UV Serialisation

[tuxy_v8]

Hi All,

I've heard a lot about UV serialisers running in sumps.

1. Is it worth setting up?
2. What does it help with?
3. What models are best?

I'd love to gain more of an understanding about this.

Thanks,
Nick

 

[codytbuckner]

Is there something you are trying to accomplish with it? I have run a UV sterilizer, but only for a few specific reasons. Never permanently. Good sterilizers are pretty pricey too.

 

[vetteguy53081]

get a good quality unit if youre going to get one and run on a timer 12 hrs a day and at NIGHT. 3
It will eliminate dino, some algae and parasites

 

[Tiger Brown]

UV Sterilizers are marketed mostly as a way to fight/kill parasites (microorganisms). I run one 24/7, and the reason I do is I see a significant increase in algae when it is off. Many do not like UVs as they are indiscriminate on what they will kill, good or bad.

 

[Jon Fishman]

I have one but am in the process of setting up 4-25W units through a single pump for my 140-ish gallon display. I notice no effect (visually) with the one running, but I also run Ozone so my tank is very clear as it is..... I run UV so any parasites etc my fish have a good chance of fighting off naturally with a good diet.

 

[Flippers4pups]

You may have heard that most hobby UV units are under powered for the size of our tanks. Parasite control is very limited with these units and would require very large sterilizers costing a fortune to be effective.

Most of these are on the other hand effective in controlling algae and bacterial blooms.

 

[427HISS]

Like mentioned, some sware by them others hate them. I'm almost done with my reef room that has QT tanks, so the fish QT will have my 25w UV, mostly for fish bacteria, clean water and lastly for fish parasites, which needs low flow rates and long dwell time in the UV to kill.

 

[Kasey Grohowski]

get a good quality unit if youre going to get one and run on a timer 12 hrs a day and at NIGHT. 3
It will eliminate dino, some algae and parasites

Why run 12 on/12 off?

 

[Kasey Grohowski]

You may have heard that most hobby UV units are under powered for the size of our tanks. Parasite control is very limited with these units and would require very large sterilizers costing a fortune to be effective.

Most of these are on the other hand effective in controlling algae and bacterial blooms.

Not completely true. A 120 watt lifegard aquatic is roughly $700 USD. By theory running 800 gph through it should be more than enough for level 2 sterilization (killing protozoan) a 260 gallon system.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Why run 12 on/12 off?

Your food sources such as zooplankton and zoanthelle feed off light to generate food source for coral tissue and sterilizer would affect this source. Ayt night the cultures aren't as active and will be less affected by UV sterilization and also increases bulb life