To uv or not to uv?

[Tayreef93]

I currently have a 2 month old reef with no coral or fish just hermit crabs and snails atm.
As the title suggests is uv something that I should add to my tank or is it not really necessary. I guess i mainly need help weighing the pros against the cons, ultimately my main con is concern trying to establish my biotop and of course the price? Thank in advance!

 

[Miami Reef]

It’s not absolutely needed.

There are many pros and cons of a UV sterilizer. To some, the pros outweigh the cons, and to others, vise versa.

I think the obvious thing a UV can do is make the water very clear. That’s basically the only reason I use mine. You can be successful with or without a UV.

 

[jhuntstl]

It’s not absolutely needed.

There are many pros and cons of a UV sterilizer. To some, the pros outweigh the cons, and to others, vise versa.

I think the obvious thing a UV can do is make the water very clear. That’s basically the only reason I use mine. You can be successful with or without a UV.

If the only goal is clarity, do you know what the appropriate wattage per gallon would be? I started digging into this for my 120g system, but I couldn't find a clear answer.

 

[DJF]

Uv definitely. For clarity you can tune it for algae (faster)

 

[Miami Reef]

If the only goal is clarity, do you know what the appropriate wattage per gallon would be? I started digging into this for my 120g system, but I couldn't find a clear answer.

Just throwing numbers here, but I think a 15-20 watt would produce the results you’re looking for.

 

[Gedxin]

1w per 3 gallons is the typical recommendation. So a 120gal needs a 40w. Then you gotta think about flow through it. Are you targeting algae or stuff like dinos. The flow rate is different for both.

 

[Miami Reef]

3w per gallon is the typical recommendation. So a 120gal needs a 40w. Then you gotta think about flow through it. Are you targeting algae or stuff like dinos. The flow rate is different for both.

I think you meant 1 watt per 3 gallons. And I think that recommendation is mainly for dinos which are larger and harder to sterilize. For clarity I believe a smaller one will also be effective.

 

[DJF]

3w per gallon is the typical recommendation. So a 120gal needs a 40w. Then you gotta think about flow through it. Are you targeting algae or stuff like dinos. The flow rate is different for both.

1w/3g is rating it for parasites so if you only want clarity then you can get away with less but that said, bigger the better- that way if you ever need to tune it for for parasites you don’t need to buy a new one

 

[jhuntstl]

Thanks for all the input.

A UV is low on my priority list, but if I can find a used one at a good price I'll snag it.

 

[theMeat]

A uv will give you way clearer water if you have an algea or bacterial bloom. On a healthy tank it will offer a bit of clarity. It’s good for ich management.
A uv is not rocket science. A bulb going through a reflective tube for exposure. Have been using cheap odyssea uv for a decade with trouble free noticeable results. Change the bulb once a year, good to go