UV sterilizer

[airvicconcre]

Hi. My Aquarium is been set and running on the FOWLR for the last two months. I have a UV sterilizer installed along with all the other essential equipment however I’m skeptical on using UV because I’ve read mixed reviews about it. What’s your take on using UV sterilization? (If yay, how long should it run for?) @vetteguy53081

 

[Waters]

I run UV 24X7 on all my reef tanks.....to me, the beneifts outweigh any negatives.

 

[airvicconcre]

I run UV 24X7 on all my reef tanks.....to me, the beneifts outweigh any negatives.

Hello.
I’ve read so much about UV affecting beneficial bacteria hence im coy. I don’t have any corals. Would it be a good idea to keep it on 24x7?

 

[vetteguy53081]

Hi. My Aquarium is been set and running on the FOWLR for the last two months. I have a UV sterilizer installed along with all the other essential equipment however I’m skeptical on using UV because I’ve read mixed reviews about it. What’s your take on using UV sterilization? (If yay, how long should it run for?) @vetteguy53081

UV is effective as long as used correctly mainly with proper water flow going through unit.
Do realize which many dont that UV units will go go out and kill algae and parasites but what passes through the tube/column preventing new ones

 

[airvicconcre]

UV is effective as long as used correctly mainly with proper water flow going through unit.
Do realize which many dont that UV units will go go out and kill algae and parasites but what passes through the tube/column preventing new ones

Should I keep a UV schedule during the day for a few hours or once a week? Please advise. I’ve had it installed with all my other equipment however never used it yet.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Should I keep a UV schedule during the day for a few hours or once a week? Please advise. I’ve had it installed with all my other equipment however never used it yet.

My recommendation is to run 12 hrs at night. During the day in the lighting, you generate phyto and other good organisms and you dont want to shock them during the day

 

[Stoney]

UV sterilizers are especially useful when the tank is new to control any bacterial blooms, dinos, etc. Used to have all kinds of issues with seemingly random tissue necrosis without any parameter swings, but UV fixed that issue in 3 separate tanks. I always notice a sudden increase in alk and nutrient consumption and now run them 24/7. It really was the turning point for me, where I now feel confident I can keep things alive long term.

Probably true that UV kills bacteria in the water column, I think that was verified by aquabiomics. But I've never seen any evidence that the bacteria is actually beneficial. Just that those species tend to be in the water column on natural reefs. IMO worst case the coral have less bacteria and plankton to feed on, but that's easily replaced with reef roids and other coral food. I still get good growth on most of my acros, so I don't think UV is killing anything crucial.

 

[Waters]

Hello.
I’ve read so much about UV affecting beneficial bacteria hence im coy. I don’t have any corals. Would it be a good idea to keep it on 24x7?

The amount of bacteria killed in the water column is pretty negligable...most of your benifical bacteria is on surfaces. The only time I probably would not use UV is in a tank where I had a ton of heavy filter feeders (like Gonis)....even so, like stated, you can target feed those if needed. There is really no reason not to run it 24X7.

 

[livinlifeinBKK]

I agree with most of what's stated here. I, myself don't use a UV because I like to encourage the natural bacterioplankton growth to give supplemental feeding to corals but from what I've heard from the experience of others most corals do just fine. I just prefer to keep my microbiome as natural as possible which would include encouraging bacterioplankton population growth but that's just me.

 

[airvicconcre]

My recommendation is to run 12 hrs at night. During the day in the lighting, you generate phyto and other good organisms and you dont want to shock them during the day

I will do that. Thank you again.

 

[airvicconcre]

I agree with most of what's stated here. I, myself don't use a UV because I like to encourage the natural bacterioplankton growth to give supplemental feeding to corals but from what I've heard from the experience of others most corals do just fine. I just prefer to keep my microbiome as natural as possible which would include encouraging bacterioplankton population growth but that's just me.

There is so much evidence which supports both Yay or Nay. I guess I’m very new to this and if I don’t try something by myself I will never know the effects. I don’t have any corals as my system is just two months old hence I will take a risk of turning on my UV for a few hours every night. Thanks for replying and your advice.

