Ray Keepers--- DO YOU RUN A UV on your tank--and why?

[sponger_2]

i run an aqua uv 15 watt one. i got it for cheap. not sure if it helps at all. its on a 225, and yet i still have algae in the tank. Although it is next to a window.

 

[cjfrontlovr]

yes on all large tanks

 

[MonsterMinis]

Nope, but they arent in their final tank either. ill prolly drop the money for their final tank to have one just for peace of mind.

 

[Kwazy]

same here. If you ever get trouble with "old tank syndrome" or just ammonia in general I've found it helps to turn it off because it can kill nitrifying bacteria floating around.

 

[DB junkie]

yes on all large tanks

Can you share what sizes?

I'm not against them by any means, I'm just against the pricetag. It makes me sad. lol. Can't say I've heard anything but good things about them, so I imagine I'll be looking into one, or 4.

 

[DavidW]

the thing about UV sterilizers is that you don't really need one...until you really need one...but of course by then it is usually too late because you didn't have one installed.

 

[scott s]

Oh yes I run one now. Since I moved into my new place, we have had a water softner. My water has been cloudy ever since. It has drove me absolutely CRAZY!!!! No matter how much water I changed, next day cloudy again! Two days ago I put on a pond filter with a 19W UV bulb built in. Two days later, the water is crystal clear. Placed it between my return pump and the tank, works great!

 

[DB junkie]

the thing about UV sterilizers is that you don't really need one...until you really need one...but of course by then it is usually too late because you didn't have one installed.

Just like those balloons sold in rest rooms.........

And if they just made each a little cheaper maybe, just maybe we'd all use them.

 

[peterp63]

Oh yes I run one now. Since I moved into my new place, we have had a water softner. My water has been cloudy ever since. It has drove me absolutely CRAZY!!!! No matter how much water I changed, next day cloudy again! Two days ago I put on a pond filter with a 19W UV bulb built in. Two days later, the water is crystal clear. Placed it between my return pump and the tank, works great!

Sounds like your water is cloudy due to a bacteria bloom from a lack of nitrifying bacteria within your new filtration. The bacteria is there because your nitrogen (ammonia, nitrates) are high enough to sustain the bacteria in your filters AND the bacteria in the water column. The UV filter is killing the free floating bacteria, but I'm not sure if that'll be helpful to you in the long run.... just be careful and check your params to be sure - especially NH4.

 

[ShadowStryder]

OK, say you guys convince me to use one. What size wattage wise and gph running through it should I use for 440g of water volume.