Has anyone ever used a UV Sterilizer in there Fresh water Aquarium? if so what have been the results? is it worth it?(cost wise)
UV Sterilizer
- Thread starter vato
- Start date
I have a 40watt UV in my outdor pond, and it works well in keeping that green algea from turning my water green, and keeps the water very clear (of course you need a filter (mechanical and biological). Although I am not sure how necesarry it is in an internal glass aquarium.
There is a quite broad discussions on the use of UV sterilizers, some argue it will kill the benefecial bacteria and prefer other ways of keeping the water clear, In my experience it does help clear the water and it hasnt coused any trouble to my fish, I do keep a bacteriological filter after the UV.
There is a quite broad discussions on the use of UV sterilizers, some argue it will kill the benefecial bacteria and prefer other ways of keeping the water clear, In my experience it does help clear the water and it hasnt coused any trouble to my fish, I do keep a bacteriological filter after the UV.
I dont believe it would be worth it for an indoor aquarium. It only takes care of the microscopic free floating algae that makes the water green. It wont help for the algae that grows on the glass or plants. It won't work for any other kind of cloudy or dirty water. So unless your water is actually green, I wouldn't waste my money.
I also have one in my outdoor pond, so I am talking from about five years experience.
Good Luck
I also have one in my outdoor pond, so I am talking from about five years experience.
Good Luck
UV units are useful in several cases. They are very handy for outbreaks of 'green water' free-floating algae that resists treatment by normal means. (For some people who have struggled with these algal outbreaks, the UVs are a godsend.)
They are also useful to treat infections caused by pathogens that are primarily free-floating in the water, such as the mycobacteria responsible for the so-called fish tuberculosis. These kinds of infections aren't too common, thankfully. Most pathogens reside only on/in the fish or in their feces.
Finally, if you have a cental filtration unit, where a number of tanks share the same filter, a UV unit on the outlet can be insurance against disease/parasites from one tank infecting others. Again, for many of us, not a big concern.
Use of UV units doesn't seem to cause any harm, but unless you have one of the problems listed above, there are probably better ways to spend your aquarium dollars.
HTH,
Jim
They are also useful to treat infections caused by pathogens that are primarily free-floating in the water, such as the mycobacteria responsible for the so-called fish tuberculosis. These kinds of infections aren't too common, thankfully. Most pathogens reside only on/in the fish or in their feces.
Finally, if you have a cental filtration unit, where a number of tanks share the same filter, a UV unit on the outlet can be insurance against disease/parasites from one tank infecting others. Again, for many of us, not a big concern.
Use of UV units doesn't seem to cause any harm, but unless you have one of the problems listed above, there are probably better ways to spend your aquarium dollars.
HTH,
Jim
Vato
I'm hardly an expert when it comes to UV filters. I do have an 8 watt Angstrom hang on the tank unit. I wanted the 4 watt variety but the Aquarium Center in Baltimore was sold out. The unit I purchased was about $96, if I recall. Again, I've only had mine for a little over a month, but I can tell you that my tank was cycling when I put it on and that the cycle completed without a hitch.
I purchased it as a safety precaution for a tank in which I plan to keep discus. I read a few articles about uv filters, talked to a few people, and, like yourself, sought the advice of people who owned them. I did not get any negative feed back, but I agree that you don't have to have one. I've kept many different types of tropical fish for many years without much of a hitch and WITHOUT using a uv filter.
I purchased the hang on unit because I wanted to be able to move the unit between tanks in order to reduce the number of water born pathogens but NOT to fight algae. I do that by keeping phosphates at a minimum. I have two tanks currently, but I hope to add a 125+ tank in the next year or so. If you get a hang on uv filter you'll also have to purchase a powerhead and a few feet of tubing.
Also, If you do not fill your tank to the top the hang on unit will empty water into the tank causing serious surface agitation. This might be a concern if you put this particular unit on a planted aquarium with a low water line. This might help you decide between an inline unit and one that hangs on.
In line units are installed after the filter such that water flows from the tank to the filter and from the filter through the inline uv filter and back into the tank. I imagine you could put it anywhere inline, but it seems logical to put it after the filter to cut down on the debris that will collect the surface and reduce the transmission of uv light. In line units do not require a powerhead. However, they could be configured in a similar manner as I have described for the hang on unit, using a powerhead.
I'm hardly an expert when it comes to UV filters. I do have an 8 watt Angstrom hang on the tank unit. I wanted the 4 watt variety but the Aquarium Center in Baltimore was sold out. The unit I purchased was about $96, if I recall. Again, I've only had mine for a little over a month, but I can tell you that my tank was cycling when I put it on and that the cycle completed without a hitch.
I purchased it as a safety precaution for a tank in which I plan to keep discus. I read a few articles about uv filters, talked to a few people, and, like yourself, sought the advice of people who owned them. I did not get any negative feed back, but I agree that you don't have to have one. I've kept many different types of tropical fish for many years without much of a hitch and WITHOUT using a uv filter.
I purchased the hang on unit because I wanted to be able to move the unit between tanks in order to reduce the number of water born pathogens but NOT to fight algae. I do that by keeping phosphates at a minimum. I have two tanks currently, but I hope to add a 125+ tank in the next year or so. If you get a hang on uv filter you'll also have to purchase a powerhead and a few feet of tubing.
Also, If you do not fill your tank to the top the hang on unit will empty water into the tank causing serious surface agitation. This might be a concern if you put this particular unit on a planted aquarium with a low water line. This might help you decide between an inline unit and one that hangs on.
In line units are installed after the filter such that water flows from the tank to the filter and from the filter through the inline uv filter and back into the tank. I imagine you could put it anywhere inline, but it seems logical to put it after the filter to cut down on the debris that will collect the surface and reduce the transmission of uv light. In line units do not require a powerhead. However, they could be configured in a similar manner as I have described for the hang on unit, using a powerhead.
at petsmart there are about 170 tanks, ive NEVER seen one with ich because there is a UV sterilizer system
Well I am buying a 8watt(?) UV strilizer for my mother, I believe it is a Laguna(cause they are Cheap). I was wondering if this pond system is suitable for an indoor Aquarium? I could borrow it whenever I had a problem with algae or otherwise. What do you think?
Ok I didn’t want to go there but Hans is pulling the bad side of me out again. I’m just pickin.
I have walked through the back rooms at Pet Smart and have looked at the filter setups at 3 different stores. Most of the add 15 to 20 gallons of new water into the system every minute. All of the systems had 4 UV sterilizers, 6 pumps, 1 huge charcoal drum (about 40 gallons in size), 4 heaters, and a 2 stage filter system. And the one thing that’s the best is there is the off ground monitoring station for the filter systems that watches it all 24/7.
But yes it is nice to have a UV on tank and it is worth it. I have one on my larger water systems and on all my tanks over 75 gallons but this last tank I have set up.
IMO it is best to only run ½ of the filtered water through the UV unit.
I have walked through the back rooms at Pet Smart and have looked at the filter setups at 3 different stores. Most of the add 15 to 20 gallons of new water into the system every minute. All of the systems had 4 UV sterilizers, 6 pumps, 1 huge charcoal drum (about 40 gallons in size), 4 heaters, and a 2 stage filter system. And the one thing that’s the best is there is the off ground monitoring station for the filter systems that watches it all 24/7.
But yes it is nice to have a UV on tank and it is worth it. I have one on my larger water systems and on all my tanks over 75 gallons but this last tank I have set up.
IMO it is best to only run ½ of the filtered water through the UV unit.