UV Filters

[PennywiseXClown]

are UV filters worth getting and are they beneficial to saltwater tanks? I know they help with water clarity but do they do anything productive?

 

[lmforbis]

In my opinion they are not worth the money and can kill off some good things.

 

[PennywiseXClown]

Okay. I was told they don’t offer anything productive for saltwater tanks.

 

[geridoc]

In theory, a UV filter could remove suspended microorganisms that might be harmful to the desirable inhabitants of the tank. In practice, few hobby-level units produce sufficient UV output to make a large difference, and they require continuous maintenance since the spectrum they put out changes fairly quickly, reducing their already limited effectiveness. That means frequent bulb changes, with the associated cost. Far less expensive (and more effective) is a simple quarantine tank and a rigorous quarantine protocol!