HELP WITH UV, PLEASE!!

H

HKat

AC Members
Nov 27, 2007
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Hi guys,

I have a 75 gallon freshwater, community tank (non-planted)......with 2 Marineland C-360 canisters.

I use 2 because I like to overstock a bit.

What I am looking for now is to install a UV sterilizer to aid in killing bacteria and parasites.

It seems I keep getting fin rot. I don't know why.....I change water (15%-20%) definately once a week. I vac every third week. And I keep on top of my filters. My water parameters are PERFECT!!!!!

So I don't know why.......I am hoping the UV would help. Either way....I want to install a UV.

My questions are as follows:
1) What size UV for a 75g freshwater, community?
2) Can I install it inline with one of my canisters? or will the water pass through too fast?
3) If I oversize.......will it help?
4) What brands are good and reliable?
5) Do they help that much??

Thanks to all in advance for any/all advice!!

Harris
 
you should find the cause of the fin rot before you add a UV sterilizer. if the fin rot is because the water quality is starting to head south, a UV sterilizer will do nothing except kill money.

speaking of your water quality, what are your exact water parameters?

what is the stock?

also, you should consider vacuuming the gravel with every water change. it will help keep the tank cleaner. every 3 weeks is just to long.
 
I agree with Jon that you should vacuum every week, especially if you tend to overstock - the solid waste you are leaving behind may be bringing your water quality down. Also, if you are heavily stocked, it's possible that there are some aggression injuries happening that then resolve into fin rot....I don't know your stock or how how well your tank is outfitted with hidy-holes but it is something to consider since fish who are stressed will be more prone to fin rot or other illnesses. Can't speak to the UV sterilizer as I have no experience with them.
 
Agree with jm. chances are if you think you are overstocked, then you are probably wayyy overstocked. Your water change/vac schdule is not nearly enough for a heavily stocked tank, especially if you have any kind of messy fish. Regardless of filtration, I'd start doing 50% changes per week, with deep gravel vacs every water change, and see if that helps first. Water changes are free, so if you can fix the problem that way, you're already ahead.
 
Hi guys,

First, my water parameters are: pH - 7.1, Amm - 0, nitrite - 0, nitrate - 10. I use some salt........recommended 1/2 teaspoon per 5 gallons.

My stock: 2 clown loaches, 1 weather loach, 1 angel, 2 pink kissers, 2 parrots, 1 gold gourami, 3 plecos (1 large, 2 minis), 2 tri-color sharks and 1 jurapari (totally blew that spelling). They are all mid-size.........not that big!!

I feed every other day.......and do not overfeed! Usually all food is comsumed within about a minute and a half!!! The surface is agitated extremely well.

My maintenance habits are about as good as I can do right now because of work......especially for the next few months.

Thanks for the advice thus far..............ok then here is my next set of questions:

Do you guys think adding a few live plants would be beneficial? I can add a 10" x 10" patch to my tank (planted already in a glass dish and just set in place). Is that enough? Do I need to start adding CO2 for that? I'm not in the mood to start changning lighting and adding equipment at this time!! Bad choice of words......no time actually!! Can you add JUST A FEW live plants?

Thanks again!!

Harris
 
Yes you can add just a few live plants, but the more you add the more benefit you will get - the fish like them!. I have a fair amount of plants in my 55 without CO2 or ferts, the types of plants you can do successfully will depend on your lighting and substrate if you want to keep it low tech. Plecos can be pretty good at pulling them up though.
 
HKat said:
Hi guys,

First, my water parameters are: pH - 7.1, Amm - 0, nitrite - 0, nitrate - 10. I use some salt........recommended 1/2 teaspoon per 5 gallons.

My stock: 2 clown loaches, 1 weather loach, 1 angel, 2 pink kissers, 2 parrots, 1 gold gourami, 3 plecos (1 large, 2 minis), 2 tri-color sharks and 1 jurapari (totally blew that spelling). They are all mid-size.........not that big!!

I feed every other day.......and do not overfeed! Usually all food is comsumed within about a minute and a half!!! The surface is agitated extremely well.

My maintenance habits are about as good as I can do right now because of work......especially for the next few months.

