Can someone explain a UV sterilizer please?

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nanoambiance

Guest
After my tank has been up and running successfully for half a year, I recently have a tang that developed what looks like ich. I am getting an emergency quaratine up and running now, and will have it ready for the fish tommorow. The fish has spots, but isn't rubbing yet, and the other fish appear to be normal. Now TO MY POINT.
I have heard of UV sterilizers as a way to eliminate the free swimming form of parasites. Can someone explain to me, 3rd grade level what a UV sterilzer is, and where and how I can find one, buy it, and set it up. I WOULD BE GRATEFUL. Thank you. I will also post this in the disease forum/equipment. thanks.
 
bdhough

bdhough

Active Member
Well. Do you have live rock in your tank? UV sterilizers will kill a number of free floating things that may be in your tank from algae to worms. Most beneficial bacteria are not affected by the sterilizer because if they form they attach to a surface and stay put. The sterilizer has its advantages and disadvantages. GOOD is that it will clear up unwanted micro algae, parasites, and such. BAD is it will kill anything beneficial that passes through it as well such as pods larvae.
Moral of the story is if you have live rock and fish i wouldn't suggest it. IF you have purely fish with "fake" decorations then go for it.
Oh yeah. I think they are the last step in filtration if you have a sump set up. Otherwise you will have to find a way to pump water through it. Its going to run you about 200 or so. I'm not entirely sure since ive never bought one.
 
jarvis

jarvis

Member
From my understanding UV light cripples ick to where it will eventully die with not being able to host a fish. Tank size makes a diffrence. One rated for a 55 gal is useless on a 180 gal tank. Also the wattage and the amount of contact time needs to be considered for it to work effectivly. If your passing the water too fast through the UV sterilizer it is also rendered useless.
 
dreeves

dreeves

Active Member
UV sterilization is simple...the ultraviolet wave lengths disrupt and break the cell structure within an organism thus either killing it, or rendering it useless to the point of death...
The UV requires a certain amount of dwell time for it to be effective against various things...example..dwell to kill a parasite is longer then it is to kill bacteria.
The bigger the better in this case. You can buy them at most LFS and online mailorder places.
 
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nanoambiance

Guest
Alright. I have looked online. I found some good hang on tank sterilzers with the right wattage for my 75 gallon. The trick is, what do they mean about it connecting to the filter, or being the last thing before the water enters the tank, etc. Does that mean, It is useless to keep running my other filters and the uv thing?
Is there any models/kits anyone can recommend that are easy to install, and all the parts are included, etc. The connection and understanding all of that is what I am having trouble with.
 
karajay

karajay

Active Member
I have a hang-on that is not connected to any other part of my filtration (I run a canister). It is simply hooked up to it's own powerhead. However, if possible, it should be in the line-up somewhere after the water has been filtered to keep it clean. Obviously, they lose power if the UV light gets dirty.
 
dreeves

dreeves

Active Member
They mean the output from your last filter item back to the tank should be made into the input for the UV and then back to the tank...
But as mentioned...run it by itself, not through the other filters...leave them on, but run them independent of one another...
 
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thomas712

Guest
I think Dreeves has got it right on the money, but I'll add this.
This may not be 3rd grade but if you know anything about molecular biology, you will realize that the prospects for this device working are too slim to warrant the cost. UV radiation, in theory, should disrupt the ability of a cell to divide by altering genetic sequences. For the sterilizer to work correctly, the water would need to be slow to stagnant under the radiation for it to have a positive effect on any parasites, grater bulbs perhaps having greater ability, and this just isn't the case. The transient time of water rushing by is too small to be effective. This is why it has to be set up correctly. Also to me this is one more possablilty of glass breaking in the UV, whether it be the bulb itelf, which gets covered in slime and reduces effectiveness, or the sleeve which also gets dirty and reduces its ability to work. I just don't think they are worth the money and they tend to kill the good stuff first.
Once again it won't kill ick on your fish, it won't kill any that are in the substrate. It can and will kill the benifical plankton in the water colum, I firmly believe that it will harm coralline spores in the water colum.
Many people will say the they are at least good on fish only or aggresive system.
All in all I think the reasons not to use them outweight the reasons for using them.
If you are using one for the purpose of trying to eliminate disease then I would suggest rather that you simply set up a Q-tank instead, you can do this cheaper than most UV setups, and the UV's that are cheap IMO will not give you the piece of mind that a Q-tank will.
Thomas
 
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thomas712

Guest
Whats that dreeves could you elucidate so that I could comprehend you more accuratly. :D
 
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daniel411

Guest
It has a chance of minimizing outbreaks of disease in tanks, it will not eliminate them. IMO its good for algae control too, in fish only or fish with minimal live rock setups.
Also look at the different types, some people consider certain brands quite worthless.
 
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