UV Sterilizers

[Europhyllia]

I just purchased a UV sterilizer for my QT tank. I think the QT tank can benefit from a sterilizer without a doubt.

But I am on the fence about adding one to the new main tank or not.

I read something interesting about how flow rate determines what gets killed.
For example algae spores get killed easier and even at a higher flow rate while parasites require lower flow rates through the sterilizer.

One of the worries of running a sterilizer on the main tank would be that it would kill off my beneficial stuff.

I am mainly worried about algae and less about parasites since I will only make very few fish additions of fairly disease resistant fish (we have a no tang policy).

If I adjusted the low through the sterilizer for algae spores (relatively fast) - would that protect the microfauna somewhat?
Or do the little bugs suffer no matter what?

[alton]

Maybe you should of done a poll? I vote no. Reasons; "you kill way too much beneficial stuff". It does works great on ponds and killing free floating algae.

[allan]

I run one through one of my returns with moderate flow. Sit under an xray for a moment youre fine, but sit under one for hours and you glow.

I believe the same concept applies to uv. Faster the flow the less effect you have on less complex lifeforms.

I would think the biggest issue is getting pods from you're fuge to your display, and uv can affect that.

I like it as it helps mr maintain a clearer water, but that could be the ozone.


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[CoryDude]

I've never used one myself. Alot of the info I've read over the years seem to indicate they inhibited pod and other benthic organisms. Personally, I'd add o3 to the tank instead of uv.

[Europhyllia]

did a lot of reading last night and came back around to where I started. lol

I will have one on my quarantine tank - not on my main display.

[phippsj]

I run a split from my sump to my display. One flow goes through UV and a chiller, the other goes through NP Bio Pellets. Other than flatworms and nudibranchs, which I got by introducing coral with no proper quarantine method, I have had no ich, etc.

[Europhyllia]

interesting to hear that somebody with bio pellets uses a sterilizer on their main display. They were actually part of teh reason I chose to limit my use to the QT tank and not the display.

[roscozman]

We use one on our main display. It sits in the sump area and is on moderate flow with a small/medium size pump. Tangs are one of our favorite fish and the UV in combination with other methods has kept our fish ich free.

Also Alan - I have read is you use ozone, there really is no need for a UV.

[SoLiD]

We use one on our main display. It sits in the sump area and is on moderate flow with a small/medium size pump. Tangs are one of our favorite fish and the UV in combination with other methods has kept our fish ich free.

Also Alan - I have read is you use ozone, there really is no need for a UV.

If I can remember correctly; I believe UV light causes Ozone to be produced... That might be what Allan meant... :confused:

[kkiel02]

I plan on running uv through my sump but not my fuge. I want my sump water to be as clean as possible but I still get the pods and plankton from my fuge. Now my current setup I cant do that but that is the plan for the new tank when it comes in.

[Europhyllia]

(2) Question: Will a UV Sterilizer (http://americanaquariumproducts.com/UVSterilizers.html) kill off my beneficial copepod & other crustaceans colonies in my reef tank?

Although not as common a question as the previous question, it still crops up from time to time and I have much harder time understanding why otherwise quite advanced reef keeper fall for what amounts to a UV Sterilizer myth.
As well, my controlled studies admittedly did not include exact counts of copepods with different levels of UV Sterilization (http://americanaquariumproducts.com/AquariumUVSterilization.html) or none at all, it did show that copepod colonies when properly established never diminished with UV Sterilizer use in reef tanks.

http://aquariumuvsterilizer.blogspot.com/2009/09/uv-sterilizer-questionsmyths-answered.html

[Mike]

We run a UV on our main display, which is only about 1/2 powered for the size of the tank.

[Europhyllia]

Really? Why?
And at what flow rate are you running it? To kill algae? or to kill parasites? (in other words what is your goal with this?)

[roscozman]

If I can remember correctly; I believe UV light causes Ozone to be produced... That might be what Allan meant... :confused:

Alan has an Ozone Generator and is using a UV Sterilizer. I don't think you need to use the UV when you have an Ozone Generator.

[allan]

No, an electrical charge is necessary to produce o3, similar to an electrical storm and the scent that accompany it.

I do run both, the uv was first and I wasn't impressed so I pestered Ross till he sold me his :-)

I run a 39 watt turbo twist but the flow, I beleive, is fast enough that I don't get a significant kill stats. The o3 is very apparent when it runs ( faulty timer sometimes zero out and I don't realize till the water starts looking cloudy), couldn't be happier.


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[cowboy572]

I have a UV on my main dislplay tank. I also have my fuge inside of my sump. I just plumbed my UV around my fuge so it would not harm my pod population. I have had the setup for almost a year now and I have a happy and healthy mandarin.