Do any of you run UV?

[FinalPhaze987]

I have a 25 watt UV sterilizer available to me for free (dad used it in one of his koi ponds) and im debating weather or not to use it. Do any of you guys use UV? Why or why not? ive never used one before, and before i do i just want to make sure it will benifit the tank. (reef set up w/ inverts and a few tangs)

Any input is appreciated. Thanks!

[Lucky-rc]

I run a 36 watt turbo-twist in my tank.
I never had any trouble before it then I put a few tang's in my tank and added the uv (I don't have any cleaner shrimp).
I have never had any trouble since either so good? bad? not sure but for no more than the cost of operation I think its a good idea.
They can and will eliminate all parasites that flow through them but will also kill the good things as well. My lfs had a tang tank that cought ick real bad. He tried garlic and other "quick fix" things
before he got rid of it. He then told me he invented somthing secret... But I saw a brand new shiny uv sterilizer box by the trash can. so....

[reef_doug]

If I wasn't running ZEO then I would use one & ozone.

[kdblove_99]

I use one. Never had a tang get sick since adding one. Had tangs get ick prior to owning one.

[FinalPhaze987]

Thanks for the info...the Tangs i have are fine, but i dont want to speak too soon..i thought it might just be a good preventative measure but was a little concerned with it killing off benificial life in the water column. I add DT's now and then so i was thinking of maybe running it on a timer and have it on for a certain period of time...

[kdblove_99]

I think with a UV the Good out way the bad. thats why i use it. I run mine 24/7.

[sw1tched]

I have a 125 with a 30 g sump. 2 600 gph pumps for return. I bought a UV a while back & was going ot hook it up finally. I think 600 gph is too much to run through the 6x 18 watt turbo twist, so I was just going to run it through a different pump & let it fall back into the sump. is there a better way to do it?
how did you guys hook up your UV?

-Joe

[WarrenG]

Some of the return goes through the UV and the rest goes through a bypass. Use valves to control the flow rates and a flow gauge if you like.

[FinalPhaze987]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11511339#post11511339 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sw1tched
I have a 125 with a 30 g sump. 2 600 gph pumps for return. I bought a UV a while back & was going ot hook it up finally. I think 600 gph is too much to run through the 6x 18 watt turbo twist, so I was just going to run it through a different pump & let it fall back into the sump. is there a better way to do it?
how did you guys hook up your UV?

-Joe

600 gph sounds like alota flow...from the reading ive been doing it says to have a slower flow to maximize "kill time"....