UV Sterilizer, Yea or Nay?

I could give you about a thousand dollars worth. How's that?

Jeffrey, do a search under Spanky and sterilizers or UV and tell me what you think.

What do you want a UV to do for you?

Plug it back in dude

I wouldn't use it unless you have parasitic problems or bad algae blooms(even then it may not be justified). UV kills the good with the bad. If it's for parasitic reasons, run in two week intervals. Use snails fish etc to control the algae.

I'd vote to keep it on a cycle. I'd probably say every two days with the rate that bacteria grows, that should be adequate.

Gotta side with Toadfish on this one if you want my opinion on this subject simply due to the fact that you will kill benefical bacteria as well as the bad ones. I dont run one in my tanks but then again, I have never had a problem with parasites or algae. But understand this is just my opinion......what works for me might not work for you or anyone else for that matter.

i would think if it is built in to the tank loop ( filtration) i would leave it alone .. maybe turn off the uv light . if you leave it there then if you ever have a problem you could just turn the light back on. killing all the bacteria is good and bad! if you have a para problem then it is worth the risk or there is any.

just my dimes worth.

Our tanks have 100's of times more bacteria that natural sea water. This is not a good thing. There's no way even a giant UV could lower bacteria levels far enough to be damaging, IMO.

I use UV, and I highly recommend them.

alright thanks greg, I guess time to wipe the dust off it

There's so much mis-information out there about UV's, well just say it's right up there with DSB's.

Travis, you didn't answer my question. What do you want it to do? Give me an idea and I'll try to help you get there.

well i hear it is good for keeping water clear. How I dont know. Dont think my fish really need it, just got one royal gramma and 2 clarkii clown's and they have been through hell with the making of my reef, dont think they will get ICK, but who knows? I guess my question to you is, what do YOU use it for?

My main reason is water quality and keeping things more in line with actual reef water. Organics, bacteria get really skewed in a closed system and I keep only SPS types.

A side benefit, is that I don't have to quarantine and treat for parasites, bacterial, fungal, etc infections. Anything transferable through the water column.

BTW: Jerel's UV dims the street lights on his block,,,,

Im adding one to my 20.

Spanky said:

My main reason is water quality and keeping things more in line with actual reef water. Organics, bacteria get really skewed in a closed system and I keep only SPS types.

A side benefit, is that I don't have to quarantine and treat for parasites, bacterial, fungal, etc infections. Anything transferable through the water column.

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And don't forget that phosphate (I promised myself I wouldn't mention that again after you chewed me out the last time ).
Steve

What in this world? Do you have rockets on that car??

I don't remember letting you have it for phosphates?? LOL

Over on RC when I made the comment that you had said UV would help break down phosphate .

No rockets yet, just a focus and determination to leave the madning crowds. BTW, no one honked at me the whole way out of Florida on the way back:dance: .
Thanks again for the hospitatality.
Steve

UV will get rid of phosphate?

Will it? I'm interested now! :funny:

Spanky!!! You have some splainin to do.