Andrew9307
Active Member
what is the benifits of running a UV sterilizer. Some pros and cons. Also is it necessary to run one, and what could happen if you dont use one?
UV sterilizer whats the benifits?
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ritter6788
Coral Fraud Private Eye
I've never used one at all so I don't think it's necessary. Many won't run a tank without one.
Chaetomorpha
Active Member
I lost a tang due to Ich, and did not have a hospital tank set up, so what I did is purchase a 25w uv sterilizer for my 93 gallon tank. When you get the sterilizer it is up to you to move the water through the UV depending for what you bought it for... Meaning If I wanted to cut down on algae and green water I would try to have 500GPH go through the UV, if I want to help sterilize ICH, I would have to go 55 to 93 gph, so you have to gate it to the desired gph (Method I used was, get a one gallon container, see how fast it fills up in a minute, 16seconds for my case, then I gated it down to about 115 seconds to make sure I was between the 55/93 ratio.
I personally have seen a big improvement in that I have not lost another fish to ich after setting up the sterilizer and buying two cleaner shrimp. I have plenty of algae build up on my glass though, but that is not my concern.
I personally have seen a big improvement in that I have not lost another fish to ich after setting up the sterilizer and buying two cleaner shrimp. I have plenty of algae build up on my glass though, but that is not my concern.
kingfisherfleshy
Well-Known Member
Interested to see what people have to say on this. Never run one but considering one due to the fact that my tank is highly stocked...want to prevent an outbreak of something from ever happening.
Young Frankenstein
I sniff ozone and relax.
zero to none ..... too weak to do anything, even with ozone you will still get ick if that was your question.
pickupman66
5000 Club Member
I have a pair on mine to handle the ammt of flow I have on my 180. I got them when I had some disease in my tank and lost 4 fish in a weeks time. Since then the remainder made complete recoveries and new additions have been good.
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kingfisherfleshy
Well-Known Member
My brother had an ich outbreak, and since he started using that has not...he swears by it.
I think a major issue that a lot of people disregard is that you need to change the bulbs frequently, and to watch your flow rates. Oversize your UV sterilizer as well, or run it just in your sump maybe using a smaller pump.
I plan on getting a very large one...overkill.
I think a major issue that a lot of people disregard is that you need to change the bulbs frequently, and to watch your flow rates. Oversize your UV sterilizer as well, or run it just in your sump maybe using a smaller pump.
I plan on getting a very large one...overkill.
Rockadile
Well-Known Member
I have always been curious on the use of these. I can see how it would help keep a sterile tank sterile. But lets say you have an out break of ich, and then add a uv sterilizer, wouldnt the water tat just went through the unit become contaminated again once entering the main tank? I mean unless you are putting all your water through it at the same time you are just introducing sterile water to contaminated water.
kingfisherfleshy
Well-Known Member
True, but the parasites have to find their way to the fish.
Same theory as a protein skimmer almost. You remove waste, and introduce clean water, to dirty water. You are hoping that your skimmer is pulling stuff at a rate that it never significantly degrades your water quality, just as someone with a UV is probably hoping that it is killing enough ich in suspension that it effects the fish minimally or less than it would have.
Same theory as a protein skimmer almost. You remove waste, and introduce clean water, to dirty water. You are hoping that your skimmer is pulling stuff at a rate that it never significantly degrades your water quality, just as someone with a UV is probably hoping that it is killing enough ich in suspension that it effects the fish minimally or less than it would have.
Rockadile
Well-Known Member
well with a protien skimmer you are constantly removing waste it is a lot differant. Once your steril water is introduced to a contaminated tank, it is contaminated instantly. I feel they canhelp prevent things like ich outbreaks but I really do not see how they could be used to cure it.
kingfisherfleshy
Well-Known Member
Its not like the UV sterilizer is ever turned off...it keeps sterilizing the water as it runs through it, just like the protein skimmer never fully cleans the tank. A skimmer by itself isnt going to make your nitrates 0 either, but you still use one.
