Should I start using UV?

BlackPanther · Feb 9, 2020

Hello, reefers,

I've bought a new UV but I am not sure whether I should set it up now or should I wait.
My tank is 4 months old, Do you recommend using UV now or should I wait?

Thank you!

Cwentz758 · Feb 9, 2020

You’ve bought one of the most debated pieces in the hobby. Many will say they aren’t worth the money for what they do others will say they won’t run without them. My opinion using one isn’t going to hurt. The question is what kind of UV did you get and how big is your tank? Contact time in the UV is what will get rid of things. But if you have a huge tank and a tiny UV you’ll won’t notice much. Just be advised a UV isn’t meant to kill fish disease, it’s more or less a way to keep algae at bay. But if your levels are right algae shouldnt be a huge issue.

Cwentz758 · Feb 9, 2020

That being said I don’t think it’ll hurt putting it on now

lapin · Feb 9, 2020

I would plumb it in and test it out. No use letting it sit in the box. Murphy says "the day you want it, it will be missing something or have a dead bulb/transformer......"
Do you need it? Who knows. You can run it a few hours here and there and see what happens.
I run mine at night. It heats the water and will help keep some fish parasites at bay. Some hatch out at night naturally. Since fish dont swim much at night, it makes it easier for them to find a host.
As for algae, it will help. Not a total solution.

Mastiffsrule · Feb 9, 2020

Evening

i will let you know my thoughts in 4 weeks. I am putting a 57 watt on my 10 year old 180 this week. Been dealing with some turf and other stuff. Figure give it four weeks and see what happens. I will update my 180 thread. I have my fingers crossed

theMeat · Feb 9, 2020

Hook it up. Especially useful on new tanks to help stop the spread of algae

motortrendz · Feb 9, 2020

So for me I've had a uv sitting in a box for about 3 years now. When I replaced my sump I decided what the heck, I got it, might as well plumb it in. If i feel.its doing nothing I'll just turn it off... funny thing is i always thought my water was clear, until I ran that uv. NOW, my water is clear. Such a. Noticable difference. I also noticed my days between cleaning my glass has extended. Other than that I cant really say it's doing anything as I havent had any kind of algae or bacterial blooms in my system. But I'm glad I used it

phatduckk · Feb 9, 2020

I’ve been super close to buying one... 4 months in here too. I figure it’ll maybe help make the ugly phase less ugly... worst case scenario it’s a fun plumbing project lol

CavalierReef · Feb 9, 2020

I think of UV as just another tool in the tool box the same way I think of a skimmer or an algae scrubber. Some run them 24/7 with great success while others run them "as the need arises". Personally, I have all three ready to employ in my 32 gallon Biocube I'm putting together. In my case, they will all be plumbed/installed and ready to go should I decide to use them.

Scorpius · Feb 9, 2020

Add me to the camp that thought UV was a joke until I had a bacterial bloom from the bowls of hades. Now I'm a true believer in running a UV on any reef tank. The benefits are worth the price of admission.

sp1187 · Feb 9, 2020

ordering a pump this week for the UV I bought 2 years ago when I started this build.

Scorpius · Feb 9, 2020

sp1187 said:
ordering a pump this week for the UV I bought 2 years ago when I started this build.

Welcome to the dark side, errrr.... radiation side. lol

sp1187 · Feb 9, 2020

Scorpius said:
Welcome to the dark side, errrr.... radiation side. lol

no skimmer......
no live rock.....
why not a UV.

wmo168 · Feb 9, 2020

Scorpius said:
Add me to the camp that thought UV was a joke until I had a bacterial bloom from the bowls of hades. Now I'm a true believer in running a UV on any reef tank. The benefits are worth the price of admission.

I been reefing for over 10 years without UV and I have to clean and scrub the rocks and change water almost every 2 weeks. Clean the glass every 2 days. Now my new tank I have UV and no sand, NEVER LOOK Back, I only need to clean the glass once a month with only lite build up and now I only change water once a month too... everything is growing nicely. UV only run 12 hours cycle, make sure you have a flow meter and make sure water flow rate match the unit for Algae.

phatduckk · Feb 9, 2020

How are you folks plumbing your UVs? IE: where do you pull water from and where do you discharge it post-UV?

Scorpius · Feb 9, 2020

I have a separate feed pump that's in the first chamber of my sump. The output for the uv goes into the same chamber. I wanted to have the uv system separate from my return pump.

