uv sterilizer question.....

richie822 · 02-16-2007, 01:21 AM

i undertsand that a uv sterilizer is a type of filtration device that helps clarity and helps to eliminate free floating parasites like ich, so i was beginning to look into it. I usat dont get where you put it, or how it works. I dont now if you attach it to your plumbing or you hang it on your tank or what not? sorry might be a dumb question but i dont know if i shuold get one or not. What it does sounds pretty cool, but dont know if i have room for it. I currently have a 29 gallon tank that i recently set up. does anyone have a uv sterilizer on a 29 gallon? if so, hoqw is it hooked up and where does it go? pictures wuold help...thanks..

jberd · 02-16-2007, 01:48 AM

Richie I have a UV on my 37 and so far everything is great in the tank. Not one ich outbreak (cross my fingers) no algae blooms it seems to help. I run it after my chiller. It is last in line before the water reenters the tank. I am not sure how your tank is set up but you can do either hang on or in line. I have a 9 watt turbo twist and it seems to work good. Correct me if I am wrong anybody but the way I understand UV sterilizers is with ich and other parasites it screws up the reproductive cycle so that they cannot reproduce. It does not necessarily kill them when they pass through it. Now the flow rate will determine what effect the UV has. There are different flow rates for targeting different things.

richie822 · 02-16-2007, 03:22 AM

for filtration in my tank, i have 46 pounds live rock, aqua c remora, and a rena canister filter. wuold i be able to hook it on to the canister? My tubing is attached very tightly with clips to the canister filter and seems impossbile to detach it whitout breaking it. what does a hang on uv sterilizer look like and where do you attach it? does it attach like a skimmer hang on? does it take up room inside the main display tank or just on the outside where it hangs? what is more efficient for my set-up?

Pinderville · 02-16-2007, 04:32 AM

Any opinions on the HOB uv sterilizers?

Loverotties · 02-16-2007, 06:04 AM

HOB work the same as inline.They don't go into the tank,just the water flows in.As to the canister ,I would put it after the canister.Cut the hose and put it inline.A easyer way to put the hoses on when real tite ,is to soak the hose in boiling water and then put it on right away.

reefermike1 · 02-16-2007, 08:09 AM

ive seen small submersible all in one uv sterilizers. cant remember where but check out www.marinedepot.com. pump and uv all in one, kinda looked like a powerhead. might be better for your tank. im looking into the turbo twist myself, but its not the highest priority

Geoff · 02-16-2007, 09:41 AM

i feel UV sterilizers are about useless on a reef tank, if used as a filtering device. the amount of water that goes through one is way to low to have any impact on the populations of any unwanted parasite. there is also the problem of the parasite actually has to go into the UV to be killed.

i think putting a UV sterilizer on the water inlet side of a skimmer on the other hand can be very helpfull. this way algae and other organics that are broken down by the UV light are immediately removed by the skimmer.

i feel there are other things to spend money on on a reef tank than a UV sterilizer. in order to get one that will do any good you will be looking at spending at least $300. UV sterilizers are a lot like a good skimmer. there are cheaper ones out there, but they will not really do the job. their ports are way to small to be run properly.

G~