Aquarium UV Sterilizers? Good or Bad?

[CapitalGT]

I found this funny video on youtube, The "Green Killing Machine" UV sterilizer. I guess it's a European product but man, the spokesperson is HILARIOUS! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qdViKCMMFuY&feature=player_embedded

Oh yeah, not trying to derail but the oscars in the video look amazing BTW.

 

[tcarswell]

Lets see some more facts / studies

EDIT we posted at the same time. The green killing machine is hooked up at my moms house she has a 9 watt on her 46 gallon bowfront it stopped her green water dead and her fish don't run in to outbreaks nearly as much as they used to. Nothing like driving 20 minutes just to add salt and adjust a heater for her lol...

 

[bigspizz]

I knew this would come around to a debate about immune systems in correlation to supposedly "sterile" environments by UV systems. I discussed this in another forum where I knew members are able to base it on scientific studies instead of constant rambles without anything else to back up the claims.

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/FA005

Edit: Lupin feel free to PM me....



U.V. Is unnecessary.

 

[bigbillybbs]

My 180g started to have a significant amount of photosynthetic organisms
throughout the tank. I did Constant water changes and scrubbed all the algae off the glass and bog wood once a week. But the algae consistently grew back.
I purchased a 40w and a 15w UV light and installed in my filtration system. Incredibly I cleaned off all the algae in the tank and WALA didn't grow back and 4 months later still no ALGAE

 

[drb]

Theres no down side to UV sterilizers unless you want to grow algae.

 

[mr.reef24]

can't beat the positives to having a UV sterilizer on your setup

mr.reef24

 

[tcarswell]

Edit: Lupin feel free to PM me....



U.V. Is unnecessary.

One hell of a blanket statement your making...

 

[dwilder]

i agree that for a personal aquarium a uv is unnecessary if you maintain good water quality ,use good quality fish that have been quarantined etc.imo this is a true statement under these circumstances are there circumstances were a uv filter is helpful even necessary i think so but imo the average tank does not need it and is an unnecessary expense but i dont think it causes any harm so do what you want

 

[bigspizz]

One hell of a blanket statement your making...

So, dump some science into the thread....(Déjà vous) Worry about what you say, not me man, I am just a dude wasting time, keeping all 30 of my tanks wrong, and my 25+ years of experience, are less equivalent than yourself and a few others in this thread obviously. My fish, tanks, and water look great..................................................

 

[Toby_H]

No one said your experience isn’t valid… we just questioned the speculative conclusions you make on some subjects…
　
Especially when you promote speculative conclusions on subjects you do not have personal experience in but instead base your opinions on he said / she said misinformation…
　
　
UV lights are unnecessary… but they are beneficial…
　
Sand/Gravel is unnecessary… aquarium lights are unnecessary… Bio Media is unnecessary… décor is often unnecessary… elaborate filtration is unnecessary…
　
lots & lots of things we commonly invest in are “unnecessary”. But that’s no reason to push people away from enjoying the benefits they offer…