uv sterilzer ??

[Rus]

i'm thinking of running a uv on our 150 gal reef , my reasons for this is i'm trying to eliminate as much problems as i can from our water , as i'm trying to make a successful mixed reef ,softies and sps.with still a lrger amount of fish [ 10 -12 ] i'm running what i feel is well efficient enough for skimming with a modified bullet 3 . as well as setting up a old fluval cannister which will be filled with carbon that to start with i plan on running 24/7. any ideas on this ? i know some people swear by these methods and others don't . i've seen very succesful reefs both ways . looking for any thoughts or ideas on this , either for or against.


thanks -Russ

[JennM]

I'd only run the Fluval occasionally, lest it go "biological".

UV-- lots of opinions on this one, I don't tend to push UV on reefs or home systems in general. I run them on my commercial systems - high volume, high-stress, high-risk of parasite infestation.

I have customers who swear by them to keep nuisance algae to a minimum, and I suppose to that end they work well.

If you're using it for parasite control, I'd suggest fixing what causes the parasites, not just cleaning up after them.

Jenn

[Rus]

thanks for the reply , i plan on not actually running fluval as it is , i'm planning on filling the entire cannister with carbon and feeding via a tee from my return pump and having the return from the cannister go back into the sump the only reason for using this is i had one around and it sves me making an acrylic container for holding carbon . as far as uv goes , i have zero problems now as far as parisites but i'm just thinking of staying ahead a little as well as i'veread good and bad about it helping keep everything as far as water crystal clean , do you feel the negative out wigh the positives [ taking too much out of the water ] ?

[JennM]

Your best defense against parasites in your main display are:

1) Beginning with the healthiest specimens possible from a reputable dealer.

2) Quarantining new aquisitions (almost nobody does this, but it is a sensible thing to do)

3) Excellent water quality (nothing else matters if the water isn't as good as it can be)

4) Low-Stress environment (choosing tank-mates carefully and watching for conflicts)

HTH

Jenn

[Reefdude5]

Like usual, I agree with Jenn, try to eliminate the need for it instead of using it. I have a uv, but after learning more about them, i'm not using it, but if I ever do have a parasitic outbreak, i'll have it on hand.

[Imaexpat2]

So what would ones best move be if you do have a breakout of some type of parasite? I have herd that most medications are not good for reef tanks. Would I be better off pulling the fish out and tossing them in a Q-T and medicate or run a U/V stystem? Obviously an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, but sooner or later I would imagine you would have to eventually face this nightmare... I am asking cuase I am still kinda new at this reef thing.

[Casey]

I would never use medicine in a reeftank always yank the fish and put him in quarantine for treatment and try to keep all water qualities up and temp stable.

[Rus]

casey, do you feel there is no benefit other than ridding disease to the uv's . i seem to notice varying opions ? some swear by them some don't ?

[Casey]

I dont think they make that much of a difference except for the free swimming stage of ich and then you have to hope the ich actually goes through the uv I sure they miss alot of the cysts.

[Rus]

casey, you have a mixed soft and sps tank i believe , do you run carbon , if not do you have any other spefic things you do to combat any chemical warfare in your tank other than water changes ?


-thanks - Russ

[Casey]

I run carbon every now and then to just help clear up the water.I have to move corals around alot to stop the fighting

[brifirst]

I started using a UV to fight ich. One day the ich started coming back, I checked the UV, the bulb was broken.I got a new bulb and the ich started to go away.
What are the drawbacks of keeping a UV on 24/7????