Are UV sterilizers worth it?

[iannarelli]

I find these discussions so amusing. Everyone here is an expert based on their anecdotal evidence. Why haven't there been actual scientific studies with proper sample sizes and controls on UV usage as it relates to algae/dino control or parasite control? Or have there, @Jay Hemdal?

Not a scientific study, but this page on the American Aquarium Products website has a very detailed explanation on how UV-C and UV-S work. A long read, but very thorough. I for one tend to believe there's enough evidence to suggest that a properly sized UV sterilizer being supplied at the proper flow rate to achieve adequate dwell time for the Level 1 or 2 sterilization will lower the amount of bacteria, viruses, and parasites (Level 2) in the water to a level that the immune systems of your fish are generally capable of keeping them healthy.

 

[Projects with Sam]

Now that’s new stuff for me. The Metroplex gig I mean. What’s the draught on that stuff?

Its a medication I bind to food that claims to treat protozoan parasites. It names cryptocaryon, hexamita, and ichthyophthirius marine and freshwater on the front of the package.

 

[schooncw]

Not your entire life bud. Not yet! You “did marine biology and were involved in the aquatic industry” Great! I was staff in the BBC Natural History Unit my entire working life. I’m now 64. I’ve dived every notable reef on the planet and have filmed from the Jungles of Borneo and come up close and personal with an angry and hungry Polar bear. I’ve been bitten twice by two of the worlds most venomous snakes and had a really angry close up encounter with a bull elephant who tried to end my days but ended up ending my Sony SX instead. That’s my working experience levelled at yours since you seem to think it relevant. I never once demanded you reveal a dang thing: only that if you make a statement to me that AB or C was useful then I find it naturally follows to ask just what that is. It also occurs to me that if you have “no inclination” to point out nor reply then the obvious thing to do is just that. With all due respect of course. I would like to ask this one thing of you however. Since you spent so much time in your working life selling the very item in question and that by your own admission have implemented them for over 30 years. You must surely have some reasonable input as to their efficacy?

Well, I'm 61 and my mother was raising Seahorses before I was born, next to the marine lab in the West Indies, where I grew up and hung out as a kid so yes, I consider myself a life long hobbyist.
All I am saying, is that from MY experiences and when somebody else on this thread suggested the video, I viewed it and found it insightful.
I do understand that my life and industry knowledge can, in no way, compare to yours, nor your most impressive life and death experiences and if you chose to be dismissive of the opinions floated in the video, that's your business.

 

[schooncw]

I found this website-the FAQ's-to be insightful in understanding the intricacies of UV's.
https://www.americanaquariumproducts.com/FAQ.html

 

[Roscovitch]

Well, I'm 61 and my mother was raising Seahorses before I was born, next to the marine lab in the West Indies, where I grew up and hung out as a kid so yes, I consider myself a life long hobbyist.
All I am saying, is that from MY experiences and when somebody else on this thread suggested the video, I viewed it and found it insightful.
I do understand that my life and industry knowledge can, in no way, compare to yours, nor your most impressive life and death experiences and if you chose to be dismissive of the opinions floated in the video, that's your business.

I’m in no way “dismissive” of anything in the video. I’ve said it more than once and I’ll say it again by way of clarification. “I saw nor heard nothing in the piece which I nor anyone else could use with any efficacy within the context of aquaria”. If you did please feel free to enlighten me if you feel so inclined. If not I’ve certainly no problem whatsoever with that. I certainly feel no inclination to try to legitimise anything in a hobby environment with my working life. My point was simply that being charged at by a bull elephant although quite an experience, is just about as relevant. Have a great day or night wherever the time is where you are.

 

[adittam]

Not a scientific study, but this page on the American Aquarium Products website has a very detailed explanation on how UV-C and UV-S work. A long read, but very thorough. I for one tend to believe there's enough evidence to suggest that a properly sized UV sterilizer being supplied at the proper flow rate to achieve adequate dwell time for the Level 1 or 2 sterilization will lower the amount of bacteria, viruses, and parasites (Level 2) in the water to a level that the immune systems of your fish are generally capable of keeping them healthy.

I run a 25 watt AquaUV sterilizer on my 80g system. There’s a *big* difference between product or sales literature and a scientific study though.

 

[Roscovitch]

Not a scientific study, but this page on the American Aquarium Products website has a very detailed explanation on how UV-C and UV-S work. A long read, but very thorough. I for one tend to believe there's enough evidence to suggest that a properly sized UV sterilizer being supplied at the proper flow rate to achieve adequate dwell time for the Level 1 or 2 sterilization will lower the amount of bacteria, viruses, and parasites (Level 2) in the water to a level that the immune systems of your fish are generally capable of keeping them healthy.

Pretty in depth. In my experience I’ll take the word of the guy who has had the tools in his hands most of his working life. Thanks for sharing this.

