Random thoughts. UV, Phos, Fuge.

[erikharrison]

I found this, on WWMedia

"Copepods and UV Sterilizers
Hi,
Will running a UV sterilizer kill beneficial copepods and amphipods?
<If it is powerful enough, the flow rate through it long (time-wise) enough, yes>
I had a large bug explosion a few months ago so I got a dragonet and he was eating like crazy. Now, he still looks like he's constantly picking through the rock and sand, but he is getting skinny as if he can't find enough to eat. I'm thinking about setting up a refugium under the tank and getting a amphipod breeding mat and starter culture from Indo-Pacific, but want to find out why the visible bugs are gone? (Still see larger bugs from time to time.)
<Likely consumed by the Mandarin/Dragonet... they can/really mow through such fauna. I do agree, urge you to go ahead with your added sump/refugium plans. Many benefits, much fun. Bob Fenner>
Thanks for your time,
Michael"

[captexas]

It's one of those debates that can really work either way. I think it's really a matter of how well you want to filter/clean your tank water and what method you prefer. The refugium idea is to create a natural filter for cleaning the water using macro algae to obsorb excess nutrients and having pods and other creatures to eat the detrius and other material. It also acts as a safe nursery for pods and such animals that will help replace the ones that naturally dissappear in the main tank. The placement of the UV sterilizer and even other equipment has pros/cons no matter wher you put them. If you put it before the fuge, then it will kill off some of the stuff that the refugium needs thrive. But if you put it after the fuge, it will kill off some of the good critters that travel from it to the main tank. Of course this is if you have the entire system setup to filter in line.

I would think it best to have the UV on a separate loop that either dumps back into the tank or into the return area of a sump instead of dumping into the refugium and having the refugium fed by water straight from the tank. But then some would argue that the UV is not really filtering 100% of the water in the system. Of course if your system is filtering the total water volume a few times an hour as it should, then all water will eventually pass through the UV.

[brewercm]

I've just never cared for the UV myself (personal preference). I had one at one point, and although I did notice I had to clean the tanks glass less regularly. I also noticed that my pod population wemt down dramatically. I'm sure there could be other reasons but at the time I didn't have any fish that was a strictly pod eater. Once I took the UV off my population started to thrive again (you can really nitice at night with a led flashlight). Maybe coincidence but I just prefer to stay away from UV for my reef tank. They do work great for a pond though if you have one.

[erikharrison]

I would think it best to have the UV on a separate loop that either dumps back into the tank or into the return area of a sump instead of dumping into the refugium and having the refugium fed by water straight from the tank. But then some would argue that the UV is not really filtering 100% of the water in the system. Of course if your system is filtering the total water volume a few times an hour as it should, then all water will eventually pass through the UV.

agreed.

[urban79]

dam now I have to take mine off. grrrrrrr...

[captexas]

LOL, hey, in this hobby what works for one person doesn't always work for another and vice versa, so you just have to take it all in and go with what you think is best and gives you the best results. If your setup is working for you then it's like that old saying goes, don't fix what ain't broken.

[urban79]

it useless now I havent clean it in a long time

[erikharrison]

It should kill less things if it is pumped through quickly!