UV Sterilization?

[KabayanReef]

So someone offered to sell me a UV unit for dirt cheap and It's very tempting. (with all his sales talk)

I haven't heard/read about it here on RC? Although i've seen my lfs use it (amazing DT).

Q: What does a UV unit do? Cons and pros? How benificial is it to reefkeeping?


I trust you guys will enlighten me, its a bit odd not seeing any UV related post/thread afterall.

[snorvich]

Water clarifier. Cheap ones are probably a waste of money. They do not prevent parasites.

[KabayanReef]

Ahhh I see another $$ item. Let's say your rimless tank is a bit cloudy and you had one ready, would you use it?

Thanks for the prompt reply!

[snorvich]

On my large reef tanks, I do not. On my outside pond, I do as an algae prevention.

[twon8]

Unless you are spending close to a grand it isnt worth it. And even then it won't prevent outbreaks but will keep your water clear.

I've never run one in almost 12 years with reef tanks

[Kenmx10]

Bulk Reef Supply has a nice video on them. Its worth watching if your considering buying one.
http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/empero...e-25-watt.html

[KabayanReef]

Thanks for the informative link Kenmx10. I guess it wouldn't hurt using it as long as maintenance guy offers to install it

[Greatwhitetang]

Pros.. Will kill micro organisms in water column making clear water
Cons. Wont kill anything that doesn't go through it, wont kill parasites or help with outbreaks, will kill natural occurring foods within your system, will kill good bacteria along with the bad.

I ran one for the first 3 years in the hobby, then it leaked and put 120v into my tank. After u hooking it I noticed 0 difference in quality and clarity of water, but live rock seemed to improve in health and coral extention was amazing. I now advise against them, they can be a bandaid for a neglectful tank owner.. But really serve 0 true purpose to those of us who maintain near perfect water Conditions in the first place.. Save your money and invest it somewhere else in the system!

[bundybear1981]

I use to run one, when the bulb died I never replaced it. The water was clearer with it but it was an unnecessary cost to run. I don't plan on using it in the future.

[JoelA7]

I know a commercial aquarist who says he wouldn't run a tank without one. He also says they will not eradicate parasites, only add a measure of control. Speaking from difficult experience nothing beats prevention. Nothing.

[nmotz]

Well, a lot of people have talked about what they won't do. What they WILL do is take care of algae blooms. On my first tank I came home one day to "pea green soup", popped a small, internal UV sterilizer in the tank and it was clear in less than 24 hour. If I was going to get one, I would personally keep it in reserve and use it when required to clear up major algae issues.

[BlackTip]

At the right dose, UV can eliminate bacteria, viruses, protozoa, and algae. The key is to use the right dosage for your intended application.

Check this table for the right dosage: http://www.emperoraquatics-aquarium....ismdosages.php

[tmz]

Only those that pass through it and receive lethal doses of radiation for their size ; it doesn't eliminate anything as most of these organisms have presence in non planktonic forms ; they don't live exclusively in the water column.

[acrohead500ppm]

I have seen their use benefit large tanks with lots of tangs, especially during the addition process.
I think it does a decent job of keeping ich and some parasites in check and can be helpful when adding new fish, esp tangs, as it usually results in some fighting/stress which just ups the ich risk factor,

In my experience they have proved to be pretty effective in these situations housing tangs that battle a bit, esp when tangs in the acanthurus genus hit sexual maturity and start going ape &$%*.

However, long term use, I personally don't think its worth the heat they can add as well as the electricity they burn.

I don't think they are nearly effective at controlling parasites/ disease as they are made out to be, and certainly should NOT be viewed as an alternative to quarantine.

I do think they kill off alot of benefical fauna in the water collum as well.

Bottomline, I have used them in the past when adding new fish, but after a few weeks I would discontinue use of them after everyone has calmed down.

Again I am not saying I believe they made a huge difference disease/parasite wise, but I think it helped a tad in a few cases, but no way to prove it.

Long term use, not worth the electricity or heat added to the system. Kills beneficial fauna, and I have no problem keeping reef water polished without them.

Koi pond/ outdoor gardens on the other hand......... yeah, UVC is your buddy if you like seeing your fish !

[KabayanReef]

Thank you for sharing your input, never too late to pass on knowledge. The case for tang acclimation and how benificial a UV made sense. Not thrift hopping my way to success but I have decided not to implement a UV , not worth the $$ specially if other areas of the tank can use an upgrade.

Like your idea on using it with introducing new inhabitants. Agree on all points and +1 on never think of it as a qt alternative and don't expect on effective removal of unwanted parasites.

[acrohead500ppm]

Originally Posted by KabayanReef

Thank you for sharing your input, never too late to pass on knowledge. The case for tang acclimation and how benificial a UV made sense. Not thrift hopping my way to success but I have decided not to implement a UV , not worth the $$ specially if other areas of the tank can use an upgrade.

Like your idea on using it with introducing new inhabitants. Agree on all points and +1 on never think of it as a qt alternative and don't expect on effective removal of unwanted parasites.

Agree with you on all points, in your case, the $$ is much better spent elsewhere.

Main reason I put them into use is because I had them on hand, thought I would share my experience, and as you read, they are not worth the $$$ and they add quite a bit of heat to a system.

[Sk8r]

I've never used one indoors. I gave up their use on the outdoor koi pond after 3 units caught fire and one singed my skimmer. Quitting them did nothing bad. The water, with more flow and a better filter out there, is now far better than when I was using them.

[ca1ore]

If you are buying a used unit, assume as part of your purchase cost a new bulb. While we can debate the effectiveness of a properly functioning unit; one with a bad bulb is un-debatably useless.