UV Sterilzers

jonmrt007 · 09/25/2007, 01:33 PM

Hello, I have a 72 Gal Bow front tank, Its a reef setup, and had a question about UV sterilizers. Are they save for reef tanks, should I put one? I heard different stories about them some good some bad. What should I do? Let me know your output.

FunkieReefJunkie · 09/25/2007, 11:10 PM

I would look into ozone reactors instead. They have the same benefits and more which UV claim to have. Running ozone has bailed me out during periods in which water changes became lets say unregular.

Knowing your ORP (which a good ozonizer will display) gives you a clear indication of your water quality so you can stay on top of things. U.V is limited in what it can do for you i.e. it cannot kill parasites laying on the bottem of a tank. Statistically can you imagine that all organisms you want to kill are going to pass through the UV? And what of the organisms that you want to proliferate? Those that pass through are now sterile and unable to reproduce. If disease is your concern then it only makes sense to QT and prevent outbreaks in the display from ever happening. There are so many scarey critters/parasites out their now it gives me the heeby jeebies (some of which have no known treatment). I quarantine everything and I mean everything including snails for one month.

kidchill · 09/26/2007, 07:45 AM

Hmmmm....UV sterilizers have to be the most argued about point!!! I was always scared to run one, even when I had ICH, because it WILL kill the good with the bad. I had massive algae issues, which was a combination of problems, but I ended up getting one and the algae is gone. I did wage an all out war, so I can't say that it WAS the UV sterlizer, but after researching, the best I can say is make up your own mind. The only thing that really did make sense to me is to try and keep it off at night as this is the time that many of the phyto/zooplankton are most active and you don't want to obliterate them. I also ran a low dwell time with the unit as I wanted to ZAP algae and bac. more than parasites. The other valid point is that it sees so little of the actual volume of the tank because it is usually in the sump. This makes sense when you figure the only water getting to it is what's going down the overflow. So, I dunno, and I don't really think anyone else does either....So, flip a coin and make a decision, but base it on the reason you THINK you need one!

Lifes A Beach · 09/26/2007, 08:55 AM

My opinion is that they are not worth the money. I've had problems with all the usual types of algae and still had it when I was running a UV. I found that if you work really hard to keeping all your parameters in check and proper lighting, that is the trick to avoiding problem algae. I threw mine away a few years ago and I don't have any problems with algae. Just watch your parameters!

jonmrt007 · 09/26/2007, 04:43 PM

thank you for all your input.. I think I'm gonna do without one thanks

09/25/2007, 01:33 PM	#1
jonmrt007 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Sacramento Posts: 4	UV Sterilzers Hello, I have a 72 Gal Bow front tank, Its a reef setup, and had a question about UV sterilizers. Are they save for reef tanks, should I put one? I heard different stories about them some good some bad. What should I do? Let me know your output. __________________ Jonathan Martinez Current Tank Info: 75 gal bowfront

09/25/2007, 11:10 PM	#2
FunkieReefJunkie Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: TotallyLostItville Posts: 781	I would look into ozone reactors instead. They have the same benefits and more which UV claim to have. Running ozone has bailed me out during periods in which water changes became lets say unregular. Knowing your ORP (which a good ozonizer will display) gives you a clear indication of your water quality so you can stay on top of things. U.V is limited in what it can do for you i.e. it cannot kill parasites laying on the bottem of a tank. Statistically can you imagine that all organisms you want to kill are going to pass through the UV? And what of the organisms that you want to proliferate? Those that pass through are now sterile and unable to reproduce. If disease is your concern then it only makes sense to QT and prevent outbreaks in the display from ever happening. There are so many scarey critters/parasites out their now it gives me the heeby jeebies (some of which have no known treatment). I quarantine everything and I mean everything including snails for one month. __________________ The Gerson Diet saves lives! May everyone be happy, May everyone be free from misery, May no one ever be separated from their happiness, May everyone have equanimity, free from hatred and attachment. Current Tank Info: Down to a 15 g from a 600g system. Nano is whole different ballgame.

09/26/2007, 04:43 PM	#5
jonmrt007 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Sacramento Posts: 4	thank you thank you for all your input.. I think I'm gonna do without one thanks __________________ Jonathan Martinez Current Tank Info: 75 gal bowfront

09/26/2007, 07:45 AM	#3
kidchill Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Florida Posts: 78	Hmmmm....UV sterilizers have to be the most argued about point!!! I was always scared to run one, even when I had ICH, because it WILL kill the good with the bad. I had massive algae issues, which was a combination of problems, but I ended up getting one and the algae is gone. I did wage an all out war, so I can't say that it WAS the UV sterlizer, but after researching, the best I can say is make up your own mind. The only thing that really did make sense to me is to try and keep it off at night as this is the time that many of the phyto/zooplankton are most active and you don't want to obliterate them. I also ran a low dwell time with the unit as I wanted to ZAP algae and bac. more than parasites. The other valid point is that it sees so little of the actual volume of the tank because it is usually in the sump. This makes sense when you figure the only water getting to it is what's going down the overflow. So, I dunno, and I don't really think anyone else does either....So, flip a coin and make a decision, but base it on the reason you THINK you need one!

09/26/2007, 08:55 AM	#4
Lifes A Beach Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: By the Beach, Florida Posts: 1,368	My opinion is that they are not worth the money. I've had problems with all the usual types of algae and still had it when I was running a UV. I found that if you work really hard to keeping all your parameters in check and proper lighting, that is the trick to avoiding problem algae. I threw mine away a few years ago and I don't have any problems with algae. Just watch your parameters!