does anyone use UV sterilzers?

[msaleem]

if so, which ones are the better ones and how much do they run? is it beneficial to get?

[zhewitt04]

I use one on my fowlr tank. It helps to keep the tank crystal clear. I set my on a timer for like 3 on 2 off 3 on 2 off...and so on. I like it I have a 57W i can't remeber the name but it was like 400 bucks but it helped alot with my algae in my water column.

[snorvich]

As a water clarifier it works exceptionally well. As a parasite prevention mechanism, it is not as good.

[Putty]

I am going to get one. A turbo twist model.

[dzfish17]

Im using one on my tank and like stated above it works great for algae control and water clarity. I use mine periodically too.

[msaleem]

Originally Posted by snorvich

As a water clarifier it works exceptionally well. As a parasite prevention mechanism, it is not as good.

does it also kill beneficial bacteria as well? ive heard some mixed things about it, but am unsure if i need one or not.

[Putty]

So you all have them on a timer? I used to run mine 24/7

[tmz]

It effects what goes through it.
Organisms vary in size; lethality in uv varies by the amount of radiation provided to the orangisms in it ,ie:size of the bulb,dwell time and the turnover rate for the tank. Typically, the are sized to kill bacteria and if a little bigger some algae but are not large enough to tackle protozoans like marine ich, for example.
Even large units don't kill all the organisms in a tank and those that remain increase their populations based on food supply. Uvs are used effectively in single pass operations but are not very effective in ricirculating closed systems.
Fortunately most of the nitrifying and denitrifying bacteria are benthic( surface dwelling) so the uv won't effect the biofilter. However, planktonic bacteria and other microfualna are part of the food web in a reef tank ,so killing them is not my preference.

[zhewitt04]

I put mine on a timer for a couple of reasons one being the food that is killed like TMZ said. I also have a reef take that I do not use it for this reason. I use it only on my fowlr (with a few exnia and gsp) tank. The other reason is electricity cost. It seemed silly to run it 24/7 when i can get the same effective clarity running in half the time.
I can second the ich killing claim. It doesn't effect ich. I came home to a dead chocolate tang, tusk and my clown jumped out all last night. I am taking out the yellow tang that remains and waiting 6 or 8 weeks for the ich to die. I
I hate ich and the horse (or fish) it rode in on.

[Putty]

Sorry for your loss.

[msaleem]

Tell me about it. Sorry for your loss bro

[ivans75]

i dont have 1 but my water is crystal clear...this arises a question of do you really need 1? A friend of mine told me it's practically worthless.

[tmz]

I have 4 of them that have been on a shelf for several years. My tanks are crystal clear without them. They might have some use for me in a quarantine tank or as a prefilter for reactors that might be clogging with bacteria. They are highly over rated for disease control and tragically some use them in lieu of solid quarantine and treatment for fish disease in aquariums.

[Namnuta]

I used to run a turbo twist 24/7. I found it did basically nothing for my water clarity. All it really did was reduce my pods. I removed it and my tank seems better for it. It does nothing for ich. I treated my ich outbreak 2 years ago by going fish less for 3 months.