Talk me out of UV

[Spare time]

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

Ms. Technicality haha

 

[Formulator]

Ms. Technicality haha

Sorry! I make that assumption too often on here…

 

[Spare time]

Sorry! I make that assumption too often on here…

Lol its ok.

 

[Solo McReefer]

Perhaps

Use the UV

Set it up

Run it

See how it goes

I have the 45watt AquaUV unit ready to installed on my big system. I am going to run one

 

[trini2debone]

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.

You don't know what you are speaking about by friend ,

 

[trini2debone]

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

Are you saying the sun does not emit UV?

 

[Spare time]

You don't know what you are speaking about by friend ,

UVC does not make it through the atmosphere very well thanks to the ozone layer. UV sterilizers use UVC at extremely close distances. I am not going to keep talking about this now because its not the question of the thread.

 

[Formulator]

You don't know what you are speaking about by friend ,

Try me.

 

[jackson6745]

I was always against UV thinking it would destroy my tanks biome. On my current system I had the start of dinos after a high dose white bug treatment. I plumbed in a 57w Aqua UV (which actually runs 44w) and it knocked out any sign of Dinos in 2-3 days. I also noticed clearer water so I left it on. Several months down the road I'm still running it full time. I can't say that I notice any kind of decline in my tanks biome. It's full of life, brittle stars, sponge, pods (back after treatment), Coraline covered etc. Polyp extension is excellent on my SPS + LPS, likely from regular heavy fish feedings and photo + oyster feast occasionally.

-What I did notice different long term is that I no longer get a green haze of algae on the glass when it's dirty. I get a film but it's white. I thought it was bacteria but I read that it's bleached algae. I really don't
know.

-Water clarity is perpetually better. ORP also stayed higher.

-Not a speck of Dino or cyano anywhere

- I have 30+ fish in my 200g and I never saw any of them scratching or a sign of ick. In all of my previous tanks over the lat 20 years I always had some kind of scratching or the occasional fish with a few dots etc. Not in this tank with these fish, They're spotless and have silky smooth look to skin.

If there's a downside, I'm not seeing it yet. I'm not as much into scientific theory or making ocean analogies as I am into observation. There have been a multitude of tanks that I wished to emulate which ran UV. I know that UV won't stop me from achieving success, and I've experienced only positive results thus far. I'll be sticking with it at the moment.

 

[Formulator]

UV-C lamps used in sterilizers have an intensity of around 30,000 to 100,000 uW/cm2 at the bulb surface. UV-C from the sun on earth’s surface is 2-3 uW/cm2. This is because UV-C from the sun is mostly absorbed by earths atmosphere.

UV-C is highly energetic and interacts directly with DNA causing significant damage. If we experienced the same intensity UV-C as a sterilizer on earth’s surface - life as we know it would not exist.

@Trini2DBone, if you don’t think I know what I’m talking about, go take apart your sterilizer and hold the bulb in your hand for a while with it on. When you’re done, we can teach everyone a lesson about darwinian evolution as well.

 

[JonoH]

I was always against UV thinking it would destroy my tanks biome. On my current system I had the start of dinos after a high dose white bug treatment. I plumbed in a 57w Aqua UV (which actually runs 44w) and it knocked out any sign of Dinos in 2-3 days. I also noticed clearer water so I left it on. Several months down the road I'm still running it full time. I can't say that I notice any kind of decline in my tanks biome. It's full of life, brittle stars, sponge, pods (back after treatment), Coraline covered etc. Polyp extension is excellent on my SPS + LPS, likely from regular heavy fish feedings and photo + oyster feast occasionally.

-What I did notice different long term is that I no longer get a green haze of algae on the glass when it's dirty. I get a film but it's white. I thought it was bacteria but I read that it's bleached algae. I really don't
know.

-Water clarity is perpetually better. ORP also stayed higher.

-Not a speck of Dino or cyano anywhere

- I have 30+ fish in my 200g and I never saw any of them scratching or a sign of ick. In all of my previous tanks over the lat 20 years I always had some kind of scratching or the occasional fish with a few dots etc. Not in this tank with these fish, They're spotless and have silky smooth look to skin.

