To begin with, I have no reason to believe I have any issues with ICH. I have added a hang-on-back filter with uv sterilization to supplement my sump. Will this help to control any free swimming pathogens/protozoans and help prevent any infestations in the future?
UV sterilizer
- Thread starter Yohanon
- Start date
Agree with the above, if the flow is too fast through the UV, those pathogens will be un-affected. To achieve pathogenic kill, the pathogens must be hit by enough UV to do damage on a cellular level.
And protozoans are often harder to kill than some bacteria, requiring a very slow flow.
It is often best to put the UV on a separate teed off line, with a controlled low flow to keep detention time high to be useful.
And protozoans are often harder to kill than some bacteria, requiring a very slow flow.
It is often best to put the UV on a separate teed off line, with a controlled low flow to keep detention time high to be useful.
You'll need good clean water (not turbid), a well designed UV filter, maintenance to replace the bulb when it's too weak, an adequate water flow, and adequate exposure time.
Given those things, it's certainly a valuable tool to help you manage water quality. Add that to good quarantine procedures and I think it's a big win.
Given those things, it's certainly a valuable tool to help you manage water quality. Add that to good quarantine procedures and I think it's a big win.
In addition to what's been said already.....UV needs to be sized for the tank. I priced this out for my 540, and after considering exposure time, flow rate through the UV chamber, and a moderate turnover per hour......I was gonna need a pretty big UV.
These small. intro level UV kits they sell....I can't see how most of them help much. If they're big and sized right for the tank....UV is awesome.
These small. intro level UV kits they sell....I can't see how most of them help much. If they're big and sized right for the tank....UV is awesome.