UV Sterializer

I am thinking of adding a UV sterilizer to my system to improve water quality, But am wondering if this is worth it. I have read positive articles on this. Your experiences on if this is worth it and any recommendations on models to buy.

 

Uv's are not recomended for full blwn reefs .
of course if your "fish only" it's fine..

 

I disagree - i use one on mine and never had a problem and only ever witnessed the positives. Just MO tho

 

I also have heard the same, but I did use one once on another tank I had. Luna

 

Well I do have a mixed reef setup. I've heard the good side with reasons like reducing algae, ICH and of course much better water clarity. But on the downside does anyone have any specific reasons not to use one.

 

i know they can kill ich during the free swimming stages,

im wonder what they would do to copepods,microfauna,....coraline algae spores, ect...? I feel that it could affect these small benificial things in our reef tanks negatively. but i dont know.

honestly i could find something else to spend the money on. imo

 

There are few reasons why one should not use / employ a UV light steralizer to a full blown reef.

One being that the UV steralizer is simply that , it's used to kill microscopic organisms such as algea spores and the unwated parasetic's that come in on fish some times.

But when one is used in a full blown reef system it will also kill sevral of the "wanted" bacterias/flora/faunas, and other minute organisims that a reef needs to be successfull and help some specialized fish thrive in our reef tanks.


A fish ONLY tank with LR , what have you "' it's a good thing to use if a person is stocking a tank with sevral fish ( crowding the tank ) etc.
It helps keep parasites and algae spores, etc in check.

Most corals can benifit from those little microscopic plankten and other organisms that resides in your LR / fuge / SB, etc.

I have seen people employ a UV for short periods of time if their having algae out breaks in a reef set up though and are great for killing those little spores that are in the water colum.


UV's do have their UPS and DOWNS.

 

I have used a UV ever since I first set up my first system because I always thought it was needed but I had never kept a " full blown Reef " like I am currently keeping. I recently bought a Phosphate reactor for my sump and I needed to steal the pump that was running the UV I have been running without the UV for about a month and I do not plan to put it back on . I think the Phospate/Carbon reactor I have going now is doing much more good than the UV ever did.8)

 

Good advice - and really down to basics, for now I'll skip the UV. Guess theres no short cut to getting water quality - back to proper maintenance and time.