UV Sterilizer Advice

[travie]

I've seen this UV Sterilizer ([Only Registered Users Can See Links.]) at my local PetSmart. Would this work well/efficient to kill off free-floating pathogens and diseases in water? I would only use it for QT, hospital, and possible disease outbreaks in my SW display tank. I wouldn't run it 24/7. I want to stay as cheap as possible. If that UV sterilizer wouldn't be worth my time, please show me a link to an affordable one that is worth looking at and using.

Thank you for any input,
travie

[Fishguy2727]

That one looks like it is mainly for algae.

Their effectiveness on pathogens is dependent on flow and light intensity. For any given wattage of light, the slower the water passes through the more stuff it will kill. At higher flow rates it only kills algae. At slower rates it kills bacteria, etc.

What will you be quarantining?

[Sasquatch]

For controlling diseases and pathogens, meds are better than a UV system.

The UV only treats the water, not the root problem. So as long as you've got sick fish in the water releasing pathogens, they'll continue to be sick. The UV will keep the pathogen level down, but won't eliminate it, and you'll essentially have chronically sick fish.

UVs are good if you've got multiple tanks hooked up to a single sump/canister etc.... to prevent diseases from getting from one tank to another. As a "cure", it's not so good.

[ILuvMyGoldBarb]

I was looking at that one the other evening at my local Petsmart. I wouldn't touch that one at all. Traditional UV systems have a glass tube surrounding the bulb so that the bulb never comes in contact with the water. With this particular model, the bulb itself is actually in the water. That's not something I'd want to deal with, I just see the possibility of way too many problems there. Seems like a saftey issue to me.

[travie]

Thank you all for the replies thus far. What about the Coralife Turbo-Twist UV Sterilizer? ([Only Registered Users Can See Links.])

[ILuvMyGoldBarb]

The Coralife Turbo-Twist is not a bad UV unit at all. I'd go with that one if I were you.

[Wartorn]

The UV sterilizers are still a nice benefit but I also agree I wouldnt use them to treat a disease.....they are best as prevention of problems device.

There are great benefits to UV sterilizers just make sure you dont have too much flow...the more exposure to UV the better the killing spree it has in the water going through it.

Whats nice is it does eliminate many nasties in the water. Good prevention kinda like vitamin C for us.. Isnt a cure all but helps bolster the defenses.


And i agree the coral life UV is the shiznit. Just be VERY VERY carefull with the crystal sleeve in it... dont drop it and make sure its very secure! Ive droped one before and shattered everything inside.... The Sleeve and Bulb are seriously expensive to replace.

[travie]

Awesome. I figure it will help get rid of free floating ich and aid in the QT of any livestock. I'll have to start looking for deals. I am not using this to cure anything, I am using it to help prevent free-floating diseases (just so everyone knows my intentions).

[Colin]

I use Yamistsu Algae Master 11watt on both of my main tanks. Retail therapy gone mad.

I used to have problems with algae but dont now.
I used to have water quality problems but dont now.

Both of these issues were probably resolved by me adopting better tank housekeeping rather than introducing UV units, but hey, foolish not to use them now ther are plugged in.

wont do any harm to plug one in.
The second one looks like a better choice, in line with your external filter, nice :)

[Wartorn]

Awesome. I figure it will help get rid of free floating ich and aid in the QT of any livestock. I'll have to start looking for deals.

hmm I think the local store for me does shipping and they are having a huge blow out sale now.

I bought 250 watt Hamilton bulbs for 60 bucks!! (metal halides)... thats like omg cheap. Corals on sale for like 30% off.!

anywho here is there site maybe you can see if you can get stuff dirt while the time is good.

[Only Registered Users Can See Links.]

[ILuvMyGoldBarb]

Travie, I'd use it only on your QT tank. There are things like pods in your main tank that you don't want getting sucked through your UV. If you do decide to go with one on your main system, do not run it all the time as it will have a negative effect on your pod population.

[travie]

Those are some amazing deals. I only plan to run it when necessary on the display tank, for instance, during outbreak of a disease that has a free-floating stage. Otherwise, I have no intentions of running it on the display tank. Right now, I figure the pod population is around 0. I need to get rid of the ich problem, then buy some cured LR rubble to get my pod population back up.