|
|
|
05/18/2014, 02:08 PM
|
#1 |
|
Registered Member
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 4
|
Use of UV sterilizers.
Talking to my LFS today. I asked a question about the right wattage and flow rate for my UV sterilizer. He told me since I am adding coral now. That I shouldn't use the sterilizer unless something bad starts happening i.e. algae bloom or parasite break out. Now the reason I asked was because I have had more algae since I bought my metal halide light. So what are your thoughts? UV or no UV? What size for a 56 gallon? And at what flow rate? Right now I am running a Aqua Ultraviolet 8w at about 250GPH 24/7.
|
|
|
|
05/18/2014, 02:32 PM
|
#2 |
|
Reef Chemist
 
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Arlington, Massachusetts
Posts: 86,233
|
A UV won't help with algae unless it is a green water situation where the algae is in the water column rather than on rocks and such.
I personally do not feel any need to use a UV on my system, and see some reasons to not do so.
__________________
Randy Holmes-Farley Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef |
|
|
|
|
05/18/2014, 03:38 PM
|
#3 |
|
Grizzled & Cynical
 Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Stamford, CT
Posts: 17,319
|
A UV is one of those things where the benefits are regularly overstated; as are the shortcomings. I personally do use one as I have found it anecdotally useful in managing disease, HOWEVER, I accept that it may in fact be doing nothing other than burning through 40 watts of electricity.
__________________
Simon Got back into the hobby ..... planned to keep it simple ..... yeah, right ..... clearly I need a new plan! Pet peeve: anemones host clowns; clowns do not host anemones! Current Tank Info: 450 Reef; 120 refugium; 60 Frag Tank, 30 Introduction tank; multiple QTs |
|
|
|
|
05/19/2014, 04:05 PM
|
#4 |
|
Registered Member
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 4
|
Thanks guys I appreciate your input. The problem with this hobby is when you first start there are so many opinions. And if you follow the so called experts they tell you to buy everything.
|
|
|
|
|
05/19/2014, 05:48 PM
|
#5 |
|
Registered Member
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 7,408
|
You are doing right by checking on here first. This sight is great to get help with anything.
__________________
Brandon I'm not saying let's get rid of all the stupid people.* I'm just saying let's remove all the warning labels and let the problem work itself out. Current Tank Info: 150g DT plumbed to an 80g frag tank and 220g sump in the basement. ~6-MP40s ~ 12 ATI powered t5s ~ Reefbrites and Radions supplementing ~ Custom GEO Skimmer ~ GEO CA Reactor 6x24~ Iwaki 70 Return ~ |
|
|
|
|
05/19/2014, 06:27 PM
|
#6 |
|
Registered Member
|
I have used UV for a few years now. I have currently turnt it off to see if I have any difference. Its been off now for 3 weeks - I cannot see any difference. I use to run it for water clarity (it helped to keep it clearer when I had issues with green water)
So for me I am currently looking at it as an unnecessary expense.
__________________
Tank inhabitants : 2x Clownfish, 1x Blue Koran, 1x Foxface Lo, 1xCoral Beauty, 1x Blue Tang, 1x Sailfin Tang Current Tank Info: New Build : 250g (6x3x2) with 2x RW15 pumps, 2x 2200lph return pumps, Tunze ATO, Jebao Dosing Pump, AquaOne G220 Skimmer |
|
|
|
|
05/19/2014, 08:31 PM
|
#7 |
|
I got nothin'
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: The anals
Posts: 6,420
|
Personally I like them for a safety net. I don't think it needs to be a HAVE to purchase. But if you get enough wattage and a low enough flow rate, you can do some damage to some more complex parasites. If you are doing proper QT practices, it shouldn't be an issue. But if something untoward happens, you have the added peice of mind knowing that you can nuke the problem before it gets out of hand.
__________________
Quitters never lose. [QUOTE=CStrickland]Who gets mad at a starfish?[/QUOTE] Current Tank Info: 75g DT, 30G refugium, 10g chaeto tank, 50g stock tank basement sump |
|
|
|
 |
| Tags |
| uv sterilizer |
|
|
