What's the verdict on UV Sterilizers?

cital · 01/30/2009, 11:32 PM

Just wondering what peoples opinions are on uv sterilizers for a reef tank? Are they effective, necessary, a wast? Thanks for any feedback.

geno7 · 01/30/2009, 11:55 PM

They I guess are ok for a couple of weeks or untill the bulb begins to get glazed over. You then have wasted your money. Invest the money in your protein skimmer and it will be not so much a waste.

Whys · 01/31/2009, 12:00 AM

UV has its place. Typically, hobbyists don't bother until there is a need. Most common use is to help control algae spores. Not everyone who uses one runs it 24/7. Most are designed for easy cleaning of the bulb. UV will kill many things in the water column, some you wish to keep.

MileHighFish · 01/31/2009, 12:45 AM

I dont see an issue with them, like said above the will help if your algae goes sexual. I have plenty of pods etc and my corals dont seem to be lacking and I run mine 24/7.

Whys · 01/31/2009, 12:52 AM

There are submersibles with built in strainer pads to prevent the killing of pods. Doesn't do much for micro fauna tho.

Beware advice coming from bad apples.

MileHighFish · 01/31/2009, 12:58 AM

Whys is that a reference to me?

Whys · 01/31/2009, 01:12 AM

I'm only teasing. I like the avatar. Freaks me out every time I see it, but I like it.

MileHighFish · 01/31/2009, 01:27 AM

oooo I'm stupid I didnt get the joke I took it personally sorry about that.. LOL

hotrodolds · 01/31/2009, 03:04 AM

not a tank but we run one on the koi pond. My parents had some really bad problem with it clouding up from a bloom, put an inline UV light on the pump and it cleared up very quickly. They dont run it constantly though as it kills beneficial bacteria.

oceanfloor999 · 01/31/2009, 03:14 AM

I keep my on during light on and shut it off when the light is off. Dont want to kill my pods.

Juruense · 01/31/2009, 07:57 AM

Hell would freeze over before I wasted my money on UV.

Whys · 01/31/2009, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Juruense
Hell would freeze over before I wasted my money on UV.

So... is that a no for you?

chort55 · 01/31/2009, 09:09 PM

I don't know if its true or not, but I have heard they kill ich, and other free swiming bactieria/ disease.

paper clip · 01/31/2009, 10:31 PM

They are great for fresh water to get rid of green water! I don't plan on running one on my tank when it gets setup.

Hop · 01/31/2009, 11:39 PM

Kind of depends on what you want to do with it

I've ran one for the last year or so and I love it. I use it in line with the skimmer and it really aids in keeping the water clear in between water changes. The difference in water clarity is amazing and I've noted no ill affects from using it. I run about 400 gph through a 40 watt unit, so as far as killing any parasites mine is not set up for that, just the water clarity issue.

01/30/2009, 11:32 PM	#1
cital Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 176	What's the verdict on UV Sterilizers? Just wondering what peoples opinions are on uv sterilizers for a reef tank? Are they effective, necessary, a wast? Thanks for any feedback.

01/30/2009, 11:55 PM	#2
geno7 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Heart of Dixie Posts: 243	They I guess are ok for a couple of weeks or untill the bulb begins to get glazed over. You then have wasted your money. Invest the money in your protein skimmer and it will be not so much a waste. __________________ Geno

01/31/2009, 12:45 AM	#4
MileHighFish Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: NM. Posts: 1,722	I dont see an issue with them, like said above the will help if your algae goes sexual. I have plenty of pods etc and my corals dont seem to be lacking and I run mine 24/7. __________________ See "Red House" for pics!! I'm sick of following my dreams. I'm just going to ask them where they're goin', and hook up with them later. Mitch Hedberg Current Tank Info: Reef tank, 100 gal Lee Mar polished.. 60 sump.. 800 watts mh 20k radium..Ran on "Taiwan HQI Ballast" 330 watt VHO.. 48 watt compacts (dawn/dusk).. sps/lps tank..

