what do you think of UV sterilizer?l

spongebob281 · 12/01/2008, 04:21 PM

I know it helps clear your water but does it do anything to prevent fish from getting sick? Some people swear by it , other thinks it's a waste of money. I personally bought one but it's been sitting in the garage for months as i've been told it wont prevent disease on fish.

Mr. Brooks · 12/01/2008, 04:41 PM

It won't prevent disease, but it can help slow down the spread and reduce the severity. I use one on a quaranteen tank.

spongebob281 · 12/01/2008, 06:01 PM

if you used one does it mean it greatly increase the chance of your fish surviving disease for example ich?

m2434 · 12/01/2008, 06:06 PM

No, not at all IMO. In fact you could argue that it could be detrimental because it does not discriminate between "good" and "bad" bacteria.

snorvich · 12/01/2008, 06:11 PM

I personally feel the UV is useless, and perhaps detrimental, EXCEPT to provide prophylaxis between tanks which share water.

Mr. Brooks · 12/01/2008, 07:24 PM

They might be good for a fish only tank but they aren't ideal for a reef. They kill off the good stuff as well as the bad. However, I feel that it's not hurting anything on my QT.

spongebob281 · 12/02/2008, 02:41 AM

my LFS used 3 big ones on their system and i never seem an instant of ich

greenbean36191 · 12/02/2008, 09:35 AM

The research just does not support their usefulness for disease control on recirculating systems. However, if you're running a flow through or multi-tank system with a common sump then they have some use for that purpose.

Mr. Brooks · 12/02/2008, 11:44 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by spongebob281
my LFS used 3 big ones on their system and i never seem an instant of ich

The main reason you don't see ich is because they probably use copper in their fish system.

spongebob281 · 12/02/2008, 05:00 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by thechad21
The main reason you don't see ich is because they probably use copper in their fish system.

..
that's what i suspected but the LFS owner is a friend of mine...but then again i suppose they dont tell you everything about the business

spongebob281 · 12/02/2008, 05:02 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by greenbean36191
The research just does not support their usefulness for disease control on recirculating systems. However, if you're running a flow through or multi-tank system with a common sump then they have some use for that purpose.

what's the difference between the two? you mean in a multi tank system there is a uv sterilizer at checkpoints to prevent outbreak

m2434 · 12/02/2008, 06:53 PM

A uv sterilizer may kill parasites that pass though it, but won't kill those that don't. In a single tank there will be plenty that do not pass though and will not be killed. If two tanks are connected any transfer between the two has to go through the UV, if set up that way, so it is more likely the parasite will be killed. It won't exactly prevent outbreak, but MAY contain it...

greenbean36191 · 12/02/2008, 07:10 PM

A multi-tank system with in-line UV makes it a "single-pass" application meaning that 100% of the water going from one tank to another has to pass through the unit. Assuming the unit is properly sized, nothing gets from the upstream tank to the downstream tank. The concept is the same when you're sterilizing incoming seawater on a flow through system.

On a recirculating system you're drawing a small portion of the disease reservoir (the main tank), sterilizing it, and then returning it to the main tank where it's diluted by unsterilized water.

Basically, the difference is in whether you're trying to trying to reduce the number of pathogens in the system (recirc) or just prevent their spread from one area of the the system, or from outside of it, to another area (single pass).

2006 · 12/02/2008, 10:17 PM

spongebob there is a lot of misinformation concerning UV sterilizers. They are quite effective when properly used. If you are considering buying one I recommend getting a copy of Aquatic Systems Engineering by PR Escobal. I gurantee it will be worth your while.

Good Luck

spongebob281 · 12/04/2008, 12:25 PM

i got a 19 watt coralife UV i will be hooking it up tonight as QT is not a feasible optionf or me. 3 of my fish died of ick only a 6 line wrasse survived

wartskin · 12/04/2008, 01:27 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by m2434
No, not at all IMO. In fact you could argue that it could be detrimental because it does not discriminate between "good" and "bad" bacteria.

1+

eyesinthedrk · 12/04/2008, 01:46 PM

go to the history of "tank of the month" winners and see how many do and dont use it, assumeing that thats what most here are striving for that will give you a good indication, in my opinion refugiums are more of a fad than a nessicity....but i do have one of them too

12/01/2008, 04:21 PM	#1
spongebob281 Moved On Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 305	what do you think of UV sterilizer?l I know it helps clear your water but does it do anything to prevent fish from getting sick? Some people swear by it , other thinks it's a waste of money. I personally bought one but it's been sitting in the garage for months as i've been told it wont prevent disease on fish.

