Pros and Cons to UVfiltration in a Reef tank?

[super7]

I was just wondering what problems might occur in a reef tank while using UV and would running it only at night or day or when needed make the problems go away?

Thanks

[StirCrazy]

I personaly do not think they are any cons. I include UV as a preventitive measure and run it 24/7

Steve

[Delphinus]

What benefit does running the UV provide?

Just curious, has anyone used UV to successfully combat dinos?

Not trying to stir the pot, just curious what specific niche is filled by running a UV that gives a tank an edge over a tank without UV.

[StirCrazy]

UV will kill free floating Algae pretty simplay, a little harder to kill is free floating bacteria and the hardest is parasites. but UV will kill them all if sized properly and you have a slow enough flow rate through the unit.

Is it a cure all, no but it is one more tool we can use to help us.

Steve

[Aquattro]

I've read that UV potentially kills things that corals eat, so for me, UV sounds like a bad thing.

[banditpowdercoat]

Is there a con to using a too large UV? I see they're reted in W, for gallon size, is there any drawback, other than cost, for putting a 18W unit on my 45g tank?

[Samw]

Originally Posted by reef_raf

I've read that UV potentially kills things that corals eat, so for me, UV sounds like a bad thing.

But there's not a significant amount of living food in the water column of a tank to keep a coral that requires feeding alive...meaning this point would be irrelevant as a con.