UV filter yes or no?

[canorojas]

for a 125g reef with some fish.

thanks.

 

[OzoneParkGuy]

Up to you.. Ask yourself this... Am I going to be putting fish in later along the line. If my system ever crashes will i only go fowlr or start all over.
I run a uv on a 120 mixed with no issues. The uv's function depends alot on the flow and how long the contact time. Research my friend.

 

[masterswimmer]

It's funny to see your question, 'UV filter yes or no?', stated exactly like that. I say this because the ONLY question about UV that I would say is NOT a good question is: UV filter yes or no? Every other UV question should be asked and answered before deciding whether or not to run a UV. Every other question should include, but not be limited to:

- new tank or mature and established tank?
- running a sump/skimmer system? or running a sumpless/skimmerless system?
- using LR for filtration?
- what size tank? How many lbs of LR?
- how often do you add new fish to your tank? When was the last fish you added?
- is the tank cycled? cycling? pre-cycle?

Lots of other Q's I'm missing now. I'm sure others will chime in when they're awake. I'm about to pass out myself......need to heed my own advice and NOT offer information after about midnight. This 3am stuff can not only be detrimental to my health, but also detrimental to my credibility :lol_large

Night all

BTW, thank god for spell check, or this would have been quite difficult to understand :banghead:

Russ

 

[greenycrew]

Before anyone can really give you a straight answer we have to know why you want to run a UV filter.

 

[motortrendz]

+1. Then we will give opoinions..(I don't use one ever.lol)

 

[NL146]

...
- new tank or mature and established tank?
- running a sump/skimmer system? or running a sumpless/skimmerless system?
- using LR for filtration?
- what size tank? How many lbs of LR?
- how often do you add new fish to your tank? When was the last fish you added?
- is the tank cycled? cycling? pre-cycle?
...

Since you opened it up :teeth:, how do these factors impact on the use of a uv filter?

 

[MatthewScars]

UV filters are a waste of money. If you're trying to stop Ich, its like bringing a squirt gun to a house fire. Also, if they crack for whatever reason, your tank will be toast.

Otherwise, its really not needed if you keep up with your normal WC and QT fish before you put them in the DT.

 

[ryangrieder]

I don't feel its a waist. It did make my water from clean to almost invisible. I like mine a lot. I have the turbo twist.

 

[fallenlordz]

I say - its not really needed. As long you take precautions before adding any new fish to your tank.

Should help if you have algae issues also - but I like a little algae for my tang to nibble on

 

[Dre]

Since you opened it up :teeth:, how do these factors impact on the use of a uv filter?

I'll give you one example,if you have a 125 gal. tank with 120 pounds of live rock /rock or sump the volume of water is no longer 125 gals and give the ick cells more hidding places in the free floating stages.

 

[Killerdrgn]

Oh we had this presentation at a meet up while I was a part of Boston reefers. It has the same issues as ozone injection. Basically unless you just want to keep your water super clear you should probably not waste too much time and money on them. Decent piece of optional equipment.

 

[nycpassat]

not worth it for what it minimally accomplishes. Also factor in the cost of replacing the UV bulb annually. Its not cheap.

 

[Dre]

Oh we had this presentation at a meet up while I was a part of Boston reefers. It has the same issues as ozone injection. Basically unless you just want to keep your water super clear you should probably not waste too much time and money on them. Decent piece of optional equipment.

I disagree it depends on how it's used and the initial setup.Take it or leave
it .I use a 30 watt UV on about 75 gal volume of water with success.I remove about 30 gals of water from my 110 FOWLR whenever there is an ick out brake and run the UV for about a week or so.There is possitive results within 24 hours.

 

[Wes]

Any evidence supporting the use of UV is anecdotal and there is no real
Proof that it will kill free floating ich.

I have witnessed microbiological studies on the use of UV for water purification systems in the pharmaceutical industry.

The study determined UV sterilization was a waste of money. The test results showed no reduction of bioburden in the water system from the use of UV. Thus, UV is no longer used in any of this company's facilities worldwide.

This may or may not relate to whether or not a UV will kill ich. All I can say is they do not "sterilize" by any definition of the term.

Sent from my iPhone using Reefs

 

[Killerdrgn]

I disagree it depends on how it's used and the initial setup.Take it or leave
it .I use a 30 watt UV on about 75 gal volume of water with success.I remove about 30 gals of water from my 110 FOWLR whenever there is an ick out brake and run the UV for about a week or so.There is possitive results within 24 hours.

Yes, even if it does kill ich (Not saying that it does). How often do you actually get ich that you need to run one 24/7. and if you don't run it 24/7 then is the costs justified how ever long you do use it?

 

[Dre]

Any evidence supporting the use of UV is anecdotal and there is no real
Proof that it will kill free floating ich.

I have witnessed microbiological studies on the use of UV for water purification systems in the pharmaceutical industry.

The study determined UV sterilization was a waste of money. The test results showed no reduction of bioburden in the water system from the use of UV. Thus, UV is no longer used in any of this company's facilities worldwide.

This may or may not relate to whether or not a UV will kill ich. All I can say is they do not "sterilize" by any definition of the term.

Sent from my iPhone using Reefs

I'm not going to string this out because i'm not an expert on the subject I keep marine fish do a little reading and observe my animals carefully before making assumptions.With that said can you name at least one Public Aquarium in the U.S. that do not use UV's?

 

[Killerdrgn]

Actually when I visited the Aquarium of the Pacific in California I asked them about filtration and I don't believe they mentioned UV.

 

[Killerdrgn]

Oh here's an article. They do not use UV, they do use Ozone though.
http://www.aquariumofpacific.org/blogs/comments/the_abcs_of_filtration_at_the_aquarium/

 

[dj ze]

uv is'nt only used for minimizing ich but also other parasites that we introduce reguraly especially with water changes and so on.but it is also important how fast you run the flow of the uv it should be way less then they recomend i run my 36 wt turbo twist at around 100 gph anything that runs through it is most definitely toast i wouldn't run my system with out

 

[beerfish]

I have a UV that I toss on the tank when I've neglected it for awhile.

I have no proof about this, but I feel like it helps clarify the water a bit, and I have seen some cyano reduction when it's on.

That said, when I get to the point of putting the UV on, it's usually because I've neglected the tank for awhile, and I'm also replacing carbon, phosban, and doing a water change.

The UV may help, or it could be placebo effect. I don't know. I bought a bunch of equipment at one point and the UV came with it. I probably wouldn't buy one.