Do you run your UV light 24/7?

[Steve1500]

I have an 80 watt pentair UV light in my 180DT. Phosphates are from 0- .004 and nitrates around 5 ppm. I used to turn on my UV and run it at low flow with a varios pump but I only did this occasionally with no visual impact. At this time, I had algae buildup on my glass but nothing significant elsewhere. I was removing the algae from the glass almost every day.
Then I left the light on for a few days, and I noticed that I did not have to clean the glass for about three days straight and the water was nearly crystal clear. Awesome!

But other than no algae on glass, are there any other benefits to running it 24/7? I don’t have a problem with dinos or cyano and I don’t think it’s running slow enough to kill parasites.
Are there negative impacts of running it 24/7? Killing the good organisms? Harmful to livestock?

And I noticed my heaters don’t have to run as much either.

 

[DesertReefT4r]

Running it 24/7 will help reduce algae as you have seen. Biggest thing for me these days is avoiding a dino bloom and UV is very effective at this. I was never a believer in running UV on a reef tank. Until I got amphidinium and ostreopsis dinoflagellates back to back. Now my small 9w UV will always be running either in my display or sump.

 

[zalick]

24/7

The bacteria on surfaces are what I care about. I don't mind killing everythingg in the water column.

I have TONS of pods in my DT and in my "pod sanctuary" in the return section of my sump. So killing pods isn't a concern in my experience.

I have a 114w aquauv. Run about 700gph through it. Change bulbs every December.

 

[vetteguy53081]

I recommend running 12 hrs during the night. Zooanthlae and other food source produce in light during the day and you don't want to shock them

 

[saltwaterpicaso]

24h a day is the best for tank and bulb life

 

[ca1ore]

I run mine 24/7, except when the ballast craps out .... which seems to happen with irritating frequency.

 

[Lithoman]

I'm running mine 24/7 to kill off dinos.. I know it only needs to run when the lights are out.. just easier to keep it going all day and night...
But does it kill copepods as well as good bacteria?
What would be a negative if any to running UV 24/7?