Running UV for Reef Tank?
 

How many of you are running UV for your reef tank? Will this kills the bad and also the good bacteria in the tank? What is the + and -? Please advise. Thanks.

I run UV. I have a powder blue tang so it's cheap insurance. It doesn't seem to do any harm but keeps parasites under control.

Garrick.

Sounds great, Garrick.

Is there any harm to coral and SPS? Any one who is running UV, please comment.

I haven't noticed any harm....

Garrick.

reply
 

I had one running for a while on my 65 gallon tank. It was an 18 watt sterilizer rated for up to 250 gallons. I bought it to help control diatoms, and in my all out assult I also upgraded my skimmer, added a kick *** cleaner crew, including a very fat now, lawnmower blennie. As well as cut my bioload in half. Needless to say I can't rightfully say what finally got the diatoms under control. The UV probably helped, but then so did everything else.

I haven't used the sterilizer for several months now, and the green hair algae is still at bay. If you are debating one for water quality, I'd save your money for a skimmer upgrade. If you want it for "insurance" like guysmiley then I can't really say one way or another. The only thing I can say about UV and bacteria, is that the bulk of bacteria, good or bad, live in the rocks, not the water column. So I think UV will have a minimal effect of the bacterial populations in a tank.

Thank you for you information.

With ick magnets like Powder Blue tangs, I've been unable to keep them unless I had a strong UV going. It keeps the ick at bay IME.