Aquarium UV Sterilizers? Good or Bad?

[aquatic_wonders]

I run Uv but not the whole day and when my tank is cloudy it helps.

 

[bigspizz]

once you know your stock and filtration its not that hard to know when your tanks need waterchanges without testing..


as for UVs.... all depends on what you are trying to do with them..

There is NO way to know your params without testing....



I have read that U.V. weakens a fish' immune system. Has nothing to do with "not knowing how to set one up"...



Some of the best keepers use them, some of the best keepers never would...Again, to each their own.

 

[bigspizz]

It's like a stick-shift vs automatic...Both can have their ups and downs, but it is a preferential choice. Changing, and testing is a stick-shift, U.V. is automatic.

 

[Lupin]

I have read that U.V. weakens a fish' immune system. Has nothing to do with "not knowing how to set one up"...

Hmmm....Interesting. Do you have the reference where this was mentioned?

 

[MonsterMinis]

I went with indecisive. Personally I've never used one. I've never had the "need" to use them. I know many saltwater enthusiest that swear by UV.. and maintained a few at different LFS I've worked at. But I could never really justify the expense, or the use. I have not seen any hard evidence one way or the other that UV sterilizers kill only the "bad" things in tanks. I see the obviouse use in any LFS or wholesellers system set-up. many fish comeing and going, bacteria/parasites ect much more of a potential problem. TBH i'de likely use one on a Feeder tank before I would one of my main tanks. The obviouse benefits outweigh the "questionable" risks in that situation. Do I think UV systems are bad? No, i don't. Do i think they are neccisary? No, I don't.

EDIT: and theoretically I can see how it could lower the immune systems of Fish, it's like living in a bubble. once you leave it.. you have no immune system to said outside intruders. and you can very easily become suseptable to disease. I've not seen any scientific studies to either back this up or disput this theory. Particularly if the fish where bred under UV conditions and maintained in these conditions. then tossed into a "non" UV system...

 

[pacu mom]

With floor to ceiling picture windows and two skylights in the living room, our tank quickly developed a green water problem. No amount of water changes could correct the problem.

Adding a 40 Watt UV sterilizer quickly cleared up the green water

I don't even freak out any more when our fish get cut and scraped up from slamming into the tank lids. Their minor injuries heal very quickly. We are in the process of upgrading to a large tank/fishroom where the light hitting the tank will be controlled. Even with less light on the tank, a UV sterilizer will still definitely be part of the equipment.

 

[Lupin]

EDIT: and theoretically I can see how it could lower the immune systems of Fish, it's like living in a bubble. once you leave it.. you have no immune system to said outside intruders. and you can very easily become suseptable to disease. I've not seen any scientific studies to either back this up or disput this theory. Particularly if the fish where bred under UV conditions and maintained in these conditions. then tossed into a "non" UV system...

Yes, I've heard this theory before a few times however I still asked for the reference whether a scientific abstract or a blog that simply creates theories which may either be open or close minded. I would not mind reading either of the two.

 

[ajbassmaster]

I recently acquired some small peacock bass, everyone knows how easily they contract ich, mine were no different and I was using good medicine and the ich would temporarly go away but always came back, I decided to get a UV powerhead 9w for $40 and I have never had anymore problems with ich in that tank. Some people will think I didn't try other aspects such as raising the temp and adding salt but I tried these and they didn't work, and yes I do keep up with weekly water changes.

I would be interested in testing if a UV is harmful to a fish's immune system. I may experiment myself and post back later. Any ideas of a experiment?

 

[dwilder]

imo on an open system with numerous tanks connected together they are a must keeps one tank from infecting another for a single tank imo not really needed it does stop green water so if you have a problem with that its nice and does cut down on the level of other parasites etc in the water but does nothing for what the fish themselves carry and in close contact if the immune system of the fish allows it then a disease will spread through the tank regardless of the uv

 

[Toby_H]

The theory that UV lights in weaken a fish’s immune system is 100% myth…
　
　
Young Blue Dempseys are well known to commonly contract internal parasites… I’ve raised a number of young Blue Dempseys in tanks with UV lights… then moved them to tanks without UV lights as adults. I have a Blue x Blue pair of adult Blue Dempseys which were raised with UV lights and never contracted parasitic infections… then got ick as adults and overcame it simply by raising the temperature a few degrees.
　
If anyone has any evidence to the contrary please present it, in the meantime please stop propagating speculative myths supported only by rumors… Such myths help no one…
　
　
As for fish ‘already infected’…
　
Raising the temperature increases the parasites metabolism (as well as the fish’s) which makes the parasite go through it’s already short life span faster. The vast majority of parasites (including ick) have a water born reproducing process. While the UV light will not kill the parasite on/in the fish… it will stop the parasite from reproducing…
　
This is how a UV light WILL help stop an active parasitic outbreak…
　
　
Asking questions is a great way to learn… spreading speculation is a great way to prevent yourself and others from learning…