UV for a 65g planted tank (which + how-to)

drgold

drgold

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Mar 1, 2006
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Wausau, WI
I've had ich pop up a few times in the last year, plus a few minor bacterial probs and one bout of green water. Because of this, I"d like to set up a UV sterilizer. I have two eheim eccos that can be used to connect the UV, so my flow rate is 150-200 GPH. With this, how big of a UV unit should I get to control parasites? The turbo-twist 18w is $100 right now on BigAls, but is this big enough for that flow rate? I've read around on many forums, but it's easier to ask direct. Thanks so much!

Andy
 
the problem with using a UV is that while it 'may' kill off some of the bacteria you have problems with from time to time, it won't solve the initial problem which is why do you keep having difficulty with bacteria and parasites. typically, such problems are the result of fish which are in poor condition and water quality issues which cause the fish to be in less than good condition.

my suggestion is to attack the root of the problem rather than put a bandage (UV) on the result of the problem.

change your water about 50 percent on a weekly basis. vacuum the gravel concurrently. quarantine all new fish to insure that they are not bringing in parasites or bacteria which they will spread to the rest of your 'healthy' fish.

fish only succumb to disease when they are weakened by immune response loss which by now i think you may be aware, is the result of poor maintainance.
 
Thanks! I do try to be a good fishkeeper, but I thought that UV would help prevent problems. I got ich recently after moving fish, a minor bacterial issue on some new fish, and don't know where the green water came from. I change +/-60% of the water each week religiously and feed a variety of foods, including frozen and live. I also quarantine new fish in a 10g for at least a week at 82F.

I really don't believe that all fish will be perfectly healthy if kept in optimum conditions all the time. Some fish just aren't perfectly hardy and get sick from time to time. That's my belief, anyway. Have I caused some probs unnecessarily? Sure. But, I'd like to be able to lessen the chance that a mistake by me will turn into a big problem. Likewise, I'd like to prevent some problems that may have happened anyway.

Anyway, I'm pretty sure this is something I want to invest in so I'd like some advice on what flow rate and unit would be appropriate to control bacteria, algae, and parasites in a 65g planted. Thanks!

Andy
 
can no one tell me what flow rate and size of UV will kill parasites? I'm thinking of getting an 18w unit and attaching it to a 200gph canister. Will that work? I'm trying to not waste $100+ here.
 
drgold said:
can no one tell me what flow rate and size of UV will kill parasites? I'm thinking of getting an 18w unit and attaching it to a 200gph canister. Will that work? I'm trying to not waste $100+ here.
Click to expand...

A quarantine tank will stop parasites from getting into your tank in the first place, and a 10g set up will cost about the same as the UV your looking at. UV's on the other hand, aren't a completely sure fire method of eliminating diseases (this is according to daveedka's ich article).
 
I know that, and I DO quarantine, but I've had a few slip past the goalie. I have a 10g setup and I use it, but I've had a few problems regardless.

I want the UV to help reduce the potential for problems. Yes, I know about quarantine and sterilizing plants, and large frequent water changes, and a good heater, not overstocking, and all of that. I'm not looking for advice about that.

Sorry if that came off as snarky, but I'm getting a bit tired of people assuming I'm an idiot here. Getting ich doesn't make me a novice or a bad fishkeeper. Now, will an 18w UV do the job?
 
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