If there's a downside, I'm not seeing it yet. I'm not as much into scientific theory or making ocean analogies as I am into observation. There have been a multitude of tanks that I wished to emulate which ran UV. I know that UV won't stop me from achieving success, and I've experienced only positive results thus far. I'll be sticking with it at the moment.

My findings have been pretty much exactly the same as yours.

Only difference is that i'm running a 90w Lifeguard Aquatics UV and my tank is 220 Gal.

 

[Nate Chalk]

No . Use UV. I do 24/7 . Oversized and it's great

 

[FishTruck]

Water clarity is a big deal for my 12 foot display… I use both UV and Ozone. Of the two… the UV makes a bigger difference.

I still have a little cyano here and there.

 

[Lavey29]

Water clarity is a big deal for my 12 foot display… I use both UV and Ozone. Of the two… the UV makes a bigger difference.

I still have a little cyano here and there.

12 feet? Let's see the sea world display

 

[skey44]

I’ve had luck with and without. Also had amazing coral growth and no algae problems (except prolific coralline) in a tank next to a huge window. I’m sure you can be highly successful either way.

 

[Doctorgori]

I got a Lifegard 40w and 55w unit sitting around doing nothing…why?
- because the cost of annual maintenance is pricey and a PITA (perhaps worth it but that’s another argument and. the point of this this thread)
- because the housing on the 44w unit is a recycled tiger tank 88mm gun: equally heavy and equally large…it’s large form factor makes it a pain to deploy

Anyway, I tried to sell both but can’t in good conscience recommend them without knowing the installation issues and on going maintenance…

Ive owned/purchased at least 10 units from cheap Amazon submersible and dangerous exposed bulbs to Jaebo’s to pricey Lifegards….

with my long time in the hobby and sheer dollar spent I’m more sucker than consultant … but I do have direct experience with several units and brands

I’d recommend them for Seahorses, quarantine and a few other specialty situations….I didn’t see the day to day value especially since my tanks ride that temperature edge near 78F …I don’t care for the added heat …

…yes you do see less of the green dusty glass algae FWIW

 

[LARedstickreefer]

I had Dino’s take a hold in my tank a few years back. I tried every suggestion out there and watched as I lost all of my corals and my tank turn into a huge pile of anxiety.

Once I decided to try uv, I was shocked and ticked off by those crapping all over uv. My properly setup uv sterilizer saved me. Had I not seen so many ignorant comments being made against it, I’d have taken care of the situation way before losing everything.

I really don’t care about what anyone’s math and reasoning suggest against uv, uv worked for me. It was nearly instant.

 

[Reefering1]

 

[Cool tangs]

Personally I can't say anything negative other then a high quality one that actually does anything is expensive. I'd argue it's a solid investment if your lax or not into/good at QT. Lifegard aquatics make great units. Just make sure you get the flow correct for the purpose of use. I noticed clearer water. I also had a massive white spot outbreak after many attempts of QT, copper/ttm and honestly almost quit the hobby. I put the UV on as my last resort and my goodness I was surprised at the results! I ran the UV for over a year and did not see any white spot. I personally haven't replaced the bulbs so it currently been turned off for the last 8months to a year now. It's been roughly 2 years since my major outbreak and I've only started to see some signs of minor white spot(on the powder brown) and think it might be time to add it back on. But in saying that I have also added new fish lately, so it's possible I've re-introduced it. But tbh my fish are very fat so I'm not overly concerned yet. Ohh and since not running UV I have noticed water is less clear and bacteria grows on the glass quicker so I'm cleaning the glass more then I did when I was running it. I will say I also believe, bare bottom also helps along with the UV when it comes to parasite control.

 

[FishTruck]

12 feet? Let's see the sea world display

This is from four years ago during initial set up. On there on the top there’s a annoying bacteria bloom that wouldn’t be such a big deal in a smaller tank and on the second picture 24 hours later once I turned the UV on.