uv for a fowlr, yay or nay?
- Thread starter clekchau
- Start date
windmill
Member
Typical responses.
I have one, it's been in use ever since I got it. It's seen a fully stocked tank and a near empty tank. I've never seen anything wrong with it or ever had any problems with it. Pretty much the only reason I got it was because a buddy of mine told me it was pretty much required to keep healthy tangs, and I was going to buy a powder blue....
. Still don't know exactly what they do, but it hasn't done anything bad that I've seen.
I have one, it's been in use ever since I got it. It's seen a fully stocked tank and a near empty tank. I've never seen anything wrong with it or ever had any problems with it. Pretty much the only reason I got it was because a buddy of mine told me it was pretty much required to keep healthy tangs, and I was going to buy a powder blue....
acrylic51
Active Member
You need to be able to regulate the flow through the UV depending on the use your using it for......are you going to use it for parasitic or clarity purposes???? Manufacturer should state recommended flow rates and to be able to accurately tell what the flow rate is to try to get the most out of the unit you might want to consider a flow meter to let you know your flow rate......HTH
clekchau
Member
Originally Posted by acrylic51
You need to be able to regulate the flow through the UV depending on the use your using it for......are you going to use it for parasitic or clarity purposes???? Manufacturer should state recommended flow rates and to be able to accurately tell what the flow rate is to try to get the most out of the unit you might want to consider a flow meter to let you know your flow rate......HTH
parasites, i am also going to be running ozone thru my skimmer. do you think uv's are worthwhile?
You need to be able to regulate the flow through the UV depending on the use your using it for......are you going to use it for parasitic or clarity purposes???? Manufacturer should state recommended flow rates and to be able to accurately tell what the flow rate is to try to get the most out of the unit you might want to consider a flow meter to let you know your flow rate......HTH
parasites, i am also going to be running ozone thru my skimmer. do you think uv's are worthwhile?
acrylic51
Active Member
Honestly I can't say....this will be the first time I will use them personally on my own tanks.....I have tanks I care for that do run them, and don't and haven't (knock on wood) parasitic problems.....Everything is quarantined by me before it ever makes it to those tanks.......I can't see why it would hurt.....if people are worried about pods being killed and you don't have a problem with parasites per say; you could increase the flow through the unit and run it more as a clarifier than a sterilizer.....just my thinking though......I'm going to run 1 on the new system....not from the start though, and as time progresses bring it online.....I will be running ozone as well, but that will be turned on down the road.......I have a flow meter on several supply lines so I can dial the flow rates in if needed....Actually not a bad investment, but they do get pricey though depending on line size.
clekchau
Member
Originally Posted by acrylic51
Honestly I can't say....this will be the first time I will use them personally on my own tanks.....I have tanks I care for that do run them, and don't and haven't (knock on wood) parasitic problems.....Everything is quarantined by me before it ever makes it to those tanks.......I can't see why it would hurt.....if people are worried about pods being killed and you don't have a problem with parasites per say; you could increase the flow through the unit and run it more as a clarifier than a sterilizer.....just my thinking though......I'm going to run 1 on the new system....not from the start though, and as time progresses bring it online.....I will be running ozone as well, but that will be turned on down the road.......I have a flow meter on several supply lines so I can dial the flow rates in if needed....Actually not a bad investment, but they do get pricey though depending on line size.
thanks for your input buddy. i also will be quarantining but the thought of ich breaking out and killing all my fish gives me nightmares, literally.
Honestly I can't say....this will be the first time I will use them personally on my own tanks.....I have tanks I care for that do run them, and don't and haven't (knock on wood) parasitic problems.....Everything is quarantined by me before it ever makes it to those tanks.......I can't see why it would hurt.....if people are worried about pods being killed and you don't have a problem with parasites per say; you could increase the flow through the unit and run it more as a clarifier than a sterilizer.....just my thinking though......I'm going to run 1 on the new system....not from the start though, and as time progresses bring it online.....I will be running ozone as well, but that will be turned on down the road.......I have a flow meter on several supply lines so I can dial the flow rates in if needed....Actually not a bad investment, but they do get pricey though depending on line size.
thanks for your input buddy. i also will be quarantining but the thought of ich breaking out and killing all my fish gives me nightmares, literally.
merredeth
Active Member
While doing QT is the best thing if you are concerned about a tank getting ich, I can tell you since the DNA is split by the UV light, repopulation of ich in a tank is much more difficult - IF we NEVER add another thing to the tank.
