UV sterilizers... pros and cons
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ReefDVMs
Active Member
We have one, emperor aquatics 40 watt UV on a 75 gallon and 55 gallon reef, we have it on most of the time and like the safety aspect even thought nothing works 100%. Ours is quite large to give plenty of contact time with the light and water to actually kill unlike cheaper models. I guess I go by the rule if it doesn't hurt and maybe can help why not.
ReefDVMs
Active Member
It can kill bacteria and other parasites if it has enough contact time with a good UV light. Maybe this link will help you decide based on the things a strong UV can help with. Most commercial systems and even some very large business show tanks that we have seen and worked in have a UV light running.
UV Dosages for Proper UV Disinfection
UV Dosages for Proper UV Disinfection
caudill187
Valuable Member
I ran one on a 56 gallon reef thinking it would cut down on infectious disease in the coral. I can't produce a logical explanation as to why, but it seems like I got the opposite effect. When I ran the stabilizer, corals did worse, recuperating when I shut off the sterilizer......just my experience.
o2manyfish
Valuable Member
I run a UV system from 7pm till 7am. I pick those hours because I have different power rates at those hours. I run very slow flow through it. It will kill waterborne parasites and also algae in the water column.
It kills anything that passes through it (if proper flow and sleeve is clean). The beneficial bacteria in your system is usually associated with colonizing on a a surface... your live rock for example.
And while it may nail some of your pods, again your pods are not usually free swimming in the water column.
Now if you have fish, and sensitive fish UV can help keep bacterial and parasitic infections down.
Dave B
It kills anything that passes through it (if proper flow and sleeve is clean). The beneficial bacteria in your system is usually associated with colonizing on a a surface... your live rock for example.
And while it may nail some of your pods, again your pods are not usually free swimming in the water column.
Now if you have fish, and sensitive fish UV can help keep bacterial and parasitic infections down.
Dave B
ColaAddict
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If you carbon dose, it's supposed to be counter productive, because you want to build up bacteria count, but the UV kills them off.
ReefDVMs
Active Member
Good point, I never thought about biopellets and the use of UV lights, I wonder how well they would fight and kill each other off in the process of running them together?
kuyatwo
Well-Known Member
I run biopellets and uv. Your biopellet effluent is suppose to go to the skimmer so bacteria is skimmed out anyways. Only bacteria killed is if it goes into uv plus not all your water in the sump passes into the uv.
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Raptor72
Well-Known Member
I just started running mine a couple of weeks ago so I really don't have input as to whether it's working yet or not. I ran out of room in my cabinet so I had to suspend it from the top.
tomterreefic
Community Member
I have run a UV sterilizer on my 90 gal mixed reef for @3 years. I noticed it takes longer for algae film to develop on the glass and my corals seem to look better.
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In my opinion, UV is a go big or go home proposition. I ran a 57W unit between my sump and tank for several years, UV will kill what passes through it, NOT everything in the tank. I noticed that my water was clearer, and that I had to clean the glass less. Clear water = more PAR, more PAR = more growth. Those that say UV is no good because it kills pods between tank and sump, must have SUPER pods... as I am fairly sure the pump impeller will do that just fine on its own.
indyjaco
Active Member
If you worry about how it works on a reef tank. Look at Copps Tanks on RC. He uses a sterilizer on all of his.
With the sterilizers if you run the flow slow enough they will kill everything that flows through it. It is a way to control/prevent disease, but you will still have it in your system since 100% of your water doens't flow through it.
With the sterilizers if you run the flow slow enough they will kill everything that flows through it. It is a way to control/prevent disease, but you will still have it in your system since 100% of your water doens't flow through it.
Trentondrummer33
Active Member
Love mine, run it in my sump in my 75 FOWLR here's some pics
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Trentondrummer33
Active Member
Water is MUCH more clear, and I've been pest and disease free for almost 2 years now
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FMF0331
Valuable Member
Here is my question, i don't have the room to get a 48" 40 watt uv tube ( suggested by the company )
do you think i can get a smaller one at less watts and slow the flow down to compensate for the larger unit ?
do you think i can get a smaller one at less watts and slow the flow down to compensate for the larger unit ?
