Is a UV Sterilizer Worth It?

[dmweise]

Are UV Sterilizers really worth the cost?

Situation:
When I add new fish to my tank they get ick for a few days, then get over it. I was trying to think of a way to help with the acclimation by minimizing the number of ick spores that are around. I'd prefer to do it naturally with carnivores. Currently I have a pair of fire shrimp that keep my other fish clean, it just takes a while for the newbies to find the cleaning station. I'm just fishing for ideas on how I can help minimize the ick spore population.

[innate1]

From what I read the answer is no. To be of any benifit it would have to be really big. There is an article on Reef Central about how to rid your tank of ick. It's not easy but it's the only real way. I'll look for it and get back to you.

[Ping]

Yes, a properly sized UV sterilizer will help. They help with ORP and do help lower the PPM of parasites. They will help with ick, however, in your situation it may not be necessary. UV will help with chronic parasitic infections.

UV is a substitute for a natural process of the Sun.

[wesheltonj]

Plus one for UV

[JimD]

It will also minimize the live planktonic micro organizms available to corals depending on th the overall water volume/sterilizer ratio. Heres a few opinions...
http://www.nano-reef.com/forums/lofiversion/index.php/t151466.html

[JeffCo]

Good question. I've been wanting to add a big UV to my barebottom system. I think it will help with the water quality of the tank.

[JimD]

Unless I felt I had to for some reason, I wouldnt, if for nothing else, one less piece of equipment to maintain.

[CoryDude]

Unless I felt I had to for some reason, I wouldnt, if for nothing else, one less piece of equipment to maintain.

Exactly. One more piece to add to your maintenance list, plus the cost of replacing the bulb every 6-12 months. Not worth it unless you have a heavily stocked FOWLR tank.

[dmweise]

Question answered. I won't get a UV sterilizer. I'll get a nice Neon Goby or some cleaner shrimp. I may also decrease my specific gravity to be between 1.18 and 1.21.

[Bill S]

I have one. Don't necessarily recommend it...

[lt1z28]

I use one in my system. It helped control an ich outbreak. I have unplugged the uv to see the effect it would have in my tank. I unplugged it for a week. My water was not as clear and my Powder Blue Tang and Lyretail Anthias were going to my cleaner shrimp more often to get cleaned. I also noticed them scratching on the sand. My temp also dropped by 1 degree. After I plugged in the UV my water was crystal clear again, the fish stop scratching, and my fish stopped going by the cleaning station. Temp also increased 1 degree. After seeing the positive effects it had in my tank, I decided to keep using it.

[ballardjr2000]

i have one i am not even running with the uv sterilizer they kill pretty much everything that goes through it. alage particles, plantkon for food, etc. the UV sterilizers don't care. i had problems with alage ran one and it helped clear that up, but this can be done also by reducing feedings/ and light as well. when feeding the corals you have to shut down the uv to keep the food alive long enough to be eaten etc.

[coraline79]

I have one plumbed into my tank, and I use to turn it on every week r so, but I saw no real effects so I dont use it anymore.

[innate1]

I hope this helps:

UV Sterilizers
Another method of water purification that became popular at that time and is still used today is UV light purification. The basic theory is that water is passed through a glass tube that is surrounded by UV lamps that destroy organic matter. It seems like a great idea in theory. Problem is that soon the glass tube becomes coated with debris and film and then the UV light can not penetrate to the water and thus never actually cleans the water. Also, the size UV system that would be needed would have to be massive to really have any real effect, not practical for most home aquariums. These units are often sold for fish parasite control, but again the same applies here, the tube becomes coated and not much is accomplished. And, typically not all of the parasites will be in the water column so even if the kill rate of the UV was 100%, which it is not in most units, the parasite may never be in the water column so it will never be exposed to UV anyway. My personal advise after testing and using UV units for many years is to save your money and don’t bother with one, it will do little more than lighten your wallet and give you a false sense of security unless you can afford a very large unit.