UV sterilizer, what are your opinions?

[liquidpanda]

So i've been running a nano tank for some time now, and recently my dad and i decided to go in on a 50g tank. We are going to focus mainly on fish, but I may throw in some mushrooms and zoos just for some color. And maybe a pulsing Xenia. But mainly fish. Anyways! My dad is kind of set on getting this UV Sterilizer. Originally he was wanting to get the 9w Turbo Twist, but the filter we are looking at has too high of a water flow. The UV wants 100-200gph, while the smallest of the filsters we're looking at is 250gph. So we were thinking of moving to the 18w TurboTist, but it's rated for a 250g tank, and still all we have is a measly 50g.

My point is, do i need one? The people at our lfs swear by it, while my boyfriend thinks it's pointless. What are your opinions? Will the sterilizer mess with my feeding of reefs? Will the tank be managable without one? Will it kill good bacteria?

 

[SnowManSnow]

Ive never had one personally, but the GENERAL consensus is that they are not needed.

Just keep in mind the folks at the LFS think you need EVERYTHING they have in stock

B.

 

[gizmo01gm]

hey there , uv sterilizers are a good idea if you want to keep things such and tangs and corals and inverts because the tangs are prone to get white spot and most times you have to dose with copper and that mean taking inverts out and corals.you dont run the uv all the time because it does kill the good live batceria that u for need just 1 or 2 days a week is fine to kill of the nasties that you dont want .so if u are going to keep tangs i would say yes other wise i wouldnt worry about it . cheers shaz :lol:

 

[SnowManSnow]

well,

IF you were going to does somthing you would remove the FISH and keep the corals and inverts in your display tank. NEVER does copper in your display tank. It will render your Live Rock toxic.

Maybe someone here who has first hand experiance with them will chime in.

b

 

[shavo]

Hey I have a UV sterilizer and I don't run it unless I see something develop on my fish. I have a reef tank and UV sterilizers actually kill or destroy trace elements for my corals. I bought one because i read all the benefits of them but then learned about how strong they are. If you are not doing a reef tank and focusing on fish I would get one because it renders the ick parasite so it can not reproduce. I am glad i have one but I don't run it unless I need it if I see something on my fish.


buuuoonnnggg!

 

[Anonymous]

I have been running one on my 300G since I started it. I thought that since I had a new tank and would be adding a lot of new fish, that the UV might help make sure that I avoid a massive ick outbreak. So far I have lost very few fish and have had zero ick outbreaks.

I recommend UV's for new setups.

I'll probably shut mine down soon since I am pretty much done stocking the tank.

Louey

 

[liquidpanda]

thanks for all your input, it was what i was looking for. It just seemed like i was getting conflicting reports about it, but it sounds like the UV is used more for preventative measures, rather than an all the time thing. so i think i'll hold off on it, since some soft corals may end up in the tank. It seems silly to buy the UV to just run it for the first month or so, unless i find a reasonably priced one. I've started looking into a refugium, so i may end up going that way.... hmmm.....

 

[shavo]

hey I priced UV sterilizers and they aren't cheap. I got mine from an EBAY store, brand new for 50 bucks.
check it out.

 

[bleedingthought]

I have been running one on my 300G since I started it. I thought that since I had a new tank and would be adding a lot of new fish, that the UV might help make sure that I avoid a massive ick outbreak. So far I have lost very few fish and have had zero ick outbreaks.

I recommend UV's for new setups.

I'll probably shut mine down soon since I am pretty much done stocking the tank.

Louey

Exactly what I was thinking.

Also, I had one of my LFS recommend a UV for my tank when I was first setting it up just like you, liquidpanda. Cool thing was that they were like, "Go online, research UVs, and check out the prices. Since you're going to be stocking your tank, it could help you out with the health of the fish and the amount of algae outbreaks." No sales pitch.

So, not necessary but could help you out! :wink:

 

[Anonymous]

I've used a UV successfully to get rid of cryptocarian. It works provided that you get the correct wattage for the setup you have. Although it's shunned here at RDO to recommend them, I've got a proven track record otherwise and the fish to prove it.

 

[Anonymous]

liquidpanda wrote:

but it sounds like the UV is used more for preventative measures, rather than an all the time thing. so i think i'll hold off on it,

They are your fish. Do as you please. One sick fish can take out the whole population.

Louey

 

[dnorton1978]

You know I always thought they sounded like a good idea, but due to the negatives I heard here I decided against it. With this latest info, and do to the fact that I am setting up my new tank, I am getting one this week.

 

[dnorton1978]

What are some good brands? Are the turbo twist good. What do you have Louey?

 

[Anonymous]

I have one on my tank. I had a VERY bad case of ich with my 2 blue tangs. You almost couldnt see that they were blue. I freaked out and was advised by someone, you know who you are (and many thanks), to set up my UV. I did and within 2 weeks, all cleared up. I would only run no more than a month after stocking new fish.

 

[Anonymous]

dnorton1978 wrote:

Are the turbo twist good. What do you have Louey?

I have a Turbo Twist. I believe it is a 36.

I use a MJ1200 to feed it.

Louey

 

[Anonymous]

I can't remember what kind I have, but it's 25W on my 110 ga tank. I have mine plumbed in with my return pump.

 

[dnorton1978]

Thanks guys..

The LFS carries Lifeguard, and has a 25 watt, with pump fittings and everythin for $225.

I try to support the LFS when possible.

The only info I found on the lifeguard is they are also used in freshwater ponds... Should I avoid that brand??


Panda,

I am not by any means stealing your thread, just gathering similiar info for myself instead of creating a new post about the same thing.

 

[shavo]

the turbo twists are supposedly better because instead of just passing through the UV light they are twisted in the chamber and have more exposure to the light to irradicate whatever is in it. I actually bought fish online this week and noticed something developing and now i am running mine. I have a JEBO 18 watt on a 125. I don't know if this is a good rating just went with the bigest one I could find for the cheapest price. it came with the pump but it looks like it is such a slow flow, also they say that UV's can help with algea blooms as well. I have one going on now also so I will let you know if anything changes in the next week while running this UV. think i might get a cleaner wrasse if available too.

 

[ChrisRD]

UVs are of limited value in controlling parasites like c. irritans IME. IMO the cheaper models sold in the hobby are a waste of money. You can setup a basic quarantine system for a lot less than you're going to spend on a quality UV unit, and proper quarantine is by far the best practice for keeping your system parasite free IMO.

Some additional discussion in this thread regarding UVs:
http://www.reefs.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=83596

HTH