Opinions on UV sterilizer use in breeder setup

[ArkyLady]

I've been debating with myself about whether or not I want to use a UV sterilizer in my breeding setup. I will have most everything centrally filtered through a largish sump system. The cost of the UV sterilizer is not the issue, if it would definitely be the best thing to do for my fish I'm all for it.

However, while researching on the Internet about UV sterilization, I came across several people who felt that using UV in a breeder setup where the fish are being sold out to pet stores and/or individual users can do more harm than good. The reasoning behind this is that UV usage causes a more "sterile" environment and therefore inhibits the natural immune systems fish develop as they are exposed to various bacteria or whatever. Then when these same "protected" fish are moved into another system that isn't protected by UV, they are more susceptible to diseases. That reasoning seemed to make sense to me and made me think twice about using UV at all. Is there anything to this? or is it all just someone making excuses not to have to use UV? :)

Thanks for any input!

[wayne]

I can't imagine anything worse! My breeding tanks are clean and dirty at the same time - clean water, but with plants, a very little substrate and algae covered rocks to provide some food for very small fry as I am too lazy to breed infusoria. Lots of water changes tho'.
I seem to do ok with these, w/ apistos, killies and ancistrus

I'd save the money for something more useful

[ArkyLady]

Noone else has an opinion on this? Or are you just all out at the lake this weekend :)

[Sumpin'fishy]

I too am planning to do some serious breeding in the near future. I don't think I would use one full-time. I might consider turning it on for a day or two every 3 months or so, and for disease treatment. Otherwise, I think that it could cause problems once you try giving away any fry. They may seem unusually prone to sickness or health problems once at the LFS or other peoples aquaria. This could lead to issues with the LFS not wanting to use your supply. It is also highly unnecessary in a well kept setup.

[125gJoe]

Originally posted by ArkyLady
I've been debating with myself about whether or not I want to use a UV sterilizer in my breeding setup. ....or is it all just someone making excuses not to have to use UV? :)
Thanks for any input! My opinion is to use the UV on a timer. You won't need to run it 24/7..... I can only help, not hurt to have cleaner water.

[somefinnfishy]

Heck you got the money do it a uv on a central system is a nice safety net to stop the spread of a disease once discovered or to polish the water once in a while.But I'd hesitate on useing one full time for exactly the reasons you mentioned.

[RTR]

There should be no disease in a breeding setup in any case. I see no need for such and have never used UV for this tyoe setup. UV does not polish the water- it kills small free-swimming beasts.

[125gJoe]

Originally posted by RTR
There should be no disease in a breeding setup ..... UV does not polish the water- it kills small free-swimming beasts. Depending on how a "breeding set-up" is set-up....

[RTR]

Sorry but the original statement stands. Trying to breed fish which are carrying disease seems like a terrible waste of time and effort. Trying to cure fry of disease is a good way to kill fry and later spread disease. Starting with clean stock is not only more practical, it is far simpler.

[125gJoe]

I agree! Always start with clean stock!
But a properly timed UV Sterilizer can prevent 'small swimming beasts' that can harm the breeder fish. Some may think of UV Sterilizer as a form of paranioa and a waste of money, but I side on the safer side and try and offer my fish the best possible water conditions I can. (Now all of this is just my opinion, I'm not telling anyone to do this or that .. :D )

[RTR]

The small swimming creatures are far more likely to serve a live food for the fry (and some parents) than they are to be harmful. The UV in that aspect would be harmfull to the system.

[mogurnda]

Many professional breeders use UV on their centralized systems. Sure, you can start with clean broodstcok and quarantine, but if anything manages to get in you're sunk. Then you have to medicate the whole system.
The systems from Aquatic EcoSystems, which are designed for use in maintaining valuable and delicate zebrafish mutants, incorporate UV, as does the system Hoff used in the IOH clownfish breeding facility. It provides a margin of safety.
Disease will happen in a hatchery, and it's best to be prepared for it.

[ArkyLady]

So lets assume some disease does get in, UV will cure it 100% every time and you never have to medicate?

[125gJoe]

The UV sterilizer assures cleaner water, and will help with disease control.

[mogurnda]

So lets assume some disease does get in, UV will cure it 100% every time and you never have to medicate? In theory, yes. In practice, no. But when something gets in, it is a lot less likely to spread from the initial site of infection, and will allow you to isolate infected tanks before you have to medicate the whole system.