12/01/2008, 06:06 PM	#4
m2434 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 2,171	No, not at all IMO. In fact you could argue that it could be detrimental because it does not discriminate between "good" and "bad" bacteria. __________________ Our imagination is stretched to the utmost, not, as in fiction, to imagine things which are not really there, but just to comprehend those things which are there. ~Richard Feynman

12/01/2008, 06:11 PM	#5
snorvich Team RC member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Outlander Posts: 40,953 Blog Entries: 46	I personally feel the UV is useless, and perhaps detrimental, EXCEPT to provide prophylaxis between tanks which share water. __________________ Warmest regards, ~Steve~

12/02/2008, 09:35 AM	#8
greenbean36191 Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Ft. Lauderdale Posts: 10,598	The research just does not support their usefulness for disease control on recirculating systems. However, if you're running a flow through or multi-tank system with a common sump then they have some use for that purpose. __________________ Some say the sun rises in the East. Some say it rises in the West. The truth must be somewhere in the middle. Current Tank Info: tore them down to move and haven't had the time or money to set them back up

12/02/2008, 06:53 PM	#12
m2434 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 2,171	A uv sterilizer may kill parasites that pass though it, but won't kill those that don't. In a single tank there will be plenty that do not pass though and will not be killed. If two tanks are connected any transfer between the two has to go through the UV, if set up that way, so it is more likely the parasite will be killed. It won't exactly prevent outbreak, but MAY contain it... __________________ Our imagination is stretched to the utmost, not, as in fiction, to imagine things which are not really there, but just to comprehend those things which are there. ~Richard Feynman

12/01/2008, 04:41 PM	#2
Mr. Brooks MASVC Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Simi Valley, CA Posts: 3,477	It won't prevent disease, but it can help slow down the spread and reduce the severity. I use one on a quaranteen tank.

12/01/2008, 06:01 PM	#3
spongebob281 Moved On Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 305	if you used one does it mean it greatly increase the chance of your fish surviving disease for example ich?

12/01/2008, 07:24 PM	#6
Mr. Brooks MASVC Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Simi Valley, CA Posts: 3,477	They might be good for a fish only tank but they aren't ideal for a reef. They kill off the good stuff as well as the bad. However, I feel that it's not hurting anything on my QT.

12/02/2008, 02:41 AM	#7
spongebob281 Moved On Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 305	my LFS used 3 big ones on their system and i never seem an instant of ich

12/02/2008, 07:10 PM	#13
greenbean36191 Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Ft. Lauderdale Posts: 10,598	A multi-tank system with in-line UV makes it a "single-pass" application meaning that 100% of the water going from one tank to another has to pass through the unit. Assuming the unit is properly sized, nothing gets from the upstream tank to the downstream tank. The concept is the same when you're sterilizing incoming seawater on a flow through system. On a recirculating system you're drawing a small portion of the disease reservoir (the main tank), sterilizing it, and then returning it to the main tank where it's diluted by unsterilized water. Basically, the difference is in whether you're trying to trying to reduce the number of pathogens in the system (recirc) or just prevent their spread from one area of the the system, or from outside of it, to another area (single pass). __________________ Some say the sun rises in the East. Some say it rises in the West. The truth must be somewhere in the middle. Current Tank Info: tore them down to move and haven't had the time or money to set them back up

12/02/2008, 10:17 PM	#14
2006 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 730	spongebob there is a lot of misinformation concerning UV sterilizers. They are quite effective when properly used. If you are considering buying one I recommend getting a copy of Aquatic Systems Engineering by PR Escobal. I gurantee it will be worth your while. Good Luck

12/04/2008, 12:25 PM	#15
spongebob281 Moved On Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 305	i got a 19 watt coralife UV i will be hooking it up tonight as QT is not a feasible optionf or me. 3 of my fish died of ick only a 6 line wrasse survived

12/04/2008, 01:46 PM	#17
eyesinthedrk Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Williamsport, PA Posts: 675	go to the history of "tank of the month" winners and see how many do and dont use it, assumeing that thats what most here are striving for that will give you a good indication, in my opinion refugiums are more of a fad than a nessicity....but i do have one of them too __________________ Everybody knows you never go full retard. Current Tank Info: SPS dominated, 125 gallon dt with 3 Apollo reef LED pendants, Apex Controler. 100 gal basement sump, 100 gallon basement fuge, euro reef skimmer, reef octopu s cr140 calcium reactor. Phos an reactor.