However, we like to add new things to our tanks so we constantly re-expose ourselves to ich when introducing new items in our tanks. Not to mention we also re-expose our fish to stress when making new additions.
After one ich outbreak, I purchased a UV light. I've now graduated to multiple aquariums and each one has a UV light on them.
Keep in mind UV lights should be cleaned out periodically and lights changed every six months so the color spectrum is at optimum levels to do the job.
Out of all the UV lights I have I like the Coralife TurboTwist the best.
Denise M.
However, we like to add new things to our tanks so we constantly re-expose ourselves to ich when introducing new items in our tanks. Not to mention we also re-expose our fish to stress when making new additions.
After one ich outbreak, I purchased a UV light. I've now graduated to multiple aquariums and each one has a UV light on them.
Keep in mind UV lights should be cleaned out periodically and lights changed every six months so the color spectrum is at optimum levels to do the job.
Out of all the UV lights I have I like the Coralife TurboTwist the best.
Denise M.
acrylic51
Active Member
Very good point.....Merredeth, but 1 missing key is flow rate through the UV, and most people don't have a clue as to the flow rate going through the unit to know if it's actually being effective or not......To fast a flow rate doesn't do squat for you......You need to be able to monitor and adjust the flow rate through the unit....
cgrant
Active Member
Flow rate is very important when using a UV as already stated.
You should always check the co.'s recommendations when using a uv.
You will also need some way to check flow, I purchased a flow meter for like 15 bucks off (bigals or drfosterandsmith) one of the two had it?
You will need something like that to regulate flow on the uv.
If the booklet that came with the uv doesnt have any info about flow rate call the manufacturer.
edit: forgot to mention, i had an ich outbreak on my 210 and only thing i did was use galic extract for the food and ran the uv, ich went away and has been gone for several weeks now (~2 months).
I also have the turbotwist
You should always check the co.'s recommendations when using a uv.
You will also need some way to check flow, I purchased a flow meter for like 15 bucks off (bigals or drfosterandsmith) one of the two had it?
You will need something like that to regulate flow on the uv.
If the booklet that came with the uv doesnt have any info about flow rate call the manufacturer.
edit: forgot to mention, i had an ich outbreak on my 210 and only thing i did was use galic extract for the food and ran the uv, ich went away and has been gone for several weeks now (~2 months).
I also have the turbotwist
cgrant
Active Member
Originally Posted by acrylic51
I do like the turbo twist as well, but find there connection method is limiting and to time consuming and cumbersome with their fittings....They should go to standard pvc thread........
I agree, i went to the hardware store and got some fittings and flex hose, works for now.
when i swap the current sump with the 40 long I am going to use pvc and hard pipe it kinda like a hob skimmer/filter.
you would think coralife would already have that option but i guess not?
I do like the turbo twist as well, but find there connection method is limiting and to time consuming and cumbersome with their fittings....They should go to standard pvc thread........
I agree, i went to the hardware store and got some fittings and flex hose, works for now.
when i swap the current sump with the 40 long I am going to use pvc and hard pipe it kinda like a hob skimmer/filter.
you would think coralife would already have that option but i guess not?
acrylic51
Active Member
Originally Posted by CGRANT
I agree, i went to the hardware store and got some fittings and flex hose, works for now.
when i swap the current sump with the 40 long I am going to use pvc and hard pipe it kinda like a hob skimmer/filter.
you would think coralife would already have that option but i guess not?
I know their fittings deal is kinda crazy IMO......mounting the thing could be an issue if space is tight, or they should at least make some type of adapter that you could at least go from their fitting style to PVC.......Probably do hav such a thing, but probably have to hunt hi and low to do it though, but they should make it were it's pretty much plug and play with all plumbing systems......I try to stay away from barb fittings as much as possible.
