do you use a UV Sterilizer

smellsfishy · #1 06-19-2006, 03:20 AM

do you use a uv sterilizer on your reef

Joe Reefer · #2 06-19-2006, 03:22 AM

SeaHorse_Fanatic · #3 06-19-2006, 03:34 AM

Yes, on my seahorse tank & on the tank with my Powder Blue Tang (aka Ick magnet). It really helped keep the ick under control until it learned not to be stressed out by the other fish.

Anthony

Ruth · #4 06-19-2006, 04:23 AM

Nope. Don't intend to either.

Denis · #5 06-19-2006, 04:54 AM

Nope, I prefer ozone.

Samw · #6 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 · #7 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 · #8 06-19-2006, 03:01 PM

TheReefGeek · #9 06-19-2006, 03:17 PM

One thing about UV is the costs vary a lot, so buy carefully.

I use a Coralife Turbo Twist, and all I have to do is replace the bulb once a year for $60.

But on some you have to replace the quartz sleeve as well, pushing the yearly replacement cost up around $150-200, which is what I paid for my whole 18w sterilizer.

Some of the fancy models also have some quick cleaning gizmos, but my Turbo Twist does not, then again there is no need, when I replace my bulb, there has never been anything to clean inside whatsoever, no green slime algae, no coralline, nothing.

Samw · #10 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.