Thanks for the advice thus far..............ok then here is my next set of questions:

Do you guys think adding a few live plants would be beneficial? I can add a 10" x 10" patch to my tank (planted already in a glass dish and just set in place). Is that enough? Do I need to start adding CO2 for that? I'm not in the mood to start changning lighting and adding equipment at this time!! Bad choice of words......no time actually!! Can you add JUST A FEW live plants?

Thanks again!!

Harris
Click to expand...

what type of test kit are you using? strips or liquid?
adding aquarium salt not a good idea to use in FW unless treating for ich, not only is it completely unnecessary but its a waste of money.

I think that you are overstocked. Maybe not now, but eventually as you must take into consideration the adult sizes of your fish.

Clown loaches will reach around 12" long if not stunted and need to be in a group. Your "pink kisser" which is a gourami, will get to about the same size but probably closer to 8". Weather loaches also get rather long, close to a foot, and prefer cooler water. It would be nice to know exactly which type of pleco you have as there are hundreds of species, but my guess is that you got some sort of "common" (which could also be several species) but most get pretty large. Anywhere from 8" to 2 feet! tri-coloered sharks are more commonly known as bala sharks...not only so they have the potential to reach 18" but they need to be in groups otherwise they are skittish. Jurupari will max out at 10 inches.
 
The plecos are common type from local fish store. Not sure of the exact latin names. I use 3 different types of test kits.........the quick strip......the Hagen drops type.......and the Seachem test kits to be triple assured.

As far as fish sizing.....I am not worried.......I started with the same fish in a 30g.........when things got crampy......I jumped to the 75g.......when things get crampy again I will again jump to my 200g I have waiting around. So I am not worried.

As far as the salt.....I believe in it.......I have experimented with and without......and I have noticed much improved growth spurts in the fish while utilizing the salt. So I will stick with it.

I will have to improve on my water changing and vacuuming. Or perhaps throw in some live plants. My only problem is that I have medium sized natural rock as a substrate......so I guess I will need to make some changes to the substrate.

How about the UV light......does anyone have any advice.....regardless.....I want to ad a UV light to my system.

Thanks again!!
 
HKat said:
Hi guys,

First, my water parameters are: pH - 7.1, Amm - 0, nitrite - 0, nitrate - 10. I use some salt........recommended 1/2 teaspoon per 5 gallons.

My stock: 2 clown loaches, 1 weather loach, 1 angel, 2 pink kissers, 2 parrots, 1 gold gourami, 3 plecos (1 large, 2 minis), 2 tri-color sharks and 1 jurapari (totally blew that spelling). They are all mid-size.........not that big!!

I feed every other day.......and do not overfeed! Usually all food is comsumed within about a minute and a half!!! The surface is agitated extremely well.

My maintenance habits are about as good as I can do right now because of work......especially for the next few months.

Thanks for the advice thus far..............ok then here is my next set of questions:

Do you guys think adding a few live plants would be beneficial? I can add a 10" x 10" patch to my tank (planted already in a glass dish and just set in place). Is that enough? Do I need to start adding CO2 for that? I'm not in the mood to start changning lighting and adding equipment at this time!! Bad choice of words......no time actually!! Can you add JUST A FEW live plants?

Thanks again!!

Harris
Click to expand...
why are you adding salt? none of the fish you listed should have any salt in their water whatsoever (excl. treating for ich, etc.) that could be a part of the fin rot.

unfortunatley, your tank is VERY overstocked. one kissing gourami alone will fully stock the tank. they get to 12 inches long (with the potential for more). if you returned all of the fish except on kissing gourami, then you will be fine. the clown loaches will also get that big. they also need to be kept in groups of at least 5, so 180 gallons is a minimum. also, clown loaches will nip at the angel's fins. both species of gouramis will start to become very aggressive with one another, especially as the kissing gouramis start to get BIG. "tricolor sharks" or rainbow sharks (as we call them here) also become aggressive toward others of their species, and eventually fish that dwell around the bottom of the tank. none of the fish should be kept with the jupari should not be kept with any of them; it is an african cichlid and needs totally different water and environmental needs.

what species of plecos do you have? chances are they are commons, which easily reach 2 feet long.
 
jm: jurupari are SA eartheaters (Satanoperca jurupari)

and all sharks I have seen being referenced to as "tri-color" are in fact bala sharks not rainbow...but I pic or description from the OP would be nice as there is a BIG difference.
 
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