Do UV Sterilizer's Work?

[bombay_duc]

What are your thought's on using UV sterilization. It seems to me that even though one may not absolutely control parasites like Ick, one could certainly significanly decrease the population of harmful bacteria/fungi/viruses etc in the water column, which may go a long way in controlling disease.
Any comments?

 

[clsimons29]

I have been told they are not required for a healthy reef but they will kill black algea that is hard to control without certain species of fish and are very good if you are keeping a powder tang. Don't know much else about them other than that.

 

[gasman4433]

Ive heard alot of differnt stuff about them.Some say great and some say dont use.The only thing that makes sence is that they kill good stuff in the water as well as the bad.I was using one and I took it off because it really did not seem to make a differnce.My tank looks just as good now as it did when I was using it. my advise is dont wast the money.Keep the water in balance and you should be fine with out one.I hope this helps.

 

[ck1blues]

I'm really new at this. From the begining I included one in my setup and tried differant things with it. I do know you dont want to use it in a new tank or cycleing tank. you should wait a month or two..... I also battled ich. I ran it 24 hours a day for 4 weeks and added 2 shrimp and it went away for now. I normaly run it during the day and turn it off at night. I forgot to plug it back in after a water change and noticed more green film on my glass then useual. I can also say I still have the same 4 fish from when I started in january. lol

 

[lion_crazz]

UV sterilizers will certainly help your tank, but they cannot be relied on as the only source of parasite control. They will get a lot of the parasites out of the water column, but mant parasites attach to rocks and substrate, to which, the UV cannot do anything for.
I don't really believe in UV sterilizers, but some people have luck with them.

 

[chipmaker]

I tend to view UVC as a means of controlling algae more than disease. I use em on the wifes outside preformed ponds in which she keeps her tropical fish in during warm months, but not on any salt water or fresh water aquarium. My outside water in full sun is gin clear and we have never had a problem with disease. ALgae wa always the problem and now with the UVC its no longer a problem....I do not see a need for a s salt water setup as if your doing water changes as you should and using rodi algae etc should not be a problem anyhow.....

 

[molly05]

I don't know the UV will help to control disease in SW or not but I had used it for my 2000 gal koi pond for many years and my koi fishes never get ich or other disease. For sure, UV will reduce the algae growing and make water super clear. You will not see much different if you use it inside. I ordered 9W yesterday for my SW because my tank is always get ich.