Uv Filter

[onellion]

I haven't yet invested in a uv filter, but was wondering how bad i need one, I haven't had any major problems, but was lookin for some feed back. tank start was 4-01-03. just started calcium supplements.

 

[jarvis]

UV is absoulutly not nessary. Its main benifit is to prevent the spread of ick from fish to fish and crystal clear water. It wouldnt hurt for cheap insurance but there are better ways out there (Qaurentine your fish when you get them). I noticed you have a decent light setup and adding Ca. Do you intend on adding any corals? If so any filter feeding coral would suffer due to the the UV would kill benifital plankton in the water if you left it running all the time. Welcome to the board and be sure to do lots of reading.

 

[thomas712]

A UV will kill bacteria, but first it will kill free floating algea, then free floating bacteria but it would require a longer hang time, and then finally parisites, and thats the tricky part getting the water to stay in there long enough to kill the parisites and then once again it is only the free floating parisites, not the ones on the fish or that are in the substrate.
Much of what you desire in your sandbed and on your rocks for critters will breed in your water colum, don't kill em by sticking them through UV lights.
Thomas