Uv nessecery... In a reef tank

[som857ee]

How much is it really a necessary product to success with a reef tank???

 

[Michael Gray]

*following* im suppose to order one for my new build tomorrow. been reading alot and always thought it wasnt worth it. Im only going with a 25w aqua UV for the waterbox 130. which is 127gal before displacement of rock and such. but Im looking to buy it stricly for water clarity. Im not buying it thinking i will not have ick. my hope is to help prevent algae outbreaks or dinos. 25watt at estimated 400gph maybe 350gph.

 

[cojo8888]

Must for tank with tons of tang. Clear water = better par = better for coral.

 

[som857ee]

When I open this subject for discussion i know i get respond like... All the responses in the past... But I'm looking for new information that would help us the hobbyist to decide. Please understand...

 

[Ponraj A]

I am using Oxydator's instead of UV.

 

[Waters]

UV is not necessary at all......that being said, I run one 24/7 on my systems. It is just another method of keeping the water clear, aiding in removing excess bacteria, helping to keep some parasites at bay, etc. UV by itself won't do much (other than clear green water or bacterial blooms) but it can be super helpful in conjunction with other husbandry methods. What it does is largely dependent on the strength of the bulb, the size of the unit, and the GPH of water being pushed through.

 

[reacclimating 2 the hobby]

+1 to the above, except I only run mine at the same time as my lights. My UV is off during the night.

 

[HCl+NaHO=]

How much is it really a necessary product to success with a reef tank???

Not necessary.

I wouldn’t run a reef tank without one, though.

Why would you want free floating bacteria, viruses, parasites, algae in your water?

 

[Michael Gray]

What size tank and UV is everyone running successfully

 

[roberthu526]

To me it’s a peace of mind. You can definitely run a tank without it but having one just saves so much time and effort. It’s really a matter of which route you want to go.

 

[hart24601]

Needed? No. But it sure can make things easier. I run one to keep dinos in check. I take it off, they come back, it would be a long tough battle without UV.

 

[Michael Gray]

Ok done deal. For sure ordering the 25w today to plumb in my new system. Rather have it then not be plumbed for it

 

[SPR1968]

You don’t need a UV but I run one 24/7 and wouldn’t be without it.

You need to make sure the flow rate is correct and the UV is powerful enough for the killing effect required

I think they are much more popular here in the UK/Europe than USA from what I’ve read, but apart from the cost of buying it, and changing the bulb every year, there is no down side really.

 

[Fiesty]

*following* im suppose to order one for my new build tomorrow. been reading alot and always thought it wasnt worth it. Im only going with a 25w aqua UV for the waterbox 130. which is 127gal before displacement of rock and such. but Im looking to buy it stricly for water clarity. Im not buying it thinking i will not have ick. my hope is to help prevent algae outbreaks or dinos. 25watt at estimated 400gph maybe 350gph.

Go with the 57 watt aqua uv. You wont regret the larger size IMHO and would be a great size for your tank

 

[Fiesty]

I say NEEDED! I have run saltwater tanks for years / decades without them and for years with. I use to think they not necessary but now wouldnt have a tank without one. Just makes life easier 1000 fold. I see it as a necessarily piece of equipment if u want to enjoy this hobby long term and not fight the battles constantly that all the anti UV peeps continually do. Just get a "larger than u think necessary" one and make sure and run the flow reasonably slow through it. Worst case is u wont be cleaning the glass as much and save u time. More likely is your fish will be healthier and your water crystal clear. I cant understand the argument against running one???

 

[russell13]

I ran a 40 watt on my system and didn’t notice any difference in the water. Ended up taking it off and now it just sits in my garage

 

[Fiesty]

I ran a 40 watt on my system and didn’t notice any difference in the water. Ended up taking it off and now it just sits in my garage

Curious, how large was / is your system and how did u have it hooked up? Did u control flow rate through it or just run return pump or drain water past it at whatever rate? Also which brand? Water from and to sump or display tank? Asking all thes questions because can make a huge difference in effectiveness and your opinion of UV and may help the OP decide on how to set up one if goes that way.

 

[russell13]

Curious, how large was / is your system and how did u have it hooked up? Did u control flow rate through it or just run return pump or drain water past it at whatever rate? Also which brand? Water from and to sump or display tank? Asking all thes questions because can make a huge difference in effectiveness and your opinion of UV.

I’m admittedly not the most informed with UV sterilizers. I had it running through 25% of the water coming through the return to the display. My return pump is rated at 2,100 GPH, so I’m guessing I was running about 500 GPH through it. I originally got it to help prevent ich and other parasites from spreading if I ever got any. I never really noticed a difference in water clarity. My friends that have ponds swear by them and say in a pond they make all the difference. But I’m not sure I was running it to it’s
Potential. The display is 300 gallons. I also had one on my 34 gallon Solana tank, it was a small hang on the back of the tank type. I ran it through the return and didn’t notice much difference after installing it.

 

[russell13]

This is the one I was using

 

[Fiesty]

I’m admittedly not the most informed with UV sterilizers. I had it running through 25% of the water coming through the return to the display. My return pump is rated at 2,100 GPH, so I’m guessing I was running about 500 GPH through it. I originally got it to help prevent ich and other parasites from spreading if I ever got any. I never really noticed a difference in water clarity. My friends that have ponds swear by them and say in a pond they make all the difference. But I’m not sure I was running it to it’s
Potential. The display is 300 gallons. I also had one on my 34 gallon Solana tank, it was a small hang on the back of the tank type. I ran it through the return and didn’t notice much difference after installing it.

Thank u for the reply! I only mean this to be helpful for the OP and others in this thread in their decision making process, not to be mean to you in any way at all. But id say that a 40 watt UV for a 300 gallon system, especially if not properly tuned, is going to be insufficient. And your results show that it sounds like. Seems a lot of the comments that "uv doesn't work" are from other people with this same situation. And why I recommended at least the 57 watt aqua UV for MG's 127 gallon system. Hope this helps.

I have run the 57 watt aqua on a 100 gallon system with great results. And now same unit on a 220 gallon system with good results. Any larger water volume and I'd feel the UV was too small and probably be needing a larger watt one to be effecive.