01/31/2009, 12:58 AM	#6
MileHighFish Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: NM. Posts: 1,722	Whys is that a reference to me? __________________ See "Red House" for pics!! I'm sick of following my dreams. I'm just going to ask them where they're goin', and hook up with them later. Mitch Hedberg Current Tank Info: Reef tank, 100 gal Lee Mar polished.. 60 sump.. 800 watts mh 20k radium..Ran on "Taiwan HQI Ballast" 330 watt VHO.. 48 watt compacts (dawn/dusk).. sps/lps tank..

01/31/2009, 01:27 AM	#8
MileHighFish Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: NM. Posts: 1,722	oooo I'm stupid I didnt get the joke I took it personally sorry about that.. LOL __________________ See "Red House" for pics!! I'm sick of following my dreams. I'm just going to ask them where they're goin', and hook up with them later. Mitch Hedberg Current Tank Info: Reef tank, 100 gal Lee Mar polished.. 60 sump.. 800 watts mh 20k radium..Ran on "Taiwan HQI Ballast" 330 watt VHO.. 48 watt compacts (dawn/dusk).. sps/lps tank..

01/31/2009, 12:00 AM	#3
Whys Moved On Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Spokane, WA Posts: 3,263	UV has its place. Typically, hobbyists don't bother until there is a need. Most common use is to help control algae spores. Not everyone who uses one runs it 24/7. Most are designed for easy cleaning of the bulb. UV will kill many things in the water column, some you wish to keep.

01/31/2009, 12:52 AM	#5
Whys Moved On Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Spokane, WA Posts: 3,263	There are submersibles with built in strainer pads to prevent the killing of pods. Doesn't do much for micro fauna tho. Beware advice coming from bad apples.

01/31/2009, 01:12 AM	#7
Whys Moved On Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Spokane, WA Posts: 3,263	I'm only teasing. I like the avatar. Freaks me out every time I see it, but I like it.

01/31/2009, 03:04 AM	#9
hotrodolds Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Brandon, FL Posts: 600	not a tank but we run one on the koi pond. My parents had some really bad problem with it clouding up from a bloom, put an inline UV light on the pump and it cleared up very quickly. They dont run it constantly though as it kills beneficial bacteria. __________________ 90g LPS reef. 2x250w lumatek ballasts/phoenix bulbed FNI pendents. 2 K1s 2 MJ1200s. Sumpless, no supps. Current Tank Info: 29g finished cycle 1/18/09. 2 K1s, FNI 150wMH Occ. Clown, LPS, and a monti cap.

01/31/2009, 03:14 AM	#10
oceanfloor999 Moved On Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: el toro Posts: 6	I keep my on during light on and shut it off when the light is off. Dont want to kill my pods.

01/31/2009, 07:57 AM	#11
Juruense Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Fort Wayne, IN Posts: 1,138	Hell would freeze over before I wasted my money on UV.

01/31/2009, 09:09 PM	#13
chort55 Moved On Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Flint, MI Posts: 1,274	I don't know if its true or not, but I have heard they kill ich, and other free swiming bactieria/ disease.

01/31/2009, 10:31 PM	#14
paper clip Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Bronson, Iowa Posts: 105	They are great for fresh water to get rid of green water! I don't plan on running one on my tank when it gets setup. __________________ Overfeeding is just like feeding, only better Current Tank Info: 2x 28g nano cubes

01/31/2009, 11:39 PM	#15
Hop Carpe Noctem!!! Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Western Colorado Posts: 8,548	Kind of depends on what you want to do with it I've ran one for the last year or so and I love it. I use it in line with the skimmer and it really aids in keeping the water clear in between water changes. The difference in water clarity is amazing and I've noted no ill affects from using it. I run about 400 gph through a 40 watt unit, so as far as killing any parasites mine is not set up for that, just the water clarity issue. __________________ Hop Current Tank Info: 300-gallon in-wall system (mixed reef)