i have read a lot about that and i think Redox is what it is called and i believe it is a myth.
Ray Keepers--- DO YOU RUN A UV on your tank--and why?
- Thread starter keepinfish
- Start date
i have read a lot about that and i think Redox is what it is called and i believe it is a myth.
How can you say it is a myth when if we as humans are not ever exposed to bacteria, virus or pathogens then are exposed to it suddenly it can decimate whole populations. Ie: smallpox to the native American Indians.
Do you you think that an animal kept in a sterile environment then suddenly exosed to a bacteria would not get sick?
[7] The use of Ultraviolet Sterilizers will NOT lower fish immunity, in fact from my many controlled studies, the opposite is true. Although the exact mode is theoretical, evidence points towards improved Aquarium Redox being at least part of the reason.
See also this article: “Fish Immune System and UV Sterilization”
Here are few things UV Sterilization will NOT do:
[1] UV sterilization will not cure infected fish of bacterial or fungal diseases. A UV can aid in cure by killing bacterial pathogens in the water column and fungal spores, also by improvement of the Redox potential (which is much more important than many realize based on scientific research) and general water quality.
[2] A UV sterilizer will not kill ich trophozoites already on the fish (but then medications don't either), but UVC can again slow the spread of ich tomites in the water column (but usually not out right kill ich tomites). However by water quality improvement (such as Redox Potential) and lowering of pathogenic bacteria, the fish has more natural resistance to fight Marine Cryptocaryon or FW Ich.
[3] A UV sterilizer will not kill beneficial bacteria such aerobic bacteria, as this bacterium is effective when attached to a surface of high water flow such as the sponge of a sponge filter, not when in the water column. In fact relatively new scientific evidence shows nitrifying bacteria to be sticky and adheres to the surfaces like glue this is why the myth of UV Sterilizers killing beneficial bacteria is just that, a myth. It still may be best to turn off a Sterilizer unit when introducing bacteria in liquid form to seed a new aquarium.
[4] UV Sterilization will not remove or destroy algae growing on tank or pond sides, rocks, decorations, etc. However UV Sterilization can aid in the spread of certain algae that utilize spores as part of their mode of spread/replication.
Certain problem algae such as hair algae; most of the time hair algae comes attached to the plant that was purchased, or it may come in attached to the shells of snails or similar transferred rocks, etc. Unfortunately for this type of algae, you find little aid from a UV Sterilizer.
See: Aquarium or Pond Algae
[5] UV Sterilization will NOT kill off copepods and other small life forms in a Reef or Nano Reef Aquarium.
This is one of the more laughable myths about the use of UV Sterilizers in reef aquariums as these copepods live at or near the bottom of live rock piles (making a pile with small pieces is best for copepods), they are not active in the water column. If properly installed, the UV should have at least a fine pore sponge filter media as a pre-filter, which will further stop the “ingestion” of these and other minute life forms (the UV benefits as well by being more efficient).
What is interesting about this myth is that many who spread this misinformation use filters such as the Ocean Clear Micron Filters systems (which are excellent micron filters), these filters will filter out any copepods that get caught up in the water column and “sucked” into the filter. As well even “pods” that do manage to find their way into the UV Sterilizer are rarely killed due to size as the typical flow rate of 20+ gph is not low enough to kill them (you would need at least 10 gph per watt, which I do recommend running a UV Sterilizer at flow rate of under 10 gph per watt for this reason).
The bottom line here is that I have maintained MANY Reef aquariums with UVs with growing copepods, anemone and other creature populations. Honestly this is one of the worst urban myths in the aquarium hobby about UVs (mostly spread on the internet in misinformed forums which never conduct or read scientific evidence to back up these absurd statements). The only truth to these statements is that UV Sterilizers can destroy some microscopic food sources needed by some of these organisms (usually planktonic algae, although timers that turn the UV on during certain hours is an easy remedy for this possible problem).
For more on this myth/controversy, please see this article:
More UV Sterilizer Questions/Myths Answered
[6] UV Sterilization NOT remove minerals from aquarium water, however UVC Sterilization will also aid in the removal of oil based (carbon based) pollutants.
[7] The use of Ultraviolet Sterilizers will NOT lower fish immunity, in fact from my many controlled studies, the opposite is true. Although the exact mode is theoretical, evidence points towards improved Aquarium Redox being at least part of the reason.
See also this article: “Fish Immune System and UV Sterilization”
[8] UV Sterilization will NOT make up for poor aquarium maintenance practices such as over crowding, over feeding, inadequate filtration, poor cleaning practices, improper water parameters, and more.
