which uv sterilizer?

[nycsicktank]

http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewIt...t~CU01402.html
or
http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewIt...t~ES77070.html

descriptions of my tank:
its 75 gallon tank
FOWLR

[Nanz]

I have a Turbo Twist on my 75gal. I also have one on my 55gal Discus tank. Great product.

[owenb01]

I would nix the UV and put the money towards a skimmer.

[steri]

I'd go with the Coralife, but both will do a fine job. I personally like having a UV sterilizer.

[Aquarist007]

Originally posted by owenb01
I would nix the UV and put the money towards a skimmer.

agreed ----the benifits for using a skimmer far out weigh a uv sterilzer.
The benifts of a uv or whether it does what it says it does are divided amonng the experienced on this site--plus it has a pretty health price tag

[Sk8r]

Most of us don't run UV, I'd strongly suspect. Much better to have a skimmer rated for more than your tank size, like maybe an Aqua C EV series in the 150 range.

[Aquarist007]

Originally posted by Sk8r
Most of us don't run UV, I'd strongly suspect. Much better to have a skimmer rated for more than your tank size, like maybe an Aqua C EV series in the 150 range.

this is the prime reason I disconnected mine--when guys like Sk8r--tell you to do something you listen

[nycsicktank]

i have coralife 125 skimmer

[wooden_reefer]

The skimmer is a water quality equipment, the UV is a disease control equipment.

Both are important and beneficial, the former more for reef the latter more for fish.

I won't go without a skimmer for reef, or without a UV for fish. The UV is very effective for the prevention (much less for cure) of external bacterial infection of fish.

If you are committed to a reef tank with a few small inexpensive fish then the UV is less important.

I think for UV selection with or without quartz sleeve is an important choice. Also, the turbo-twist type is said to increase the dwell time. Perhaps. I have just bought a twisting type but have not used it yet. I have several UVs

I think (actually I should know but memory has faded) the quartz sleeve is an insulator of heat so the UV bulb runs hotter. The hotter bulb gives better intensity or more lethal wavelength, one or the other, I forget. I tend to sense (not very conclusive) that units with quartz sleeve is more effective. Ask an expert (a UV vender) and then tell us about it.

[Aquarist007]

Originally posted by capn_hylinur
this is the prime reason I disconnected mine--when guys like Sk8r--tell you to do something you listen

oops sorry sk8r--that's wasn't very apolitical of me

sk8r did not tell me to remove it---i removed it after discussion of the value of its use in my system-- with him an other great reef central reefers--and came to my own conclusion that it was really counterproductive to my fuge system and what I wanted from it.

[owenb01]

If you've already got a skimmer and you have a hundred bucks to blow, please don't waste it on a UV sterilizer.

[nycsicktank]

If you've already got a skimmer and you have a hundred bucks to blow, please don't waste it on a UV sterilizer.

why not? please explain.

[owenb01]

I just think they aren't worth the money, in addition to adding one more thing to the tank you have to service. Use the money to set up a QT tank so you can preempt the introduction of diseases, or a phosban reactor to keep algae at bay, or more live rock, or just save it to pay for RO/DI water or better yet, use the money to buy an RO/DI unit and make your own water.

[wooden_reefer]

I absolutely will not get new fish without a UV, period.

UV cuts down on external bacterial infection (fin or body rot, cloudy eyes) by 70-80 percent. Narrow scope but profound influence if you are really into fish, in addition to or other than reef.

[Aquarist007]

Originally posted by wooden_reefer
I absolutely will not get new fish without a UV, period.

UV cuts down on external bacterial infection (fin or body rot, cloudy eyes) by 70-80 percent. Narrow scope but profound influence if you are really into fish, in addition to or other than reef.

wooden_ reefer, don't you think that with proper qt management of fish and a proper diet to build up immunities that can cut down the infections in the main tank by the same percentages of a uv sterilizer.

[Aquarist007]

greenbean--where are you--could use your marine biologist expertise here??

[wooden_reefer]

Originally posted by capn_hylinur
wooden_ reefer, don't you think that with proper qt management of fish and a proper diet to build up immunities that can cut down the infections in the main tank by the same percentages of a uv sterilizer.

Diet and Immunity are very important, but with certain types of pathogens they are not enough.

This is particularly true for ich. In this case the aquarist better assumes that enhancing immunity is not a a reliable tool at all. Ich calls for eradication. Fortunately eradication is quite feasible, otherwise there will be far fewer successful reefers. Nuff said.

The second class are the external bacterial infections. Without prior exposure, diet and immunity are not effective. (Even very healthy people get the flu at times). Fish have general defense, but the capacity of general defense is limited. So the waterborne concentration of this type of pathogens, namely pathogenic bacteria, is a major factor in determining whether the exposed fish will get infected. The UV is effective in this regard. Here, eradication is not possible, so the aquarist allows the fish time to develop immunity. So I generally run the UV for about two to three months in a reef tank after the last introduction of live stock. The UV does kill off some possibly desirable small stuffs in a reef tank, but I will take the disadvantage for the duration.

Of course one QT's. I use UV in QT to prevent external bacterial infection while I eradicate ich for weeks.

Diseases like TB (internal bacteria) or internal fungus are very much related to diet and immunity, on the other hand.

The sooner a fish loving aquarist understands the distinction the fewer problems he will have, IMO. Moreover, the diet and immunity cure all concept has done a lot of harm to newbies. Many losses to ich, in particular, is the result of over-emphasis on diet and immunity; it causes inaction and delay.

[wooden_reefer]

Originally posted by wooden_reefer


Diet and Immunity are very important, but with certain types of pathogens they are not enough.

This is particularly true for ich. In this case the aquarist better assumes that enhancing immunity is not a a reliable tool at all. Ich calls for eradication. Fortunately eradication is quite feasible, otherwise there will be far fewer successful reefers. Nuff said.

The second class are the external bacterial infections. Without prior exposure, diet and immunity are not effective. (Even very healthy people get the flu at times). Fish have general defense, but the capacity of general defense is limited. So the waterborne concentration of this type of pathogens, namely pathogenic bacteria, is a major factor in determining whether the exposed fish will get infected. The UV is effective in this regard. Here, eradication is not possible, so the aquarist allows the fish time to develop immunity. So I generally run the UV for about two to three months in a reef tank after the last introduction of live stock. The UV does kill off some possibly desirable small stuffs in a reef tank, but I will take the disadvantage for the duration.

Of course one QT's. I use UV in QT to prevent external bacterial infection while I eradicate ich for weeks.

Diseases like TB (internal bacteria) or internal fungus are very much related to diet and immunity, on the other hand.

The sooner a fish loving aquarist understands the distinction the fewer problems he will have, IMO. Moreover, the diet and immunity cure all concept has done a lot of harm to newbies. Many loses to ich, in particular, is the result of over-emphasis on diet and immunity; it causes inaction and delay.

Sorry, wrong button.

[Aquarist007]

Originally posted by wooden_reefer
Sorry, wrong button.

gee I heard you the first time you didn't have to repeat it _LOL
just kidding--that happens to me alot too--I think the traffic on here is delaying the posting time.

I like your idea of running it for a couple of month on and off--I will do that.

As regards to ich---that is a common misconception--I hope the word is getting out --that hyposalination in a qt tank for 4-6 weeks is the best way to go.
Thanks for the detailed answer--you swayed me back to the dark side er uv side