UV sterilizer

We have a UV sterilizer rated for 60gal. When we bought it we were told it was better to have one rated for smaller than your tank. When we bought it we had a 72 gal tank. We recently got a 90gal tank, do you think this UV sterilizer will be ok for our new tank as well or should we get a bigger model? It will be a while before we need a sterilizer as we just started the 90 gal tank.

 

IMO...they do little good in the hobby size DT...but you will get many who disagree with me on that....unless you have algae issues..I heard they do some good in that arena.

BTW...2006 !! 14 Karma....we can't have that now...can we ? LOL

 

man where have you been?! we've had search crews out for you! haha just messin.. but i would think get a bigger uv sterilizer than your water volume? thats just my opinion ;D

 

Thanks guys. I've read some people don't believe in using them at all. Maybe thats why the guy that sold it to us, talked us into a smaller one (he still got paid, lol). We didn't have issues with our other tank, but this new one is a lot over what the current UV is capable of. We will add that to our big ole' to buy list.

 

Agreed. Many, many folks will verify you don't need one. Just having one set up (under rated at that) will do nothing but help.

 

If did have one and wanted to use it, would it hurt pod population of benificial bacteria?

Btw: I was given one by a lfs for free, they said it had been collecting dust & help feed there snakes that there scared of. Its the twist type.

 

I would just do your upgrade, sans UV...and see if you notice a difference....other than your electric bill. ...but like FatBastad stated it sure wont hurt...and jcoreyblack, your correct also, if it was bigger, I would say it could be harmful to certain bactieria, maybe, but small ones, to me, are just cool to have and do little if anything..good or bad. jmo
2 cents. ; )

 

I'm one who likes them.Just added one myself about a month ago.

Two big issues people have,that I've seen,is they think it will destroy your denitrifying bacteria,thats not true,very little bacteria is free floating in the water column,most is colonized on and in the porus surfaces in your rock,sand,filter pads,on the glass,etc.With your rock being the largest and most important home for them.

The 2nd biggest concern I see is folks being afraid of them killing or sterilizing thier pods,while this one can be true,not every pod is gonna get sucked through it and thier reproduction rates typically outweigh the small amount that do get pulled through it.

Now the benifits from it,that i've noticed so far,is the dusty film algae that shows up each day on my glass has diminished to practically nothing,I used to clean my glass about every day or two,I have now not had to clean my glass in over a week and it still looks good.

Before using the uv,I tried a cyano removing product,which killed all my fish and inverts along with several corals,to get rid of some cyano (lesson learned ) but since adding the uv,the cyanobacteria has not returned.So for me,and after restocking most livestock lost,it's never any more chemicals,and I will continue the use of uv.

I have done alot of research on them and spoke with several other members on here before and since adding it and allthough the benifits arn't huge,they're definately benificial IME.

 

ok ..thats it..I'm putting mine in..I have had one in storage along time..if it keeps my glass clean...I'm going for it...damn the torpedoes !! ;D
let's see how it goes..8)

 

This is all just in my own experience,and I am quickly becoming a firm believer in them in a 1 month observation