UV Sterilizers

[jacobfata]

I was recently at the local fish store and the guy working there talked me into buying a UV sterilizer for my 55g discus set up. I know that they eliminate bacteria, but is it doing anything for like the clarity of my water or or helping out in any other ways? I’ve heard others tell me I can do less water changes, which I doubt, and it makes the water clear and so on but I want some professional opinions. So I thought I’d ask you guys what are your comments on UV sterilizers and what is it actually doing to benefit my discus? Any comments would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

 

[duanes]

If your water is cloudy due to free floating algae, UVs can help clear it, if your water gets a bacterial bloom, UVs will eliminate those bacteria that flow thru it.
If detention time in contact with the UV bulb is long enough, it can kill free floating bacteria and even protozoa like ick. Parasites need enough contact time in contact with the bulb to have their organelles scrambled.
If the the flow past the bulb is too fast, those parasites may pass thru un-effected, or only slightly injured, and bounce back.
Any parasites in the substrate or on the fish that do not pass thru the UV unit are not effected either.

 

[jacobfata]

If your water is cloudy due to free floating algae, UVs can help clear it, if your water gets a bacterial bloom, UVs will eliminate those bacteria that flow thru it.
If detention time in contact with the UV bulb is long enough, it can kill free floating bacteria and even protozoa like ick. Parasites need enough contact time in contact with the bulb to have their organelles scrambled.
If the the flow past the bulb is too fast, those parasites may pass thru un-effected, or only slightly injured, and bounce back.
Any parasites in the substrate or on the fish that do not pass thru the UV unit are not effected either.
[/QUOTE ]Thank you for explaining this so well to me.

Thank you for explaining this so world to me.

 

[squint]

Many people believe UV can't kill XYZ because exposure time is too short. All this is based off of studies of single pass drinking water sterilization. UV actually works far better than people expect due to the reciprocity law of photobiology. It's also better to have too high a flow rate than too low.

 

[jacobfata]

Does it help remove toxic waste like ammonia and nitrates from these water that fish produce and all those kinds of waste?

 

[joe jaskot]

UV sterilizers only work if you change the bulb every 6 months. After six months, the bulb may still light up but it no longer functions properly. Here is a good read on uvs: https://www.facebook.com/aqualifeaq...ny-times-and-id-like-to-sh/10153899417634605/

 

[jacobfata]

UV sterilizers only work if you change the bulb every 6 months. After six months, the bulb may still light up but it no longer functions properly. Here is a good read on uvs: https://www.facebook.com/aqualifeaq...ny-times-and-id-like-to-sh/10153899417634605/

See the guy at the pet store never told me anything about a bulb he just told me to clean the filter every so often. I’ll have to look into it then. Thank you.

 

[jacobfata]

Is it at all benefiting my 55 gallon discus set up?

 

[squint]

UV sterilizers only work if you change the bulb every 6 months. After six months, the bulb may still light up but it no longer functions properly. Here is a good read on uvs: https://www.facebook.com/aqualifeaq...ny-times-and-id-like-to-sh/10153899417634605/

It depends on the bulb. The higher quality UV sterilizer manufacturers recommend a change every 18 months or so. If you really want to know, get a UV-C meter.

 

[islandguy11]

Does it help remove toxic waste like ammonia and nitrates from these water that fish produce and all those kinds of waste?

Not at all, from what I understand the UV light in sterilizers only alters the DNA of live organisms, not chemical compounds, so then they can't reproduce and die off. Your UV sterilizer is probably helping to some degree (e.g. maybe with algae control) -- though it would help to know the size (watts) and what type (external or internal) -- but as to whether it's helping to control pathogens depends on a number of factors as Duanes & squint have mentioned above. That said, I frankly I am now admittedly a bit confused, and unsure which train of thought is correct (low flow is better than high or high flow is better than too low???).

Nice looking tank and discus by the way, I like the way it's laid out.