UV Sterilizer????

apdonato95 · 09/17/2008, 08:50 PM

I was wondering if how many of you guys use UV Sterilizer. Is it a must have thing or something that we read? My friend does not use UV and his tank is doing good for 5 years and still running. I just want to know before I invest on this equipment coz this are not cheap.

Roy G. Biv · 09/18/2008, 06:03 AM

Plenty dont use it. Personally I do. I dont leave it on all the time, just when I feel the water needs a little freshening up

DarthSimon · 09/18/2008, 06:49 AM

I have a 40 Watt on my 220 and did have an Ich problem... It cleared it up after about a month, but did take some time. It's for sure is not a cure for ich... It does help reduce the populations....

Aquarist007 · 09/18/2008, 07:13 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by DarthSimon
I have a 40 Watt on my 220 and did have an Ich problem... It cleared it up after about a month, but did take some time. It's for sure is not a cure for ich... It does help reduce the populations....

IMO you have to realize the limitations of UV sterilzers in the actuall amount of the water column they process--which is very limited.
They do have the rep of reducing algae and some bacteria but to rely on them soley would be a mistake IMO but at the same time they have some use to us.

I agree---UV is not a cure for ich
There are three commonly accepted cures for ich--all invovle the use of a quarantine tank
Hyposalination
Copper base treatments
Series of Complete Tank turn overs.

Aquarist007 · 09/18/2008, 07:15 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Pmolan
Plenty dont use it. Personally I do. I dont leave it on all the time, just when I feel the water needs a little freshening up

You would probably get better results running phosban and carbon in reactors

Avi · 09/18/2008, 07:46 AM

I agree with the Captain. UV-sterilizers aren't a sure thing at all for parasites since in order to kill parasites..or anything else, for that matter, like algae, it has to pass through the sterilizer and in a reef, there are so many places for the parasites to be sheltered before they attach to a fish, that lots are not "zapped" by the sterilizer before they can do their damage. And, you must match the pump that operates the UV-sterilizer very carefully so that the water doesn't pass through the sterilzer too fast for the exposure to the bulb to kill the unwanted organism.

Still, I have one on my FOWLR for an extra amount of "security" since I don't quarantine and it does offer limited prevention. This means, I guess, that IMO, the investment is worth it but there are no guarantees. To this, I'll add only that since I put the sterilizer on my FOWLR, I haven't had any ich problems which I had before.

spw4949 · 09/18/2008, 07:49 AM

I use one because I had it from a long time ago, if I didn't have it, after talking to everyone and getting started back up, I wouldn't have bought one.

secrest · 09/18/2008, 07:55 AM

I have never used one. UV sterilizers will kill all bacteria, not just the bad ones. I'm not a fan of that.

There are a lot of other cures out there for ich, I would look more into those.

Aquarist007 · 09/18/2008, 08:01 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by secrest
I have never used one. UV sterilizers will kill all bacteria, not just the bad ones. I'm not a fan of that.

There are a lot of other cures out there for ich, I would look more into those.

Secrest-the useful bacteria---aerobic,anerobic and anoxic are not water born so they will not be removed by any filtering process.
As far as other bacteria and inverts--the amt of water actually in contact with a UV sterilizer will have minimum impact by them.

apdonato95 · 09/18/2008, 05:46 PM

thanks for all that reply.

09/17/2008, 08:50 PM	#1
apdonato95 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Stockton, CA. Posts: 61	UV Sterilizer???? I was wondering if how many of you guys use UV Sterilizer. Is it a must have thing or something that we read? My friend does not use UV and his tank is doing good for 5 years and still running. I just want to know before I invest on this equipment coz this are not cheap.

09/18/2008, 07:46 AM	#6
Avi Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Westchester County, NY Posts: 7,327	I agree with the Captain. UV-sterilizers aren't a sure thing at all for parasites since in order to kill parasites..or anything else, for that matter, like algae, it has to pass through the sterilizer and in a reef, there are so many places for the parasites to be sheltered before they attach to a fish, that lots are not "zapped" by the sterilizer before they can do their damage. And, you must match the pump that operates the UV-sterilizer very carefully so that the water doesn't pass through the sterilzer too fast for the exposure to the bulb to kill the unwanted organism. Still, I have one on my FOWLR for an extra amount of "security" since I don't quarantine and it does offer limited prevention. This means, I guess, that IMO, the investment is worth it but there are no guarantees. To this, I'll add only that since I put the sterilizer on my FOWLR, I haven't had any ich problems which I had before. __________________ I'd keep the whole ocean if my den were big enough Current Tank Info: 120 gallon reef with 210 lbs. of live rock, Aqua-C EV180 Skimmer, Aquactinic double 250W MH with blue plus t5 support; 58 gallon freshwater planted tank using CO2 and T5s; 30-gallon cube with a few fancy goldfish; and a 110 gallon FOWLR

09/18/2008, 07:49 AM	#7
spw4949 Registered Member. Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Albany, N.Y. Posts: 1,594	I use one because I had it from a long time ago, if I didn't have it, after talking to everyone and getting started back up, I wouldn't have bought one. __________________ Steve Current Tank Info: 46 gal bowfront, mixed reef, 2x250W current outer orbit w/4x39W T5 ,10 gal fuge....38 gallon aggressive FOWLR, 10 gallon sump.

09/18/2008, 05:46 PM	#10
apdonato95 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Stockton, CA. Posts: 61	thanks for all that reply. __________________ PATIENCE...PATIENCE...PATIENCE..... Current Tank Info: 90 Gallons Bow tank

09/18/2008, 06:03 AM	#2
Roy G. Biv Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: New Jersey Posts: 3,646	Plenty dont use it. Personally I do. I dont leave it on all the time, just when I feel the water needs a little freshening up

09/18/2008, 06:49 AM	#3
DarthSimon King Lineatus has Risen! Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: NYC Metro Area Posts: 1,065	I have a 40 Watt on my 220 and did have an Ich problem... It cleared it up after about a month, but did take some time. It's for sure is not a cure for ich... It does help reduce the populations....

09/18/2008, 07:55 AM	#8
secrest Tired Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Las Vegas, NV Posts: 1,148	I have never used one. UV sterilizers will kill all bacteria, not just the bad ones. I'm not a fan of that. There are a lot of other cures out there for ich, I would look more into those.