[vamaro]

I use an Aqua 57 watt. I see an improvement of water clarity. Some say they also help with ick, etc. Lots of opinions on these. I change my bulb about once every 10 months.

I ran mine for the first year that I had my tank. Disconnected for a year after hearing so many opinions. However, I recently purchased a new bulb a few weeks ago and reinstalled it. I can for sure see a difference in water clarity.

 

[Suohhen]

I have never used a UV lamp but I do run activated carbon and as long as I have been using quality stuff my water has been crystal clear. By no means are they the same thing, but I just figured with the talk about water clarity I would interject.

 

[sland]

Absolutely carbon works great, I just like the added clarity it gives, plus you don't have to change it as much lol!

 

[Jacob D]

I had an older one for my QT but it was unreliable. I'm debating getting another.

Yes, they clarify the water, and they reduce the number of parasites/pathogens in a tank but they cannot cure or eradicate any parasite issues since they can only kill what passes through them; any parasites on fish or substrate will be unaffected. They can also be used to isolate connected systems and prevent spread of parasite/disease from one system to another. In all cases proper sizing is important, even more so when used to isolate connected tanks.

 

[Suohhen]

Good point, if you do not want to have to maintain a quarantine tank separately you can connect it to your main tank but you obviously would not be able to medicate, and that would be an added volume of water that would provide more stability for your tank but also need more filtering and heating/cooling.

 

[vamaro]

I also use carbon from BRS. I did some research prior to selecting the Aqua brand. The Aqua's are well built and parts are easy to order. There is a lot of discussion on "contact" time and flow rate when it comes to killing ick.

 

[jmchzn123]

Been using one for 10 years and never had ick or any algae bloom of significance. My water is cyrstal clear as well. I hear the cons are it kills all the beneficial microbes as well. I just realized I need to seed my sand with some critters. I think my tank got too clean. I'm using bio fuel now to start getting some of the good bacteria in my DSB. On the bottle they suggest turning off skimmer and UV for 4 hours. I think the DSB requires a few different types of beneficial bacteria to complete the nitrogen cycle. The reason I have a DSB in the first place. Apparently the UV inhibits that type of bacteria as well. I am toying with the idea of getting rid of it. After reading the above post I'm wondering if its even working because I change my bulb every 1.5 -2 yrs.....lol

 

[Jacob D]

If you're not changing the UV bulb every ~6 months you're just wasting energy.