Who uses UV, and what do you believe the benefits are?

[Zivman]

I have a 40 watt emperor aquatics UV on my 200. I run it 24/7 now. I have noticed a decrease in the algea in my tank as well as clearer water as well as increased skimmer output.. I don't think it's a necessity.

[redwinger]

I agree that it is not a necessity. It is something that I will look at down the road or ozone for that matter but it is not a high priority right now. I think there are other things that the money used for a uv, can be used for that will benefit the tank more. IMO

[Minnreefer]

I have several reason on getting one, the main one is that I know of several people that I highly respect that use them. On a different tank I got stupid, did not quarenteen and had an ick outbreak, which cost me a LOT of money, so I figured that a UV would help save some moeny in the long run. I am no salt water expert, I have been keeping salt water fish for about 8 years with little lose of life, probably average for someone with 8 years experience.

In short, a UV helps me not worry aobut my tank as much, I feel that my fish and everything else is happier, and I respect some the tanks of people that swear by them.

Jon

[Skipponator]

I use a 9watt Turbo Twist Sterilizer. I got it off Ebay with Rio 800 for $50 that was only used for 2 weeks. So I thought $50 is cheap and thought I'd give it a try. Figure if it helps limit the start or growth of algea early along with parasites then it's worth it. Thus far I havn't had issues with anything, if it's doing it job great, otherwise if it isn't I can't tell.

-Skip

[otolith]

After hooking up my UV, I noticed that the skimmer really took off, and it actually skims more now than before. I can't really say that the water is much clearer, but I have seen that there is less algae growth on the glass, and that I have to take the magnet to it less frequently (not that I had to do it that much to begin with).

[the_colonel]

Stupid Question: Is there such a thing as a HOB UV sterlizer, or are they all in-line?

[tico mike]

JP, not a stupid question. Yes, they have them. I gave one away at the last meeting.

[Sea monkey]

funny , a day after this thread starts i find this in my quarantine tank .

[clownfishcrazy]

How did an engineer goby get into your Q-tank?

[Graham]

Can someone tell me what a UV "wiper" does? I'm clueless...

[Minnreefer]

I believe that a UV wiper cleans the quartz glass tupe within the UV, even though if a UV is doing good, I don't know how stuff can grow on the quartz tube.

[S14_Silvia]

So what size UV would work for a 75 gallon FOWLR tank?

[Skipponator]

Depends on style. My 9 watt Turbo Twist is good for up to 120 gallons I think, all depends on the amoutn of water exposure to the UV light and tiem spent around the light.

[clownfishcrazy]

The wiper is suppost to keep the quarts sleeve clean, by wiping it. The wipers don't really work though, it is better to just clean the sleeve ocasionally (its not that hard, you just use vinegar water), and you need to have space to move the wiper. Plus the wipers can break.

Calcium deposits build up on the sleeve, reducing UV penetration.

More exposure time is better, a long UV is better than a short UV. I don't know how well the turbo twists work, but I would suggest a 40 watt for a 75.

[Sea monkey]

Originally Posted by clownfishcrazy

How did an engineer goby get into your Q-tank?

i put two of them in there ; ) it is not my Q tank anymore because i finished stocking my main tank .

what i found is all the white crap all over them . i assume it is ick