This point is likely the cause for anecdotal statements that fish coming from tanks that had UV Sterilization, then are placed in a tank without an Ultraviolet Sterilizer resulting in “losses” may be dealing with (besides the above point of improved immunity, which will be lowered after transfer). Often an aquarist (I have also performed this as well for studies) will rely too much on the Sterilizer/Clarifier for water quality, clarity, etc., as a UV Sterilizer will often keep a tank clear and healthy in appearance even when correct water changes, mineralization, etc. are not performed. For this reason the fish may not be has healthy as they should since a Sterilizer should NEVER be relied on as a replacement for good aquarium maintenance practices. Along this same line of thought, often aquariums maintained this way will have low KH and falling pH which can result in osmotic shock and even death when transferred.
[9] UV Sterilization is only useful for water clarification; This myth is unfortunately perpetuated by the tidal wave of low cost UV Sterilizers from companies such as Submariner, Green Killing Machine and more.
What happens is users (often based on non-scientific reviews on Amazon or aquatic forums) will purchase these and find reasonable clarification results (even then not always), but find no improvement in Redox Balance, Fish, & overall aquarium health. These persons will then write about this anecdotal observation in forums, further reviews, Yahoo Answers, etc further perpetuating this myth.
Hopefully any reader has already figured out the lack of scientific truth to this myth after reading this far in this article.
See Also: Green Killing Machine, Submariner Review These are best for water clarification ONLY.
[10] UVC Light energy will not penetrate a plastic or pvc shell of a UV Sterilizer; even a clear or transparent plastic viewing window, hose barb or similar does not allow the passage of UVC light energy. All you are seeing is blue light.
This is why quartz is used for the sleeve versus plain glass as even "plain glass" blocks the majority of UVC light energy!
here is the website where i read this info
http://www.americanaquariumproducts.com/AquariumUVSterilization.html
i think IF this is true, then i shouldn't be worried.... i should be worried if my rays are sick and maybe with UV they will be more healthy, since i am not planning on moving them to anyone else tank but keeping them in a sterile environment in my tank, they why should i care???
I run a 58 watt high out put unit on my 650 ..And to put it simply with any animal if you are and stay clean you do not get sick as often the same goes for your envirnment if you work eat sleep in pestulence chances are not only will you get sick more often but probably you will have an episode where you could die same goe's ya know .....Clean Clean clean!!!!!!And Uv's are a big part in this big picture so to speak.....
Didnt mean to get you worked up Keepin. 
I just dont believe in sterile environments unless in labs or surgical rooms. I believe that for an organism to build up an immunity that it must be exposed to the bad. Just as in the wild, a ray may live with a parasite its whole life but never show any ill effects, put it in a stressed environment and then it takes hold and the ray become ill.
I would go on with how I believe but then I would be moving into natural selection, genetic mutation and such and that never ends up well for a thread.
I just dont believe in sterile environments unless in labs or surgical rooms. I believe that for an organism to build up an immunity that it must be exposed to the bad. Just as in the wild, a ray may live with a parasite its whole life but never show any ill effects, put it in a stressed environment and then it takes hold and the ray become ill.I would go on with how I believe but then I would be moving into natural selection, genetic mutation and such and that never ends up well for a thread.
Didnt mean to get you worked up Keepin.
I would go on with how I believe but then I would be moving into natural selection, genetic mutation and such and that never ends up well for a thread.
You didn't no worries.... lol
Its great to learn and see both sides!
i was thinking the same thing, and after a little reading it does not seem to be true.. But who knows...
Yea lets not get into the Natural selection...etc, it wont go well here, cause i will fight the other side
Note my location...ha ha
I'm no expert but I just don't think adding a UV makes a sterile environment.
Comparing the artificial man-made environment in our small tanks is no comparison to what goes on in the wild. Maybe bacteria that rays are exposed to are minimized by foods they eat in the wild. Maybe wild temperature fluctuations help them fight bacteria. We cannot recreate their total environment, so if I can prevent harmful bacteria in my tiny box of water with a UV I will.
Cost shouldn't even be a consideration - if you spend so much on your entire system why not have the extra protection? My Aqua UV 25w cost under $300 a small price to pay in the grand scheme of things.
Comparing the artificial man-made environment in our small tanks is no comparison to what goes on in the wild. Maybe bacteria that rays are exposed to are minimized by foods they eat in the wild. Maybe wild temperature fluctuations help them fight bacteria. We cannot recreate their total environment, so if I can prevent harmful bacteria in my tiny box of water with a UV I will.
Cost shouldn't even be a consideration - if you spend so much on your entire system why not have the extra protection? My Aqua UV 25w cost under $300 a small price to pay in the grand scheme of things.
