UV sterilizer

JOKER · Dec 18, 2013

Who runs them on reef tanks and how often or long? I know there are a lot of people who say they have no use in reef tanks but I have also read about people having great success running them. I would think they would help to slow down the bubble or hair algae if used properly. I got one free and was thinking of trying it.

poolkeeper1 · Dec 18, 2013

JOKER said:
Who runs them on reef tanks and how often or long? I know there are a lot of people who say they have no use in reef tanks but I have also read about people having great success running them. I would think they would help to slow down the bubble or hair algae if used properly. I got one free and was thinking of trying it.

Used for a specific problem short term I think they are a plus, I'm using one right now to Kill Algae spores in my tank. When it's gone i will take it off line. JMO
Bill

pickupman66 · Dec 18, 2013

they have their advantages and disadvantages. when setup properly, they will eliminate algae spores, protozoa (ich) and other waterborne parasites, bacteria etc... but they are Indiscriminate so they kill beneficial things too.

I run 60 watts on mine. They saved my rear when I had some sort of disease killing my fish. it was not Ich, but something else. I lost alot then, but almost lost more. Ill continue to run mine as I feel the good outweighs the bad.

rcmike · Dec 18, 2013

I've been using ozone for several years on and off. I've been running it for a couple of hours every night for a couple of years. It keeps the water very clear and dissolved organically down. I think that is why my tank did pretty well being neglected for so long. I did my first water change in probably a year a couple of weeks ago.

I'm having a little ich outbreak due to not quaranteening a few new fish so I started running it all the time the other day. Might help with the ich, might not, but it can't hurt.

JOKER · Dec 18, 2013

Thanks for replies. I have the lifegard ql 40 and plan to run a 600 gph pump on it. Would that be plenty turnover? The uv is rated up to 1500 gph but that is too much imo. Going to give it a shot anyway. Just trying to rid some hair and bubble algae and picking and plucking spreads it everywhere.

Rob.D · Dec 18, 2013

I've never used one on a reef tank but I did set one up on a pond that was in the midst of a full algae bloom; after a couple weeks the water was crystal clear.

fishdoc11 · Dec 18, 2013

I ran one for a couple of years a long time ago. At that time there was a certain reefing school that promoted bare bottom reef tanks with large downdraft skimmers run wet, a large UV sterilizer was also used on those tanks. To be honest I never noticed anything but that the tank ran a bit warmer. That being said I agree that if you have a reason to run one (algae, fish disease etc…) they can come in handy. If you don't I don't know that there is much benefit. You do want to make sure that you match the flow to the UV and also get a UV that is big enough for your tank which it sounds like you are.

hth, Chris

JOKER · Dec 19, 2013

I am a little low for flow on the uv for its rating but I think it is rated for a larger tank than I have. Not planning to run 24/7 just trying to reduce algae spores. I know how fast they can travel.