Talk me out of UV

[Lavey29]

For better or worse, I’ve decided not to use it. I’ve got a good thing going and no need to add variables. If interested, I just listed it over on the buy/sell forum.

I think that is a wise decision not to change the biome dynamic of a 9 year old tank.

 

[Spare time]

It kills free food for filter feeders. I like them as emergency equipment but not to be run continuously.

 

[Lavey29]

Yes there is: The sun

Didn't know that was a man made plastic part in the ocean?

I guess we all could just put our tanks next to a bright sunlit window and be perfectly fine right? Let us know how that works out for you.

P.s. tank lights simulate the sun spectrum not UV nuke tubes

 

[Koty]

Well, consider that the sun heats the water at tropical reefs with a lot of multiple types of UV, some of which will cause skin cancer. So, maybe circulating surface water can get sterilized at certain hours around midday.

 

[Lavey29]

Well, consider that the sun heats the water at tropical reefs with a lot of multiple types of UV, some of which will cause skin cancer. So, maybe circulating surface water can get sterilized at certain hours around midday.

As a last resort for specific applications such as dinos in the water column a UV has its purpose but absent that, I'm keeping my tank as close to the ocean as I can so as not to create an unnatural environment that results in unwanted problems. Each tanknis unique so choose your own path to success or failure.

 

[Greyham]

I appreciate this discussion and hope more people chime in on their experience with UV sterilizers. I have been using one on my larger/newest 3 month old tank and it really has done a pretty a good job of keeping algae in check. However, on my smaller/older 2 yr. established tank it's (AIO) I have a booming pod population along with a never ending algae battle.

I really hope I'm not preventing some of the desirable microorganisms from getting a good foothold in the tank with UV.

 

[jdpierce21]

I appreciate this discussion and hope more people chime in on their experience with UV sterilizers. I have been using one on my larger/newest 3 month old tank and it really has done a pretty a good job of keeping algae in check. However, on my smaller/older 2 yr. established tank it's (AIO) I have a booming pod population along with a never ending algae battle.

I really hope I'm not preventing some of the desirable microorganisms from getting a good foothold in the tank with UV.

Wouldn’t a closed loop installation (just for the UV) keep nuking the good bacteria to a minimum? Also, a lot of the microbiome lives on the surface of the rock in the display tank, so that wouldn’t be impacted by the UV. Is that correct?

 

[trini2debone]

There's no UV nuke tube in the ocean.

It's not a tube it's a gas ball called the sun.

 

[trini2debone]

I appreciate this discussion and hope more people chime in on their experience with UV sterilizers. I have been using one on my larger/newest 3 month old tank and it really has done a pretty a good job of keeping algae in check. However, on my smaller/older 2 yr. established tank it's (AIO) I have a booming pod population along with a never ending algae battle.

I really hope I'm not preventing some of the desirable microorganisms from getting a good foothold in the tank with UV.

Have you read what is the required flow rate for your goals. I think you should start there.

 

[trini2debone]

Didn't know that was a man made plastic part in the ocean?

I guess we all could just put our tanks next to a bright sunlit window and be perfectly fine right? Let us know how that works out for you.

P.s. tank lights simulate the sun spectrum not UV nuke tubes

Saying this in the same sentence as "tank" should be some sort of oxymoron... lol. You know tanks are also man made?

 

[Doctorgori]

A lot of buyers don’t factor this in BUT you have to change bulbs, quartz sleeves, sacrificial housing and seals annually…that’s assuming you can even find the spares for your manufacture and model…
Also assuming you have the money to buy all the refurb stuff….
…and this goes for each and every UV unit, if not point me in that direction

 

[Formulator]

It's not a tube it's a gas ball called the sun.

If the sun put out the same radiation as a UV sterilizer, we wouldn’t be able to go outside without a spacesuit. I don’t think this is a fair comparison.

 

[exnisstech]

For better or worse, I’ve decided not to use it. I’ve got a good thing going and no need to add variables. If interested, I just listed it over on the buy/sell forum.

I have a 55 Watt lifegard and a 15 Watt aqua uv sitting on a shelf. Personally I didn't notice any difference in water clarity so I saw no reason to reinstall them when I changed tanks.

 

[Budman93]

I only use my UV if some type of algae or dinos breaks out to get it under control. I dont use it 24/7 or just because.

 

[Lavey29]

It's not a tube it's a gas ball called the sun.

Park your tank next to a bright open window and let us know how that natural UV works out for you.

 

[GARRIGA]

I'm adding a UV for no other reason than to occasionally combine it with ozone or peroxide to sterilize portions of water as a replacement to water changes. Haven't decided yet if otherwise I will run it 24/7 or shorter duration daily or weekly. Since dino next round might be actual dino or algae bloom might happen then having it ready to go not a bad thing, either. Lamp I'm guessing will last longer as well.

 

[BeanAnimal]

MY two cents.

Most are not powerful enough to do significant disease eradication and if they were, would likely do more harm than good to desirable life. I am not sure how one quantifies if they are doing more harm than good running at some lower power 24/7 or even intermittently.

That said, they can be very indispensable when it comes to some strains of dino's and other algae problems. I keep one plumbed inline but have only used it a few times.

 

[Koty]

I use the TMC Vecton V2 25 W on 24/7 with a very small pump so a small percentage of my water column get fully sterilized. I have a high bio load and no water change. Also in a few occasions when it was off line I had fish and coral death

 

[Spare time]

If the sun put out the same radiation as a UV sterilizer, we wouldn’t be able to go outside without a spacesuit. I don’t think this is a fair comparison.

It definitely puts out more radiation than a UV sterilizer but yes, ocean organisms are not exposed to sterilizing UV from the sun at the same intensity as something next to a UV sterilizer.

 

[Formulator]

It definitely puts out more radiation than a UV sterilizer but yes, ocean organisms are not exposed to sterilizing UV from the sun at the same intensity as something next to a UV sterilizer.

Fair enough, Mr technicality LOL. You are correct though.