UV Sterilizers

[sChArF]

Would there be any negative effects to having a UV Sterilizers on my planted tank? And do you think it is worth it? If so witch is the best.

After all my prized bichirs and peacocks died in my 130 due to disease I would really feel safer having it. Now that I am going to go with discus

[odessa]

The only negative I've heard that uvs can zap some trace elements your plants need.

[Slappy*McFish]

Other than that, they are great to have...but not needed 24/7..they are exceptionally good at ridding your tank of Ich, and other waterborne parasites.

[125gJoe]

I highly recommend a UV sterilizer... :)
http://pic4.picturetrail.com:80/VOL59/715239/1209351/16131416.jpg

[fishfreek]

Originally posted by odessa
The only negative I've heard that uvs can zap some trace elements your plants need.

I had never heard of this before... I can see where this might occur if these elements have a reaction when exposed to UV light. Given that I am not a chemist I would not know how sensitive these types of things are to UV light.


IMHO a UV is an excess expense. They are only effective for parasites that are free floating in the water column and at that only effective aganst the parasites that acutally pass thru the UV and are exposed to the UV light.

TO be effective the UV should have a very slow flow thru it so maximaze the UV exposure thus giving you a more effective kill. Way to many times UV's are used in an undersized/overly high flow rate setup.

[wetmanNY]

I think the echo of what odessa has been hearing is concerned with the "photoreduction of iron" --and copper and maybe manganese too?-- from natural sediments under natural ultraviolet wavelengths in full sunlight. It's controversial whether this phenomenon in nature actually frees any iron in aquaria-- Diana Walstad seems to think it does-- and it's been discussed in A-PD threads like this one: http://fins.actwin.com/aquatic-plants/month.200002/msg00318.html

I think fears of photoreduction from the puny UV produced in these "UV" bugzapper hobby-pacs are unfounded.

Whether iron is genuinely released from aquarium substrates by the uv quotient in actinic lights-- man, now that's my definition of a Baroque Fear!

[plantbrain]

If your fish die like those two, it's likely from a food based parasite/disease or bad, pretty bad, maintenance. A UV will not solve that.
Mechanical injuries are less likely to get infections using one.

But why are the fish stressed?

I think using one for treatment is a bad way to go about it, unless it's a hospital/quarantine tank etc.

It's use for planted tanks are for green water elimination namely and spores, suspened algae etc after a water change.
If you do use it, use it once a week right after a water change for 24 hrs or so.

Weekly good sized water changes along with filter mainteance, not over stocking the tank or adding incompatibles, will prevent about 95% of disease issues. Treating the live foods, etc or using only Brine for FW fish is most of the other sources.

I use live foods to wean them off and then feed only frozen etc afterwards.
Easier, cheaper and less problems.

Regards,
Tom Barr

[125gJoe]

Originally posted by fishfreek

IMHO a UV is an excess expense.
I know I bought a quality UV filter, and, have adjusted the water flow though it - not too fast...
IMHO my UV is 'extra insurance' for my fish, and worth every penny spent on the UV sterilizer. :)

[fishfreek]

Dont forget about the expess of replacing the bulb every 10 months or so.

[plantbrain]

I have an Aquanetics 8 watt UV that's had the bulb replaced 2x in 18 years. Works fine.
I don't used it 24/7, That doesn't help. Once a week at most.

Folks want too many fish, don't want to do water changes etc. A UV will beat back some of the issues there, not much IME.

I have not used medication of _any sort_ for a fish in close to 16 years. I have never lost a fish, I've had them come in with ich etc, but it went away in about 3-4 days. Suicidial jumpers but none due to other causes.
Basically, I've never needed any medication. I've pulled many critters and plants from the wild. All my plants and fish I now have all came from the wild. I rinsed them with tap for a few minutes(the plants) and acclimated.
No quarantine to speak of. With expensive fish, I will quarantine.

Good stocking levels, good variety based foods(not just one thing every day forever) without live foods, except for brine on occasion, 50% weekly water changes, healthy plant growth, good current.

A UV is good to have for ocassional use for Fry tanks, certain special applications but I find them not very useful as an intergral part of the system.

I add one on only for a couple of days for a badly infested algae tank and that's about all. I don't add it permantly to any system.

It's like leaving the lights on in your house when your not home, it won't hurt, it'll just cost you money $ for electric and more frequent bulb replacements.....
Turn it on only when you need it.

Regards,
Tom Barr