UV Sterilizers - Recommended?

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
Billy_m24;4447397; said:
check out adding a algee truff scrubber to you tank you can build it for about 40 dollars and it works on salt and fresh water. I just replaced all of my EQ on my reef tank and it has been working great. PH stays were it is suppos to be no nitrates and lost of cocapods here is a link to the site I based mine on http://www.3reef.com/forums/i-made/...eplaces-skimmer-refugium-everythin-51120.html

Intresting but what has that got to go with a UV

UV has no impact on PH nitrie or nitrate so this doesn't even do the same job as a UV so how can you compare the 2
 
I appreciate all the info. I am going to plan on run 2 UVs (40w each) on the system. I also am going to run a pre-UV mechanican filter (20-30 micron size) to pull out any potential particles from the water to increase the UV's efficacy.

I think the algae scrubber was brought up for its water clarity aspect (was mentioned in the thread as another positive to running UV), but I am not certain that was the reason.

Thanks for all the info. I decided to go with the UVs because if I ever decide I do not want to use them I can either just shut off the bulbs or remove from the system. When I am laying out all the plumbing on this system I would rather have everything then try and cut and add something in later....I guess I am just a little anal when it comes to my plumbing....I want it neat, organized and efficient.
 
Just Toby;4446195; said:
You are talking UVA and UVB as the sceintific wavelength, T1 is talking about the different types of UV used in the hobby. UVS being UV Steriliser where the S is steriliser.

The other being C -for Clarifier - mainly killing algae.
I don't know about in other area, but in the US, every aquarium UV can be sterilizer and clarifier. It depend on the water flow rate you put thru the UV
 
That's also not true



A UVS has a thin glass sleave that water pass over the tube no more than 5mm away from the light making sure of a very close contact with the light

A UVC is just s big bucket of water with a normal bulb placed in the middle normally on the top of a pond bucket

You may go out and buy a UVC and think it's doing a great job the same as a UVS and it will look the same in water clarity but it won't be killing parasites due to the UVC not having the close contact with the light like a UVS
 
T1KARMANN;4447297; said:
I will tell you how it rubbish after you tell me how it can damage the imune system

It wont damage their immune system directly. :) But indirectly.

If your UV system is powerfull enough to actually keep the bacterica count very low, the rays immune system will respond accordantly.

If there is very little for the body to fight, then there is no longer any need to produce white blood cells. Now, the body will still produce white bloods cells, but the number pr ml will plomit.

This means that if you introduce a simenly healty fish wich is actually carrying a disease, the rays may be unable to respond fast enough. Its a sad way to lose an expensive fish.

This can also be seen in small scale. Try and move some pleco fry from a tank with UV to a tank without. Expect losses!

Another example of the same bodily response to outside changes can be seen in astronauts who have been in space for a long period of time.

As there is not longer a need for bones to keep you from collapsing, the bones will slowly start to whittle away. The same thing apply to the muscle fibers.

Its fascinating stuff. :)

In short termes, UV should only be used when faced with a parasite or bacteria outbrake.
 
[URL said:
http://aquariumuvsterilizer.blogspot.com/2008/01/fish-immune-and-uv-sterilizers.html[/URL]]It should also be noted that a UV Sterilizer cannot create a sterile environment as it cannot reach all aspects of the aquarium such as gravel, filter media, and the fish internally!
A good read & it's all about the contact time..

andersp90;4448831; said:
In short termes, UV should only be used when faced with a parasite or bacteria outbrake.
Not to be rude but I always believe in the phrase "Prevention is better than Cure" :)
 
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