 

[vetteguy53081]

There is so much evidence which supports both Yay or Nay. I guess I’m very new to this and if I don’t try something by myself I will never know the effects. I don’t have any corals as my system is just two months old hence I will take a risk of turning on my UV for a few hours every night. Thanks for replying and your advice.

I went 30 years without UV unit and since have seen the benefits of use especially having larger system with 38 larger fish

 

[airvicconcre]

UV sterilizers are especially useful when the tank is new to control any bacterial blooms, dinos, etc. Used to have all kinds of issues with seemingly random tissue necrosis without any parameter swings, but UV fixed that issue in 3 separate tanks. I always notice a sudden increase in alk and nutrient consumption and now run them 24/7. It really was the turning point for me, where I now feel confident I can keep things alive long term.

Probably true that UV kills bacteria in the water column, I think that was verified by aquabiomics. But I've never seen any evidence that the bacteria is actually beneficial. Just that those species tend to be in the water column on natural reefs. IMO worst case the coral have less bacteria and plankton to feed on, but that's easily replaced with reef roids and other coral food. I still get good growth on most of my acros, so I don't think UV is killing anything crucial.

Hello. I plan to start switching on my UV 8 hours at night. I have a 150g display and around 50g sump, my UV is 55w. Would that suffice and what should be the water flow in the UV outlet?

 

[airvicconcre]

I went 30 years without UV unit and since have seen the benefits of use especially having larger system with 38 larger fish

So UV will mostly help it seems. Can I start using UV at night and dose Britewell CWM every morning?

 

[airvicconcre]

The amount of bacteria killed in the water column is pretty negligable...most of your benifical bacteria is on surfaces. The only time I probably would not use UV is in a tank where I had a ton of heavy filter feeders (like Gonis)....even so, like stated, you can target feed those if needed. There is really no reason not to run it 24X7.

I guess I’m quite sure I want to switch on my UV. Can one run UV for 12 hours at night and dose bacteria in the morning after the UV goes off?

 

[airvicconcre]

I went 30 years without UV unit and since have seen the benefits of use especially having larger system with 38 larger fish

Can you by any chance tell me the amount of approx water flow from that channel? My system is a 150g display and an around 50g sump.

 

[Tcook]

I went 30 years without UV unit and since have seen the benefits of use especially having larger system with 38 larger fish

Do you run yours at the recommended flow for algae/bacteria rather than for parasites? I initially set mine up when my tank was young and had a dino outbreak. I run mine 24/7 and change the bulb ever 6 months.

 

[Ericksonmap]

I keep mine running 24-7 never had an issue. On both of my reef tanks and every large scale coral grow out place I have visited also run UV 24-7. If the people that do this for a living use it to keep there tanks safe it should work for us as well. Main thing is having it setup correctly with the correct flow . I have a HUGE uv on my 75 gal but ever drop of water runs thru it. You can also use a smaller unit with pump and flow it to the correct gal per hr.

 

[Tcook]

Can you by any chance tell me the amount of approx water flow from that channel? My system is a 150g display and an around 50g sump.

Depends on what you are trying to treat. I have a Pentair Smart 25 watt on my 120 that I run at 80 gph for parasites as my tank is fishy heavy. For algae/ bacteria it recommends 450+ gph. The Apex flow meter is nice to have for this.

 

[airvicconcre]

I keep mine running 24-7 never had an issue. On both of my reef tanks and every large scale coral grow out place I have visited also run UV 24-7. If the people that do this for a living use it to keep there tanks safe it should work for us as well. Main thing is having it setup correctly with the correct flow . I have a HUGE uv on my 75 gal but ever drop of water runs thru it. You can also use a smaller unit with pump and flow it to the correct gal per hr.

I have a 55w UV installed and I have a manual valve to set the flow. I wouldn’t have a clue how to know how many gph it would flow. Is there a way of knowing?