 

[Roscovitch]

I run a 25 watt AquaUV sterilizer on my 80g system. There’s a *big* difference between product or sales literature and a scientific study though.

When you say “AquaUV” are you talking about evolution aqua or AquaMedic which is a German cat 1 unit?

 

[iannarelli]

I run a 25 watt AquaUV sterilizer on my 80g system. There’s a *big* difference between product or sales literature and a scientific study though.

I wholeheartedly agree, and while the author uses a lot of references to other portions of his sites and has links for the products he sells, there are a couple of links that actually references sources outside of his site.

 

[Malcontent]

All those years working with UV sterilizers and he doesn't realize that flow rate doesn't matter (unless it's too low).

Also, his math on dosage is wrong.

 

[adittam]

When you say “AquaUV” are you talking about evolution aqua or AquaMedic which is a German cat 1 unit?

25 Watt Classic UV Sterilizer - Black Body

Aqua Ultraviolet UV Sterilizers will eradicate algae, bacteria, and protozoa without any harmful chemicals or additives! UV lamps emit a wavelength that will alter and disrupt the DNA or RNA of single-celled organisms. Combining the UV lamp into a large housing allows for maximum contact time...

www.bulkreefsupply.com

 

[pdxmonkeyboy]

I have an 800 gallon system. I would NEVER run it without UV. I have a proper 110 watt UV plumbed in. And there are pods...everywhere.

The vast vast vast vast majority of bacteria in your system is adhered to surfaces. The bad bacteria, spores, "coral war" chemicals, dinoflagelates, and water born parasites is what I am keeping in check.

People don't believe things they can't see but I have done the research and seem the results of a healthy tank.

As far as convincing someone... do what you want, who has time for that?

 

[pdxmonkeyboy]

Ozone is much more effective for water clarity than UV from my experience. I have both.

Ditto. Huge system, I don't do water changes.

 

[Roscovitch]

25 Watt Classic UV Sterilizer - Black Body

Aqua Ultraviolet UV Sterilizers will eradicate algae, bacteria, and protozoa without any harmful chemicals or additives! UV lamps emit a wavelength that will alter and disrupt the DNA or RNA of single-celled organisms. Combining the UV lamp into a large housing allows for maximum contact time...

www.bulkreefsupply.com

Great! Thanks. Something similar to the German AquaMedic.

 

[fryman]

Oh, and it also depends on what type of "pod" you are producing. Amphipods and Isopods both reproduce through direct development, with the female releasing young from a marsupium. These would not be expected to go through the UV sterilizer except incidentally.

Copepods have a Nauplius stage that then develops into copepodites. I would expect those to be too large to be killed by UV. However, the circulating pump delivering water through the UV can damage/kill them pretty easily.

Jay

I've heard many people say this but don't understand why. Tisbe copepod nauplii are only about 50 microns, comparable in size to rotifers and considerably smaller than ich tomonts. So if UV can control ich, seems it should do the same for copepods. Also the nauplii are in the water column looking for food.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

I've heard many people say this but don't understand why. Tisbe copepod nauplii are only about 50 microns, comparable in size to rotifers and considerably smaller than ich tomonts. So if UV can control ich, seems it should do the same for copepods. Also the nauplii are in the water column looking for food.

UV actually doesn't kill tomonts at a dose that anyone really uses in aquariums. Copepods also have a shell that protects them more than the thin cell wall of a theront, they are also multi-cellular as opposed to being a protozoan.

Jay

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

So, UV, Polyplab medic and metroplex in the food is a good three-prong approach to ich treatment. Or at least a decent placebo so we don't worry about our itty-bitty-wittle fishies...

Metronidazole in food needs to be dosed at 5000 ppm. The old joke in public aquariums is that since metro is so bitter, if your fish will eat it in medicated food, your dose is too low (grin).

Jay

 

[iannarelli]

UV actually doesn't kill tomonts at a dose that anyone really uses in aquariums. Copepods also have a shell that protects them more than the thin cell wall of a theront, they are also multi-cellular as opposed to being a protozoan.

Jay

This. Key word is "sterilizer".

 

[ddtech]

It's better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it.

 

[Freenow54]

I am following this with interest. I used one in my freshwater tank to control algae but more so to try and stop the spread of Malawi Bloat as a desperation attempt, as I could not get the anti biotic I needed here. I finally found a source and it arrived too late. The light absolutely got rid of the algae, but did not stop the spread of the bloat. As to saltwater I did not see it mentioned for use in a quarantine tank. I did that. I appreciated the fact that it kills bacteria, and was cycling my new tank at the time. I felt that its use would do the opposite of what I was trying to accomplish. I have yet to experience dinos. If it eliminates such things my question would be what else is it doing. I would be very desperate to use it in my tank.