do you use a UV Sterilizer

[Reefer Rob]

No. UV sterilizers kill some of the most important foods for your corals- the planktonic lifecycle stage of many of your sandbed organisms etc. My system is full of life, and I plan to keep it that way

Rob

[Samw]

Personally, I would love it if it could kill the plantonkic stages of bristleworms. Doesn't seem to. I have too many. Also I've seen no impact on my pod population. Even my Mandarin and 2 wrasses can't make an impact on them. Actually, my pod population has increased. I think this is due to more macroalgaes for them to hide in. Luckily, I don't have any animals or corals that need phytoplankton or whatever is being killed off by UV though I have read that the amount of phytoplankton in the tank is insignificant as a food source.

I have to say that I had no idea what was going to happen to my tank when I was installing the UV. After having seen the results, I am far too happy.

Just one of many articles: http://www.aquariumadvice.com/articl...q=2&fldAuto=31

[TheReefGeek]

Me too, and I love cleaning off my front glass every 2 weeks instead of 2 days. That alone was worth the UV sterilizer's weight in gold for me.

[EmilyB]

I've used one in the past for slime algae, a 25w I think. Didn't see any improvement.

I have ick in the big tank I guess. It pops up now and then with a new fish. My new powder blue's been there a few months now and has no more ick, so I don't think a UV would have been any more benefit there.

[Samw]

Originally Posted by EmilyB

I've used one in the past for slime algae, a 25w I think. Didn't see any improvement.

I have ick in the big tank I guess. It pops up now and then with a new fish. My new powder blue's been there a few months now and has no more ick, so I don't think a UV would have been any more benefit there.

Hi Deb. I understand that UV isn't needed for treating ick since fish can naturally get rid of it on its own. But are you saying that the Ick stayed on the fish just as long even with your 25W UV running? I would have expected that the more powerful UV would reduce the number of days that the fish will have ick. That would be the benefit.

As for slime algae, yeah, it would have to go through the sterilizer in order to kill it.

So I think its fair to say that its useful for tanks with problems (like mine) and not useful for healthy tanks like yours.

[Skimmerking]

I have the 36W turbo twist and what a waste of money for my 170 gal tank. ick or no ick it doenst kill crap in the tank. it never worked for me. ozone will be the next treat for the tank.

[Snappy]

Yes I use one but am unclear as to it's effectiveness.