UV sterilizer run time?

[ShaneWedge]

Basically what the title says. Had a bit of cloud in my tank and some hair algae growing. Cloud is gone over night with sterilizer on. When should I shut it off?

 

[Gablami]

Now is fine. Turn it back on as needed. I don’t think it’ll do much for the hair algae, but for bacterial blooms it works quickly.

 

[Marine Life]

Basically what the title says. Had a bit of cloud in my tank and some hair algae growing. Cloud is gone over night with sterilizer on. When should I shut it off?

You should keep it on 24/7 so I can keep the problem under control. And if you haven't quarantined your fish you can practice ich Management by running the UV at 1-2 tank turnover per hour all the time.

 

[The_Skrimp]

I also agree with keeping it on 24/7. I put mine in my tank to help me fight dinos and never took it out. It’s done nothing but make my tank look better since I started running it.

 

[Jet915]

Ive run mine 24/7 for 2 years now....I would never turn it off.

 

[ShaneWedge]

Thanks for all the replies. I just want to make sure it’s not killing any good bacteria. I do have bio balls in the back part of my biocube and about a 3” sand bed. Going to get the “fuge” rack from InTank here shortly as well to help keep the nuisance algae.

 

[lapin]

I run mine about 8 hours per day. Different times for different possible issues. Mostly at night in case I have parasites like ich that hatch out at night

 

[StlSalt]

Thanks for all the replies. I just want to make sure it’s not killing any good bacteria. I do have bio balls in the back part of my biocube and about a 3” sand bed. Going to get the “fuge” rack from InTank here shortly as well to help keep the nuisance algae.

Most, if not all of your beneficial bacteria resides on the surface of things in the tank and not in the water column. This is open for debate but I run my UV Sterilizers 24/7 without any ill effects.