UV sterilizers?.

[Eupterus]

Reduce some bacteria I assume unless one does a one hundred percent water change.
It doesn't the address mystery issues from my last thread since I did plenty of extra water changes. Whether the bacteria should or shouldn't be there is a moot point if the fish die of mystery diseases. There is either an excessive amount of bacteria from an unknown source or my older fish are too weak to fight diseases anymore. That was the most upsetting part, I want my synos to die peacefully, not of a mystery disease like this. So far it seems like the UV sterilizer is going to be a good idea.

 

[Jc1119]

Reduce bacteria I assume unless one does a one percent water change. So far no good reason not to use UV sterilizer.

The point here is unless you get the flow rate just right and keep your quartz clean all the time uv does the same thing. It only reduces the harmful bacteria in the water column and it is not cheap to buy uv that is up to the task. Targeting specific bacteria in a tank is not easy either.

And you're still missing the bigger picture. Harmful bacteria should not be in your tank to begin with. If you qt your stock and do regular water changes and perform routine maintenance, you won't have harmful bacteria to have to deal with in the first place. Husbandry should be enough to keep most illnesses in check if you know your stock is healthy. Not saying you can't do it, just that it seems like a bandaid for something that shouldn't be there to begin with.

Ultimately, its your money and fish....to each his own


edit: saw your edit. I suppose it couldn't hurt since you already have a situation going on. I didn't realize you already had a problem. My bad. It might be worth a shot if all else has failed. Sorry to hear. I know how frustrating it can be.

 

[joe jaskot]

Eupterus, I recall reading your previous threads on your synodontis. Your fish were losing their barbels. I replied that was bacterial related. In your next thread you stated your catfish was skinny, and you were trying to nurse it back to health. You say your water quality is good and the water tests fine. Something is not right, and I don't believe a UV sterilizer is going to fix it. Either your fish were diseased when you bought them (sunken belly usually caused by internal parasites) or your water quality is not to the fish's liking. Sorry I can't be of more help, but a UV is not a magic bullet.

 

[swedeboy78]

I once had an 18 watt on my 125 for water clarification on my ray tank. Worked unbelievably well, wasn't used for bacteria as I had none. I always changed 50% of the water every 2 weeks but couldn't get the water clear from the frozen foods...until the UV and Voila`!

 

[calgaryflames]

That's what the catfish forum said too and my synodontis got sick despite good filtration and good water quality.

if your fish are sick your filteration and water are not good.those are very hardy species of catfish your keeping .

 

[Eupterus]

I once had an 18 watt on my 125 for water clarification on my ray tank. Worked unbelievably well, wasn't used for bacteria as I had none. I always changed 50% of the water every 2 weeks but couldn't get the water clear from the frozen foods...until the UV and Voila`!

Frozen foods were making the water cloudy?.

 

[Eupterus]

Eupterus, I recall reading your previous threads on your synodontis. Your fish were losing their barbels. I replied that was bacterial related. In your next thread you stated your catfish was skinny, and you were trying to nurse it back to health. You say your water quality is good and the water tests fine. Something is not right, and I don't believe a UV sterilizer is going to fix it. Either your fish were diseased when you bought them (sunken belly usually caused by internal parasites) or your water quality is not to the fish's liking. Sorry I can't be of more help, but a UV is not a magic bullet.

Yep, that is why I am considering UV sterilizer to kill bacteria. I want to prevent this from happening again.