UV sterilizer plan

[PostalPenguin]

I am getting a UV sterilizer for my 10 gallon and wanted to make sure my plan for using it was sound.

Its a 9W unit, way overpowered for my 10g but it was only $35 with free shipping, far cheaper than more appropriate UV units. The maximum flow rate is 800gph and my filter outputs at ~100gph so I should be sterilizing the water quite well. I am planning on plumbing it to the return of the filter. My big question is how long to run it. My plan was to run it for ~8 hours opposite the lights to minimize heating. Is this long enough?

And I am trying to treat an unknown cause of flashing among the fish. They have been flashing for about a month know. They show no signs of ich and meds were ineffective. The flashing isn't getting worse but its not getting better either and the fish have been injuring themselves with the rubbing. Thanks!

[bushwhacker]

the uv may help but you really need to determine the cause of them rubbing.. i have a 9w on my 55 gallon in line with the canister underpowered bit its only for green water and i hardly use it

[PostalPenguin]

I have tried to determine the cause of the rubbing with no success. Absolutely no white spots, and I had ich once before so I know what to look for. Velvet would be hard to see since most of my fish are orange and red already. Any other diseases that would cause flashing with no external signs of disease?

I change the water 25% each week with dechlorinated water, the tank is heavily planted and is completely cycled. Temps are 76-80F.

My Eheim is running a carbon insert at the moment and the flashing continues so its not likely a contaminant. The one fry I have surviving started rubbing within 3 days of being born. The oto was flashing within 3 days of being introduced as well. I treated with anti-ich, anti-bacterial and anti-fungal medicines at eventually 1.5 times the dose for 3 weeks and saw no change. Flashing occurs about every 30min and they flash for probably 30 seconds at a time. That cant be normal right? The Ich Attack claims to be effective on velvet so I think I can exclude that.

And I think the UV is a good idea for any future outbreaks of disease since I have a)planted tank ruling out salt and b)scaleless fishes ruling out some treatments

Any ideas?

[Wild Turkey]

Have you talked to dave about this by chance?

Look up velvet and do the flashlight test to rule that out. Otherwise im not quite sure either PP.

[nwnittany]

Are there problems running it full-time ?

I have a 9W on my 45, driven by a separate power head, and I leave it on all the time. I've been doing it for about 2-3 months now and haven't noticed any problems. Unless you consider a lack of hair algae a problem !! I know, I know, it doesn't rid the tank of hair algae, only algae in the water, but take it fwiw, this is the result I've seen. In fact, it's greatly reduced all the algae.

Lastly, I didn't get near as good of a deal as you !!!

[Jaster]

I'm planning one myself and I asked about that not too long ago. From what I've been told, It can be bad to run them 24/7. You almost make your water to perfectand it can break down the fishes immune system.
I was also told to run the UV 2-3 hours a day. For QT start with 12 hours a day. Every week of QT drop the time a couple hours. If you have a UV on the main tank get the QT to match the main tanks time on UV. if you don't have one just QT to no UV for a week.

You're going to have such an over kill of UV killing power I think the shorter time in your case that might be a good idea. lol

[PostalPenguin]

Thanks! Ill start with 8 hours a day and hopefully if the fish stop flashing I'll reduce it to ~3 hours at night and/or use only as needed.