Aquarium UV Sterilizers? Good or Bad?

[bigspizz]

I just stated my 2 cents....I have read it, no I will not dig it up.




Is U.V. "bad"...No...
Is U.V. "good"...yes...
Do I use U.V....No.


Hope that reads easier.

 

[raymondk]

hate uv sterilizer killed my pet oscare pissed me off will never use one again

 

[Toby_H]

hate uv sterilizer killed my pet oscare pissed me off will never use one again

There is no way possible for a properly used UV light to kill a fish...

While it's your choice to use or not use UV lights... You shouldn't discredit a product based on user error...

 

[bigspizz]

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…

My post was not directed at you. We were typing at the same time. But I see no facts at all, which side should cease to exist?


Not much "science" has been done on our hobby. Most of the facts, come from us. Stop telling people not to post their opinion, it is a public forum...........

 

[Toby_H]

Not much "science" has been done on our hobby. Most of the facts, come from us. Stop telling people not to post their opinion, it is a public forum...........

Opinions based on speculation without the support of fact nor experience are completely worthelss and only mislead people...

I guess you're right, this is a public forum and if you wish to mislead people with speculation unfortunately you have that right...

There is no fact... nor evidence... whatsoever that suggests UV lights will in anyway interupt the proper development of a healthy immune system... there is only speculation...

I shared an experience... which I have had several times... where fish were raised with UV lights and were perfectly healthy adults and lived fine without UV lights and were able to fend off parasitic infections...

You can claim experience doesn't have value if you wish... as you have the right to be wrong :-D

And please do not take this personally... I'm not "attacking" you... I'm attacking the spreading of speculation which misleads people... People come here for education, not being mislead...

 

[bigspizz]

Opinions based on speculation without the support of fact nor experience are completely worthelss and only mislead people...

I guess you're right, this is a public forum and if you wish to mislead people with speculation unfortunately you have that right...

There is no fact... nor evidence... whatsoever that suggests UV lights will in anyway interupt the proper development of a healthy immune system... there is only speculation...

I shared an experience... which I have had several times... where fish were raised with UV lights and were perfectly healthy adults and lived fine without UV lights and were able to fend off parasitic infections...

You can claim experience doesn't have value if you wish... as you have the right to be wrong :-D

And please do not take this personally... I'm not "attacking" you... I'm attacking the spreading of speculation which misleads people... People come here for education, not being mislead...

Never felt "attacked". You are right, experience is paramount. I typed "weakens immune system" into the search, and found wise posts from Harleyk, as well as Beblonde....U.V. masks problems, not fixes them...They cost money to run, and usually require a separate pump to run. Just another over-complication of the hobby...I speak only from freshwater experience...Salt tanks NEED U.V. it seems, and good for them.

 

[CapitalGT]

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…

This is all very exciting and interesting to hear!!!! So UV lights prevent parasitic outbreaks and the whole weaken immune system is a bunch of bologna. But one thing I'm still pondering about is the fact that UV lights killing bacteria. Does it also kill the "good" bacteria, the kind that helps cycle and stabilize your tank?

 

[pacu mom]

This is all very exciting and interesting to hear!!!! So UV lights prevent parasitic outbreaks and the whole weaken immune system is a bunch of bologna. But one thing I'm still pondering about is the fact that UV lights killing bacteria. Does it also kill the "good" bacteria, the kind that helps cycle and stabilize your tank?

The heaviest concentration of beneficial bacteria is in the filtration media, not in the tank water....so they are not getting zapped by the UV light as the water passes through the UV sterilizer.

 

[Lupin]

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

Protective barriers against infection

1.Mucus (slime coat) is a physical barrier which inhibits entry of disease organisms from the environment into the fish. It is also a chemical barrier because it contains enzymes (lysozymes) and antibodies (immunoglobulins) which can kill invading organisms. Mucus also lubricates the fish which aids movement through the water, and it is also important for osmoregulation.

2.Scales and skin function as a physical barrier which protects the fish against injury. When these are damaged, a window is opened for bacteria and other organisms to start an infection.

3.Inflammation (nonspecific cellular response) is a cellular response to an invading protein. An invading protein can be a bacteria, a virus, a parasite, fungus, or a toxin. Inflammation is characterized by pain, swelling, redness, heat, and loss of function. It is a protective response and is an attempt by the body to wall off and destroy the invader.

4.Antibodies (specific cellular response) are molecules specifically formed to fight invading proteins or organisms. The first time the fish is exposed to an invader, antibodies are formed which will protect the fish from future infection by the same organism. Exposure to sublethal concentrations of pathogens is extremely important for a fish to develop a competent immune system. An animal raised in a sterile environment will have little protection from disease. Young animals do not have an immune response which works as efficiently as the immune response in older animals and therefore, may be susceptible to disease.

 

[pacu mom]

UV sterilizers do not change the tank into a sterile environment. They just reduce the number of microorganisms in the water. Since the tank is not "sterile", I guess we don't have to worry about compromised immune systems in our fish!

I used to worry about my fishes' cuts and scrapes getting infected, but I don't any more. If a UV sterilizer is reducing the amount of pathogenic microorganisms in the water, it's a good thing for my fish. In any case, we need our UV sterilizer to keep the green water at bay.