do you guys run uv sterilizers(spelling)

[Big Stu]

hey i just wanted to know if anyone runs these on there tank
i was told today that if i run one for around 48 hours a week it would prevent whitespot and othe harmful crap

any feedback would be great

thanks

 

[dookie]

I run a UV, but i would not suggest to turn it on and off. An ounce of prevention is worth more than a pound of cure, but I can't see how it can prevent anything if it's only on 20% of the time. Also most people do not know how important it is to clean the quartz sleeve every two months or so. The slime build-up can reduce effectiveness tremendously. Moreover, the on/off action can greatly diminish the bulb life.