UV Sterilizer - Beneficial & Why?

[EakTheFreak]

Good Morning Reefers,

Wanted to get some feedback about Pros vs Cons on a UV Sterilizer? Interesting to hear first hand experience of the benefits they have made to your tanks.

Guessing @Jay Hemdal has some good input!!

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Oh, do you really want to hear my opinion? (Grin)
I use them extensively to reduce free floating algae in outdoor ponds. I also use them in sea jelly exhibits and touch tanks to reduce overall bacteria levels. I sometimes use them to irradiate water going from one tank to another. What I don’t use them for is side-stream disease control. Too much bypass and issues where the pathogen never even is exposed to the UV. I’m also concerned about people running them part time, or using woefully under sized units.

Jay

 

[EakTheFreak]

Oh, do you really want to hear my opinion? (Grin)
I use them extensively to reduce free floating algae in outdoor ponds. I also use them in sea jelly exhibits and touch tanks to reduce overall bacteria levels. I sometimes use them to irradiate water going from one tank to another. What I don’t use them for is side-stream disease control. Too much bypass and issues where the pathogen never even is exposed to the UV. I’m also concerned about people running them part time, or using woefully under sized units.

Jay

So you have never used them in a Saltwater Reef Tank? Do you see any positives in running them in a reef tank?

 

[piranhaman00]

This has been extensively discussed, do some searching.

 

[Silent]

A quick search will give you plenty to read about the subject.

 

[EakTheFreak]

A quick search will give you plenty to read about the subject.

Yeah, I’ve searched. Tons out there. Wanted a new up to date opinions, what’s yours?

 

[Zionas]

I’d say they’re probably an extra layer of mitigation. Personally I will be getting one. Make sure it’s a UV sterilizer and not just a UV “clarifier.”

 

[Grill]

I just purchased the Lifegard Aquatics Pro-Max 55w for my 210 build. Came out to $229 with black Friday coupon.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

So you have never used them in a Saltwater Reef Tank? Do you see any positives in running them in a reef tank?

That’s why I was asking do you REALLY want my opinion? If you want to use one in a reef to protect against protozoan or metazoan diseases, my opinion is don’t bother, rely on a good QT instead. If you want to use one on a reef to reduce free floating algae and bacteria (not sure why those would be an issue, maybe dinos?) then it won’t hurt. I have never used a UV on a reef tank.

Jay

 

[headdr]

Jay,
I have been reading about UV and this has helped me with my decision. Really appreciate the real world input.

 

[dvgyfresh]

That’s why I was asking do you REALLY want my opinion? If you want to use one in a reef to protect against protozoan or metazoan diseases, my opinion is don’t bother, rely on a good QT instead. If you want to use one on a reef to reduce free floating algae and bacteria (not sure why those would be an issue, maybe dinos?) then it won’t hurt. I have never used a UV on a reef tank.

Jay

Agree , I use it to keep bacteria levels lower / no algae making the water very clear . I originally bought it to fight Dino’s and it works

 

[WVNed]

I used an 80watt unit on my 400 gallon system with 100% passthrough by placing it between 2 chambers of my homemade sump.
I took it down.
All I noticed was at night when I looked at the tank with a flashlight the stuff that was supposed to be there like pods weren't present. They are coming back now.
I also run ozone and the two were basically doing the same thing. The water is clear.
I could put it back in 5 minutes if I need to. Adaptive plumbing is wonderful.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

I used an 80watt unit on my 400 gallon system with 100% passthrough by placing it between 2 chambers of my homemade sump.
I took it down.
All I noticed was at night when I looked at the tank with a flashlight the stuff that was supposed to be there like pods weren't present. They are coming back now.
I also run ozone and the two were basically doing the same thing. The water is clear.
I could put it back in 5 minutes if I need to. Adaptive plumbing is wonderful.

Do you think the UV was causing your pod population to be reduced? There are three types of pods, right? Isopods, Amphipods and Copepods. I may be wrong, but I thought that only Copepods have a free-floating larval stage that would ever enter a UV system, and then, I'm not sure those copepodites would be killed by a pass through the UV.

Jay

 

[WVNed]

Do you think the UV was causing your pod population to be reduced? There are three types of pods, right? Isopods, Amphipods and Copepods. I may be wrong, but I thought that only Copepods have a free-floating larval stage that would ever enter a UV system, and then, I'm not sure those copepodites would be killed by a pass through the UV.

Jay

I had bunches, then they were gone. Now they are coming back. I don't know what else would have caused it. And the timing coincides with when I started UV.
I am talking about amphipods, fanworms, sponges and stuff like that. They weren't completely wiped out. The UV doesn't have to kill them directly. I suspect it just wipes out their food supply.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

I had bunches, then they were gone. Now they are coming back. I don't know what else would have caused it. And the timing coincides with when I started UV.
I am talking about amphipods, fanworms, sponges and stuff like that. They weren't completely wiped out. The UV doesn't have to kill them directly. I suspect it just wipes out their food supply.

O.K., I see what you mean - the UV could kill off their food, I've not seen that myself, but it certainly is a possibility.

Jay

 

[WVNed]

O.K., I see what you mean - the UV could kill off their food, I've not seen that myself, but it certainly is a possibility.

Jay

I am guessing. If I do something and see an effect I don't like the first thing I do is undo the change. That way I don't chase my tail going in circles.
I quite frequently look at my tank after it's been dark with a light. The reduction was gradual and not instantaneous.

I am pretty sure the removal of a significant percentage of the bottom of the food chain would affect all the tiers above it. Especially the possible population density attainable.