I agree, i went to the hardware store and got some fittings and flex hose, works for now.
when i swap the current sump with the 40 long I am going to use pvc and hard pipe it kinda like a hob skimmer/filter.
you would think coralife would already have that option but i guess not?
I know their fittings deal is kinda crazy IMO......mounting the thing could be an issue if space is tight, or they should at least make some type of adapter that you could at least go from their fitting style to PVC.......Probably do hav such a thing, but probably have to hunt hi and low to do it though, but they should make it were it's pretty much plug and play with all plumbing systems......I try to stay away from barb fittings as much as possible.
merredeth
Active Member
Originally Posted by acrylic51
Very good point.....Merredeth, but 1 missing key is flow rate through the UV, and most people don't have a clue as to the flow rate going through the unit to know if it's actually being effective or not......To fast a flow rate doesn't do squat for you......You need to be able to monitor and adjust the flow rate through the unit....
This is true, however the TurboTwist does tell you what size of powerhead to buy.
I like the Twist the best - and I get a small moonlight by the way it is designed. It sure is nice at night when I'm in my bedroom and can't sleep.
Denise M.
Very good point.....Merredeth, but 1 missing key is flow rate through the UV, and most people don't have a clue as to the flow rate going through the unit to know if it's actually being effective or not......To fast a flow rate doesn't do squat for you......You need to be able to monitor and adjust the flow rate through the unit....
This is true, however the TurboTwist does tell you what size of powerhead to buy.
I like the Twist the best - and I get a small moonlight by the way it is designed. It sure is nice at night when I'm in my bedroom and can't sleep.
Denise M.
acrylic51
Active Member
Originally Posted by Merredeth
This is true, however the TurboTwist does tell you what size of powerhead to buy.
I like the Twist the best - and I get a small moonlight by the way it is designed. It sure is nice at night when I'm in my bedroom and can't sleep.
Denise M.
How do you know that powerhead is flowing what it's suppose to be???? Just because the manufacturer says it suppose to....without a calibrated flow meter you can't be sure......If you like the moonlight on the Turbo, you should see it on my Aqua Logic.....
This is true, however the TurboTwist does tell you what size of powerhead to buy.
I like the Twist the best - and I get a small moonlight by the way it is designed. It sure is nice at night when I'm in my bedroom and can't sleep.
Denise M.
How do you know that powerhead is flowing what it's suppose to be???? Just because the manufacturer says it suppose to....without a calibrated flow meter you can't be sure......If you like the moonlight on the Turbo, you should see it on my Aqua Logic.....
merredeth
Active Member
Originally Posted by acrylic51
How do you know that powerhead is flowing what it's suppose to be???? Just because the manufacturer says it suppose to....without a calibrated flow meter you can't be sure......If you like the moonlight on the Turbo, you should see it on my Aqua Logic.....
This is true, however I know mine is going very slowly through the UV. Easy fix to insure it was to make sure that the tubing going from the pump to the UV was longer than normal. That seemed to work when I was concerned about the flow being too high on the first TurboTwist I installed. I left that one alone, but knew that any subsequent ones I was going to make a longer intake, which would reduce the flow rate, thus creating more exposure to the light.
I haven't used Aqualogic. How about posting a pic up and telling me a little about them.
Thanks,
Denise M.
How do you know that powerhead is flowing what it's suppose to be???? Just because the manufacturer says it suppose to....without a calibrated flow meter you can't be sure......If you like the moonlight on the Turbo, you should see it on my Aqua Logic.....
This is true, however I know mine is going very slowly through the UV. Easy fix to insure it was to make sure that the tubing going from the pump to the UV was longer than normal. That seemed to work when I was concerned about the flow being too high on the first TurboTwist I installed. I left that one alone, but knew that any subsequent ones I was going to make a longer intake, which would reduce the flow rate, thus creating more exposure to the light.
I haven't used Aqualogic. How about posting a pic up and telling me a little about them.
Thanks,
Denise M.