UV sterilizers?

[LMOUTHBASS]

was just reading about these on doc foster n smith - seems pretty cool - had never heard of them before - anyone use one?
sounds like you have to have UGF though to use - was trying to figure out if you can use one with regular filters - doesn't seem so though- it says you have to have waterflow going through the lamp - but one of the products didn't specify this maybe it can hook up to a filter somehow - anyhow i guess the thing scans your water killing bacteria as well as parasites - i'm gonna have to figure a way out to get one of these babies!!!

[SayersWeb]

The concept is simpler than you think. They don't scan for anything, the water is just run through a glass tube that is subject to the strong light.

I've run them in-line with my canister filters in the past.... I'm not convinced they are very effective at removing anything other than algae. The biggest mistake people make is that they have too much flow going through the sterilizer which means the water is not in the sterilizer light long enough to do any good. Also, you must replace the lamp on a regular basis otherwise it loses it's strength and will not be effective. You should always pre-filter the water going into the sterilizer so that the glass tubes do not get dirty as quickly.

[JSchmidt]

There are only a couple of instances when a UV unit is needed in FW aquaria. Green water (unicellular algae bloom) that hasn't responded to other treatments will usually be knocked out by UV. Certain free-floating microscopic pathogens (e.g., the mycobacteria involved in fish TB) can be controlled with UV.

For the most part, our aquaria are inhabited by all sorts of helpful or benign microbes. There is generally no advantage to attempting to rid your tank of all of them. In fact, that approach may cause more harm than good.

UVs look cool, and the retailers can make up all sorts of reasons why you should part with a hundred dollars or more to get one, but the reality is that for most of us, they're a vanity gadget rather than a necessity.

Jim

[125gJoe]

If it's affordable, get one.
Anything for better water is good...

As above, too much water thru it is not effective.

http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL59/715239/1510346/16131416.jpg

Replacement bulbs aren't cheap....

[LMOUTHBASS]

can you use one if you don't have UGF?

[PumaWard]

I, personally, would not use them. If your power goes out and some should happen, you fish will have a weak immune system and will not be able to resist disease very well.

As in humans and over use of lysole like stuff, the body doesn't know how to protect itself against pathogens and therefore, when subjected to them, is very weak and usually has little deffense.

[PooCooper]

Hey 125joe, I got the exact same one on my 125.:D

[ewok]

actually, i think that's a little screwed up about the algae.... diatom works much better for cleaning green water IMO anyway.

same kinda statements, but i don't use one. expensive bulbs, have to be replaced often... and the only argueable advantage i know of is in regards to killing bacteria. some of it you might not want to see die, but there is no selectivity. it also can wipe out beneficial microfauna.

some day i may try one, but unless you keep expensive fish i don't really see the benefit vs. expense.

as far as ug and it..... i don't know how you're coming up with that. i wouldn't see how you could use it in conjunction with ug. all you need is a pump to create a loop. water out of the tank, into the uv and back into the tank.

[125gJoe]

Originally posted by PumaWard
I, personally, would not use them. If your power goes out and some should happen, you fish will have a weak immune system and will not be able to resist disease very well.... I've tried, and tried again to see the logic in that, but can't. Cleaner water = healthy fish.
A power loss would not cause disease from the UV being shut down. Immune systems can change over very long periods...possibly generations, like when some complain of weakened strains of fish at LFS...

UV sterilizers could be considered accessory gadgets, as well as diatom filters, but if they help keep your fishes water clean -- I don't see anything wrong with using them. In fact, just the opposite... Give your fish the best environment you can.

[125gJoe]

Originally posted by LMOUTHBASS
can you use one if you don't have UGF? You can hook up a UV sterilizer to a powerhead or a canister filter.

UGF are a separate item. I despise that type of, well, I despise UGF's...

[LMOUTHBASS]

joe i have to agree with you here i can't see how using UV isn't good - cleaner water = better tank conditions - i mean sure you may lose some beneficial bacteria but hey keeping out the nasties is certainly worth it?
so i just want to make sure i understand how this works - i have a penguin 330 bio wheel filter on my tank - i want to use a UV sterilizer - it needs some way to have water flow throught it though right? - i haven't got a canister filter system - how can i make this work? does the UV have a filtering mechanism ? from what i understand , the water has to get filtered into the UV chamber where the light then cleanses the water - is this correct?
so therefor how woul i make the water filter into the UV with out changing my current filtration system? I'm asking cause i'm gonna have to sink some money into this thing and prob order from docs foster n smith - wanna make sure i can use it if it buy it - any recomendations for a brand name that is affordable yet good for a 55g
thanks
lmb

[JSchmidt]

Of course, keeping nasties at bay is good.... isn't it?

Exactly which nasties are you hoping to kill? Which particular species of bacteria are not only pathogenic but are found free-floating in the water column? I suspect if your fish succumb to "nasties" free-floating in your water, the problem is one of nutrition and tank maintenance, not the need for UV.

I love aquaria-related gadgets and appreciate the fun in hooking all sorts of exotic gear to tanks (I have a UV, after all; gathering dust on a shelf...), but I've yet to see any evidence that UV units actually do anything beneficial for fish.

I doubt they cause any harm, either. I don't find the 'weakened immune system' argument particularly convincing, mainly because there are a whole host of bugs that are passed fish-to-fish or via surfaces in the aquarium that UV won't do a dang thing about.

I would be loathe to every discourage someone from getting an aquarium related gadget, but UVs just are not needed. How many highly successful aquarists keep and breed fish without using them... the vast majority, I bet.

LMOUTHBASS, if you really want a UV, but all means go out and get one. But all you newbies and lurkers... don't be convinced that a UV sterilizer is necessary for successful fishkeeping.

Jim

[125gJoe]

Originally posted by LMOUTHBASS
... ...so therefor how woul i make the water filter into the UV with out changing my current filtration system?.....- wanna make sure i can use it if it buy it - any recomendations for a brand name that is affordable yet good for a 55g
thanks
lmb A 9 watt model would work for a 55g...
Here's a link: Custom SeaLife UV Sterilizer (https://www.aquatichouse.com/UVSterilizer_files/UVSterilizer.asp)

All you need is a separate powerhead to attach to the sterilizer. You don't have to have it hooked to a canister filter. Try to use an adjustable flow powerhead.

As mentioned, these sterilizers are not a necessity, but they are useful...

[ewok]

i would still have to think you'd get a much greater benefit from increasing your water change frequency and amounts....... :rolleyes:

it's alot cheaper too. ;)

[LMOUTHBASS]

thanks for all your replies - i'm not hoping to eliminate anything in particular i just figure there has to be some nasties in everyone's water- i was just browsing for coll gizmos and came across this particular one and it seems like a logical good idea - not a necessity - but a good tool -


joe - so i could get a powerhead to generate water flow and hook it up to the UV? i've never used a powerhead before - how do they work? i always wanted one because it looks like it creates cool "currents" in the tank but thought they were only for UGF - if not i will hook one into my tank and then connect the uv -
by the way have you guys seen the pics of joe's tank? unbelievable looking! i'm gonna take his word for it that the UV are helpful!:D

[125gJoe]

Look for a PM...