UV water cleansing?

snorvich · 04/01/2011, 05:57 PM

I am admittedly a skeptic about the value of UV but recently saw a post from a member that I highly respect who uses it and is happy with it. What are your thoughts? Where should it be plumbed in to a system (all my filtration equipment is in the basement); water coming down, water going up? Will it kill animals coming up from my refugium if it is plumbed into the return? Thanks in advance for any opinions.

t.trezona · 04/01/2011, 07:25 PM

Look at my post at Fish Disease. Very dubious IMO. You are killing beneficial bacteria and other organisms just as you are killing pathogens. My guess is that the vast majority of fish, coral, and invert disease happens as a consequence of animal stress. Seems like it would be best to eliminate the stress. I would like to see some proof before I put one on my system. People say a lot of things but no one seems to be able to show me the study demonstrating benefit.

t4zalews · 04/01/2011, 07:45 PM

I use it as a water polisher and it looks like my fish are suspended in air.

2006 · 04/01/2011, 11:12 PM

It doesn't matter where you plumb it because the idea is to have the entire system volume pass through the UV in "X" number of hours. I would not risk plumbing it to a high pressure line for fear of having the seals fail. A powerhead and a valve to regulate flow work fine.

The flow rate and wattage are dependent on what you are trying to kill. I have mine sized and operated to kill protozoa. I never have issues with oodinium or crypto. I still see the occasional pod and have not observed any negative affects to the tanks bio-mass while using UV. For those who are concerned install the UV on a quarantine tank and in theory no harmful waterborne microorganism's should be introduced to the display.

If you give me the total system volume and what organisms you want to eradicate I can calculate the correct flow rate and UV wattage.

For newbies: Keep in mind UV's are not a magic bullet and cannot make up for poor husbandry. Severely infected fish and new additions should be medicated in a separate system.

aufo8mycat · 04/02/2011, 04:33 AM

This is a great article UV

kenjung · 04/02/2011, 06:23 AM

if you run multiple tank off one sump UV is good idea to keep control outbreak and if you have a fish only tank.

pencil3 · 04/02/2011, 08:55 PM

When you think about it I don't see how it could due to the physical size of the animals. Figure Cryptocaryon Irritans needs a UV dose of 280,000 µWs/cm² for disinfection and they are microscopic.

I have mine down in the basement and run a Tee off my chiller pump.

Quote:

Originally Posted by snorvich

Will it kill animals coming up from my refugium if it is plumbed into the return?

04/01/2011, 05:57 PM	#1
snorvich Team RC member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Outlander Posts: 40,953 Blog Entries: 46	UV water cleansing? I am admittedly a skeptic about the value of UV but recently saw a post from a member that I highly respect who uses it and is happy with it. What are your thoughts? Where should it be plumbed in to a system (all my filtration equipment is in the basement); water coming down, water going up? Will it kill animals coming up from my refugium if it is plumbed into the return? Thanks in advance for any opinions. __________________ Warmest regards, ~Steve~

04/01/2011, 07:45 PM	#3
t4zalews 65g Ritteri Tank Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Royal Oak, MI Posts: 2,673	I use it as a water polisher and it looks like my fish are suspended in air. __________________ - Taylor - 65g - Radion XR30 G3 Pro x2 - Deltec SCA 1351 - APEX - Tunze - Vortech

04/02/2011, 04:33 AM	#5
aufo8mycat Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Adelaide, Australia Posts: 113	This is a great article UV __________________ Those who believe in telekinetics, raise my hand. Current Tank Info: 220g vertex led, SRO5000, to much to list

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04/01/2011, 07:25 PM	#2
t.trezona Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Eugene, OR Posts: 182	Look at my post at Fish Disease. Very dubious IMO. You are killing beneficial bacteria and other organisms just as you are killing pathogens. My guess is that the vast majority of fish, coral, and invert disease happens as a consequence of animal stress. Seems like it would be best to eliminate the stress. I would like to see some proof before I put one on my system. People say a lot of things but no one seems to be able to show me the study demonstrating benefit.

04/01/2011, 11:12 PM	#4
2006 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 730	It doesn't matter where you plumb it because the idea is to have the entire system volume pass through the UV in "X" number of hours. I would not risk plumbing it to a high pressure line for fear of having the seals fail. A powerhead and a valve to regulate flow work fine. The flow rate and wattage are dependent on what you are trying to kill. I have mine sized and operated to kill protozoa. I never have issues with oodinium or crypto. I still see the occasional pod and have not observed any negative affects to the tanks bio-mass while using UV. For those who are concerned install the UV on a quarantine tank and in theory no harmful waterborne microorganism's should be introduced to the display. If you give me the total system volume and what organisms you want to eradicate I can calculate the correct flow rate and UV wattage. For newbies: Keep in mind UV's are not a magic bullet and cannot make up for poor husbandry. Severely infected fish and new additions should be medicated in a separate system.

04/02/2011, 06:23 AM	#6
kenjung Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 88	if you run multiple tank off one sump UV is good idea to keep control outbreak and if you have a fish only tank.