uv light help

jerl77 · 05/01/2007, 09:13 AM

do you run uv light in reef tank i heard you dont but why?then i heard you do what do i do?

cdangel0 · 05/01/2007, 09:22 AM

I have personally run UV 24/7 and not at all.

One school of thought is that it keeps the water clearer and will kill any free-floating bacteria in the water.

Another school of thought is that it will not do anything and is a waste of money.

Ultimately the decision will be yours aas to which school you want to listen to - the best reccomendation I can give is to see if you casn borrow one for a few weeks and see if it makes a difference for your tank.

I personally like them on a QT tank but no longer see the necessity of running one full time on the DT unless your battling green water, or free floating algae blooms - I've found it does help with that.

Icefire · 05/01/2007, 09:51 AM

I had a green water bloom and added the uv

Green is gone, water almost too clear!

Amphiprion · 05/01/2007, 09:55 AM

It all depends upon what your goal is. If you want to kill unicellular algae and bacterioplankton or cause oxidative breakdown of certain organic compounds, then ok. But if your goal is to control ich outbreaks, etc. that way, then it won't do you much good.

05/01/2007, 09:13 AM	#1
jerl77 Moved On Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: long island ny Posts: 325	uv light help do you run uv light in reef tank i heard you dont but why?then i heard you do what do i do?

05/01/2007, 09:51 AM	#3
Icefire Seasoned reefer Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: In Quebec, Canada Posts: 3,653	I had a green water bloom and added the uv Green is gone, water almost too clear! __________________ Temp 80F, PH 8.5-8.0, Alk 6.8-7.2, Ca 430, Mg 1700, NO3 0-0.25, PO4 0.04, 34.4 PPT Lights @ 100% all others, 35% White Current Tank Info: 60g Cube, 120lbs live rocks, Hydra52 2x120W, 2 MP40+ 1 MP10 @ 70%, Phosban 550 GFO+Carbon, 200W Heater, SWC Skimmer, Kalk ATO, 150 gpd RODI

05/01/2007, 09:55 AM	#4
Amphiprion Premium Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Mobile, AL Posts: 6,611	It all depends upon what your goal is. If you want to kill unicellular algae and bacterioplankton or cause oxidative breakdown of certain organic compounds, then ok. But if your goal is to control ich outbreaks, etc. that way, then it won't do you much good. __________________ You've done it now, haven't you? Current Tank Info: 40g breeder patch reef w/ seagrass; 2-250w XM 10K; Vortech MP40wES & MP10wES; BM Curve 7 skimmer; carbon & occasional GFO

05/01/2007, 09:22 AM	#2
cdangel0 Moved On Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Delaware Posts: 905	I have personally run UV 24/7 and not at all. One school of thought is that it keeps the water clearer and will kill any free-floating bacteria in the water. Another school of thought is that it will not do anything and is a waste of money. Ultimately the decision will be yours aas to which school you want to listen to - the best reccomendation I can give is to see if you casn borrow one for a few weeks and see if it makes a difference for your tank. I personally like them on a QT tank but no longer see the necessity of running one full time on the DT unless your battling green water, or free floating algae blooms - I've found it does help with that.