Seeking oppinions on the use of UV sterilizer on reef tank.

[Doubledown]

What are the general views on the use of a UV unit with a reef tank?

I had the opportunity to visit jdieck's (prior TOTM) home and see his sump room and set up last night and one of the items I had been debating on (the UV unit) was on his system. His tank is beautiful and the corals grow like mad.

I have also been to another local SPS guru's place and he refuses to put one on - kills off too much good stuff for the corals.


Oppinions?

[LBCBJ]

If you enjoy leaks, then a UV unit is for you

[RichConley]

You have to remember, even when looking at a gorgeous tank, that some of the equipment/practices arent neccessarily the reason for success.

Its obvious that Jdieck's husbandry is very good. His tank is just as likely to be great because of the UV as it is to be great IN SPITE of the UV.

I'm of the oppinion that in most cases, theres no real advantage to UV. If you want to prevent Ich and such, you need to move ALL The water through it, and thats just not going to happen in most setups.

[Clouded]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8037123#post8037123 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by LBCBJ
If you enjoy leaks, then a UV unit is for you
how stupid is this comment?

My step fathers has been running a UV for 15 years, same unit just replaced bulbs, no leaks...I have been running one for a few years, no leaks...

[Biggie]

UV is awesome. Been running it for 2 years not a complaint.
Leak? Never heard that before unless it just plumbed poorly.

Thats like saying why drive a car it just breaks down?

[jjjimmy]

IMO on a reef tank they do not serve much purpose and are relatively useless. On a FO tank I would recommend one.

[toothman]

Just my 2 cents, Why not do a little research on reef central regarding a ozone unit. I like my red sea. Your water will be insane clear, guaranteed!

[Doubledown]

Thanks all,

I guess that if I were to truely wish to copy the equiptment and practices of a successfull reefer (jdieck) then I should do so with out question, but could the UV actually be detrimental to the captive reef?

BTW, Jdieck runs both a UV and an Ozone generator on his system. I've tried the ozone and thought I smelled ozone in the air (probably just my imagination) and shut it down after 12 hours.

I run a UV on a FO system currently (had to replace wiper blade and seals as regular maintenance to fix a leak) but not on a reef system.

[RichConley]

"I guess that if I were to truely wish to copy the equiptment and practices of a successfull reefer (jdieck) then I should do so with out question, but could the UV actually be detrimental to the captive reef?
"


IMO, you shouldnt do anything on your reef without question. Call him up and ask him WHY? And if you like the explanation, and agree with his reasoning, add it. If you dont, then dont.

[Doubledown]

That is excellent advise. He was very accomodating to all my questions on my visit. I think I will do that.

[MCary]

The biggest problem is narrowing down someone's success or failure to a single variable like a UV. People swear by all kinds of things in this hobby and sometimes the science doesn't bear it out, but they continue to swear by it. I have a big UV and I used it because I had it. I had used it in a FW tank to clear green water. For that it seemed to work. I have been told it will kill Ich, but I have read that Ich is to complex of an organism to be killed by UV. My UV is sitting dry right now and my tank is doing great. I'm not going to use it until I feel I have a legitmate application for it. No use wasting electricity.

Mike