UV Sterilizer ?????

PACOLIANT · 02-04-2006, 06:36 PM

I have decided to add a uv sterilizer My tank is 75g and I plan on upgrading to a 150g in about 6 months. Can anyone give Me a suggestion on type and wattage?

KG · 02-04-2006, 08:04 PM

Save your money and use it for something that has a positive effect like a protein skimmer or a refractometer for measuring salinity to make sure your new arrivals in hypo are at 1.009. UVs are all but worthless, but if you still want one, send me your address. I'll sell you mine - turbotwist.

KG

coralfreak · 02-04-2006, 08:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KG

Save your money and use it for something that has a positive effect like a protein skimmer or a refractometer for measuring salinity to make sure your new arrivals in hypo are at 1.009. UVs are all but worthless, but if you still want one, send me your address. I'll sell you mine - turbotwist.

KG

I totally disagree with you, UV sterilizers do make a difference if you use the correct wattage and one that's well designed. I use one aquastep 25w UV sterilizer on my 75g and it controls ick very well, it also maintain the water crystal clear and there's no more excesive growth of phyto all over the place. I don't know about others but I have a very positive experience with my UV sterilizer.

Geoff · 02-04-2006, 09:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by coralfreak

I totally disagree with you, UV sterilizers do make a difference if you use the correct wattage and one that's well designed. I use one aquastep 25w UV sterilizer on my 75g and it controls ick very well, it also maintain the water crystal clear and there's no more excesive growth of phyto all over the place. I don't know about others but I have a very positive experience with my UV sterilizer.

well i agree and disagree with you.

i find it hard to believe that a UV filter can controll any kind of parasite. expecially ick. ick is multistage and most of these stages have nothing to do with being water born. the only way a UV sterilizer will kill anything is if it were to go through it. so unless the Cryptocaryon is actually going through the sterilizer it is fine. another important fact is that most of the UV sterilizers on the market are not strong enough to kill parasites anyway. a 25w with the correct flow is, but anything less than this is prolly just a UV clearifier, which brings me to the part i agree with you on.

the best place to have a UV sterilizer is directly before a skimmer. this allows anything that the UV sterilizer killed to be immediately removed by the skimmer. this dead organic matter is not in the system for any length of time. making the water as clean as possible.

G~

PACOLIANT · 02-05-2006, 04:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KG

Save your money and use it for something that has a positive effect like a protein skimmer or a refractometer for measuring salinity to make sure your new arrivals in hypo are at 1.009. UVs are all but worthless, but if you still want one, send me your address. I'll sell you mine - turbotwist.

KG

Tell is that a 6x bty I went to Bradwell Institute in 77 My stepdad was stationed in ft.Stewart. Please send info.

PACOLIANT · 02-05-2006, 05:01 PM

I belive that most filtering at worst have no adverse affects I skim, fuge, sump, wetdry and charcoal canister.

LiquidLunch · 02-05-2006, 07:22 PM

I run an EmperorAquatics(02025) 25watt w/ a maxijet1200 powerhead(in sump). I tested the flow rates several times and they all were 180 gph. A maxijet900 tested at 150 gph which was a tad slow but would have worked. The key is to get a good uv AND then have the correct flow rate going through it.
http://emperoraquatics.com/aquasmartuv.php

volitanking · 02-05-2006, 07:53 PM

i have a 36 watt turbo twist on my 55g and its plumbed inline with the return flow i have a little giant i think its like 600 somthin gph and since i got it ive had no problems with sickness before i got it i had 2 problems in like 2 months ive had it for 6 months and its all good lol i think it was definitly worth it

coralfreak · 02-05-2006, 09:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Geoff

well i agree and disagree with you.

i find it hard to believe that a UV filter can controll any kind of parasite. expecially ick. ick is multistage and most of these stages have nothing to do with being water born. the only way a UV sterilizer will kill anything is if it were to go through it. so unless the Cryptocaryon is actually going through the sterilizer it is fine. another important fact is that most of the UV sterilizers on the market are not strong enough to kill parasites anyway. a 25w with the correct flow is, but anything less than this is prolly just a UV clearifier, which brings me to the part i agree with you on.

the best place to have a UV sterilizer is directly before a skimmer. this allows anything that the UV sterilizer killed to be immediately removed by the skimmer. this dead organic matter is not in the system for any length of time. making the water as clean as possible.

G~

I almost agree with you in the part of the parasite but maybe I was lucky enough, I installed the UV sterilizer when both tangs were sick for several weeks and with the addition of the UV finally the ick slowly dissapear. More than 2 months and counting with 0 ick on the tangs. I have a pretty slow flow trought the UV, maybe that helps also. I know that there's no way the UV can kill 100% of the ick but it for sure controls the theront stage pretty well from my experience.

Loverotties · 02-05-2006, 11:21 PM

I thought they help on removing algea?

Krux · 02-06-2006, 02:19 AM

several reefers with very deep tanks figure that it is helping with water clarity by keeping bacterial blooms in check. i have no test for this, but in looking at one particular tank that is about 8 feet deep, i can tell via eyeball method whether it has been on or not based on water clarity.

i guess it depends a lot on why you want one.

ptrick · 02-06-2006, 02:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Loverotties

I thought they help on removing algea?

werd! I thought they help prevent/reduce on algae growth??? A local reef store suggested that it's a waste of $$, I'm thinking of getting one but I'm still confused if this really works or not??

Pat

Loverotties · 02-06-2006, 06:03 AM

I'm in the same boat Pat.

AdamG · 02-06-2006, 09:20 AM

I have a 120gallon and have a 18 watt turbo twist. I feel it has helped my tank considerably. There has been no returns of ich (knock on wood). But I also talked the guy down to selling it to me for 40 bucks. with the right sales technique I feel you should go with it, because they can be expensive. As far as controlling algae, I do not see it helping. Even with it I have had a outbreak of brown snot algae. Now back to the UV, it has helped my tank I recommend one.

Geoff · 02-06-2006, 09:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Loverotties

I thought they help on removing algea?

it all depends on which algae you are trying to remove.

they are great at removing planktonic algae. hence there frequent use in ponds! as far as SW algae, if used improperly they can actually increase the amount of algae in your tank. if not run just before the skimmer, than the killed planktonic algae will be released back into the system. when these decompose they release their bound phosphates. these phosphates can then be uptaken by rest of your algae in the system. this is why it is important to run one just in front of the skimmer. that way all dead planktonic algae is immediately removed by the skimmer.

G~