do you use a UV Sterilizer

Ruth · #1 06-19-2006, 04:23 AM

Nope. Don't intend to either.

Denis · #2 06-19-2006, 04:54 AM

Nope, I prefer ozone.

Samw · #3 06-19-2006, 05:16 AM

Yes, it is one of the most important pieces of equipment in my system for keeping difficult corals. I believe it was useful for destroying bacteria and neutralizing toxins that prevented me from keeping Acroporas and Bird's Nest corals in the past. For fish, it was not important. I didn't notice any difference in ick before and after the UV. I had long bouts of ick even after running UV 24/7. In both cases, the ick eventually goes away on its own and fish are fine.

TheReefGeek · #4 06-19-2006, 02:54 PM

Yes I do, and I have run my current tank without it, and with it, and it is my second most favorite piece of equipment after my skimmer.

The benefit I get from it is the huge reduction of slime algae. I have to clean coralline off my glass before I have to clean green slime algae.

My front glass magnet cleaning went from every couple days, to every couple weeks to keep it algae-free.

muck · #5 06-19-2006, 03:01 PM

Samw · #6 06-29-2006, 06:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Samw

For fish, it was not important. I didn't notice any difference in ick before and after the UV. I had long bouts of ick even after running UV 24/7. In both cases, the ick eventually goes away on its own and fish are fine.

WRT Ick. I'm sure UV can help. But I think it didn't help for me because my sterilizer is only 9W. I think for ick, higher powered sterilizers might be better.

Puff · #7 06-29-2006, 06:52 PM

where should the sterilizer be located? near the sump? or up by the tank?
griffen hooked me up with one yesterday that he wasnt going to use...im not too sure where to put it.lol. or if i should use it or not.

i read that it zaps both bad and GOOD bacteria...so im a bit cautious of using it.

shotzee · #8 06-29-2006, 07:20 PM

The effectiveness of a UV sterilizer is also dependant on the rate at which water passes through the device. Bacteria are the easiest to eliminate with UV while parasites take longer = you need longer exposure time to the UV to kill them = use a pump with a slower flow.

TheReefGeek · #9 06-29-2006, 07:24 PM

That is why I like the coralife turbo-twist design, the water is exposed longer to the UV light, so even though I only have an 18w for a total gallons of over 300, it works well.

Samw · #10 06-29-2006, 07:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shotzee

The effectiveness of a UV sterilizer is also dependant on the rate at which water passes through the device. Bacteria are the easiest to eliminate with UV while parasites take longer = you need longer exposure time to the UV to kill them = use a pump with a slower flow.

Yes. The TurboTwist 3X is rated for 100-200gph pumps. I wanted to kill parasites if possible so I'm using the smallest Maxijet pump which is rated at 106gph.