To UV or to not UV

[seattlereef]

I've got a 145 Gallon display tank, 55 gallon sump and a 55 gallon refugium. I'm considering if its worth the cost / effort to put in a UV sterilizer. And if so where should I put it. My options are return from Sump to display with a ball valve + check valve, sump to refugium or from sump back into the sump.

The research I've done is split I realize it won't "cure" anything but it does help with water clarity and as an insurance policy. How many of you guys utilize one and are you pleased with it or just another expense with running the unit and the need to replace bulbs.

 

[user 26995]

I'm curios too.
Tagging along

Sent from my SCH-I405 using Tapatalk

 

[Herefishyfishy]

The downside with UV is fear of the internal bulb breaking releasing toxins and or electricution of the system. A friend of mine had that happen and it was catastrofic. Another issue is needing to keep the sleeve clean all the time or it is simply a waste of power and equipment. I am,not fond of UV, and reccomend ozone if you are an advance hobbiest and have specific needs for it.

Healthy fish kept in freshly changed clean water is hard to beat.

 

[seattlereef]

I'm doing at least weekly water changes however I'm looking for any insurance in between to help with water quality in between. Hadn't considered electricution however wouldn't the GFC protect from this? Although this would turn off all my power on that outet which can be bad too.

 

[Herefishyfishy]

Here is the tread about Vicki's UV issue

http://www.reeffrontiers.com/forums/f69/leaking-uv-sterilizer-36307/

 

[estanoche]

FWIW - I've ran a UV, and it did help reduce bubble algae when I had it... but water changes would have fixed that as well....

Its kind of one of those mechanical things you can add to make up for bad husbandry elsewhere.... How clear does you water really need to be?

 

[tamarindthai]

i am used UV for the last 12 years ,,,,,good UV ,good pump to push the water flow through(adjustable valve) ,,to get UV to do the best job as you need ,,, you must have the ORP monitor ,,no need for ORP controller, and i will not run UV with out it,,UV is slowing effective(with in 3-5 days) i kept ORP range BT 390(day)-425(after light off),,that i found the most effective for UV,,,by adjust to water flow through the UV unit,,,slower the water will effected the most,,mean ORP up and faster water flow through the unit is ORP down,,,i loved it low mtce and saved,,,downside is bulb need to be replace every 10-12 months,and tube need to be clean,no acception.
hope this help

 

[Krish]

I've personally never used one. The problem with uv's are it only treats the water that passes under the uv light so if you have say hair algae in your tank, it wouldn't do you any good. Algae, parasites etc have to be free floating in the water column and pass under the light at the right flow rate. I've always just skipped them and kept a pretty clean tank and has worked well for me in the past.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[NC2WA]

I have one and like it...IMO, either u r a fan of them or u r not...

my tank has been algae free for 3.5 yrs and wouldn't think about not running it..u r welcome to stop by to take a look.

agree with the changing of the bulbs every year and making sure the sleeve is clean...no exceptions..

 

[user 2204]

I plan on running one on my new tank. I think people need to make sure that if they decide to run a UV on their tanks, the UV sterilizer needs the proper flow and to be of the proper size for the tank. Yes they will only process the water that flows though them, true but isn't the same true of the protein skimmer? Only water that passes through the skimmer will be processed? Yes

NC2WA said it best, You are either a fan of UV or you're not. I have heard many good things about UV and not so many bad things at this point, so I'll move forward with using one on my new tank.

Oh and those sleeves that are found to leak, IMO should've been found within a day if not sooner. I check my systems throughout the day several times a day and this includes equipment checks and adjustments. I think we all have had a piece of equipment fail at one point or another.

Cheers,
Alex

 

[TJL]

Good discussion topic as I also went through the to run UV/Ozone or not and ultimately decided to go the Ozone route after a good friend of mine was willing to part with an extra unit he had )thanks Mike). Like Kirk and Dang stated can be effective if properly maintaned like most of the equipment on our systems should be.

Cheers, Todd

 

[seattlereef]

Thanks for all the feedback. I'm still getting everything running and am going through an algae outbreak right now so just picked up some Mexican Turbo Snails and broke out the toothbrush. I don't think I'm prepared to setup an Ozone unit but it does look appealing. I'm still on the fence on the UV unit but right now I'm trying to hold back from the moron cycle... given my personality I doubt that will happen .