I agree with the pro! It does keep the water clear, and kill algae. If you keep the flow going through it at the lower range it can in fact kill parasites and bacteria. Most people don not keep the flow low enough to kill off parasites though, and this makes it useles batteling them. I use one with a small seperate pump. GPH on the pump is 117 however the device is rated from 100-250 gph.The pro would be control of paracites and bacterias in the tank.
The con would be that it does not differentiate between good and bad, and can effect the good bacterias that break down the nutrients in the tank.
That algae is cyano, and is usually because you have bad flow, high phosphates, or a combination of both!!!Thanks for all the post. I am thinking of getting one for my FW tank but still not sure and I had someone that would sell me 2 for the price of one so i was thinking about one for my reef tank but i was wondering about the plankton and such. I figiured it would kill it. which would not be good. I am having some green water in my fw but the only algea i am having a problem with in my sw is a redish algea that makes bubbles b/f it grows. Its wired. does not grow where I have a good flow rate.
This is actually more here say then scientifically proven. I know loads of people who run UV on reef tanks with detrimental effects what so ever!It gets rid of good and bad things. I only use mine when i have to.....like twice since i got it