Kellie in CA · Feb 9, 2020

Never even thought of having one until my recent dino outbreak. That thing worked miracles and I'm totally free of them in under 10 days.

That said, I won't be running it permanently.... just when I have a reason to. I just don't find it necessary all the time.

BlackPanther · Feb 10, 2020

Cwentz758 said:
You’ve bought one of the most debated pieces in the hobby. Many will say they aren’t worth the money for what they do others will say they won’t run without them. My opinion using one isn’t going to hurt. The question is what kind of UV did you get and how big is your tank? Contact time in the UV is what will get rid of things. But if you have a huge tank and a tiny UV you’ll won’t notice much. Just be advised a UV isn’t meant to kill fish disease, it’s more or less a way to keep algae at bay. But if your levels are right algae shouldnt be a huge issue.

I have a local brand UV, 21 Watt. And I got surprised now when you said that it doesn't kill fish diseases since this why I bought it after my LFS convinced me that it helps

)

Cwentz758 said:
That being said I don’t think it’ll hurt putting it on now

I agree, my electric bill will do tho

)

lapin said:
I would plumb it in and test it out. No use letting it sit in the box. Murphy says "the day you want it, it will be missing something or have a dead bulb/transformer......"
Do you need it? Who knows. You can run it a few hours here and there and see what happens.
I run mine at night. It heats the water and will help keep some fish parasites at bay. Some hatch out at night naturally. Since fish dont swim much at night, it makes it easier for them to find a host.
As for algae, it will help. Not a total solution.

I see, so I'll give it a try and let's see. But do you think that it won't negatively affect the "young system" that I just set up 4 months ago?
Thank you

Mastiffsrule said:
Evening

i will let you know my thoughts in 4 weeks. I am putting a 57 watt on my 10 year old 180 this week. Been dealing with some turf and other stuff. Figure give it four weeks and see what happens. I will update my 180 thread. I have my fingers crossed

I'll keep following, Thank you and good luck

theMeat said:
Hook it up. Especially useful on new tanks to help stop the spread of algae

That's the answer I was looking for, I was afraid that it may kill many beneficial bacteria or so in this early stage of my tank.
Thank you

motortrendz said:
So for me I've had a uv sitting in a box for about 3 years now. When I replaced my sump I decided what the heck, I got it, might as well plumb it in. If i feel.its doing nothing I'll just turn it off... funny thing is i always thought my water was clear, until I ran that uv. NOW, my water is clear. Such a. Noticable difference. I also noticed my days between cleaning my glass has extended. Other than that I cant really say it's doing anything as I havent had any kind of algae or bacterial blooms in my system. But I'm glad I used it

That's so nice to hear, so I didn't waste some more money

)
Thank you!

Scorpius said:
Add me to the camp that thought UV was a joke until I had a bacterial bloom from the bowls of hades. Now I'm a true believer in running a UV on any reef tank. The benefits are worth the price of admission.

cool. Now,I am happy I got one

sp1187 said:
no skimmer......
no live rock.....
why not a UV.

Really?!!!

wmo168 said:
I been reefing for over 10 years without UV and I have to clean and scrub the rocks and change water almost every 2 weeks. Clean the glass every 2 days. Now my new tank I have UV and no sand, NEVER LOOK Back, I only need to clean the glass once a month with only lite build up and now I only change water once a month too... everything is growing nicely. UV only run 12 hours cycle, make sure you have a flow meter and make sure water flow rate match the unit for Algae.

Well noted, Thank you!

phatduckk said:
How are you folks plumbing your UVs? IE: where do you pull water from and where do you discharge it post-UV?

Mine is plumped directly to the powerhead, just after the water passed all the filtration, reactors etc etc.

Cwentz758 · Feb 10, 2020

BRS UV video

watch this it’ll give more info

HB AL · Feb 10, 2020

Yes use it. I have mine plumbed to a separate return pump with lower flow. My water is always clear and I don’t quarantine my fish although I haven’t added 1 in over a year since I’ve had no deaths and my tanks is at full capacity with my 14 fish. Not sure if it really does anything a simple far as clarity and disease suppression but the water is clear and I haven’t experienced anything other than very healthy fish in the 4 years my current tank has been running. I wouldn’t run a tank without one in the future.