UV Steralizer "Really THAT good?"

[bohle]

OK my buddy and I just got back from a LFS that we have never been to. The guy has this shop and also sets up tanks for people and businesses. He told us:
"We put cured live rock in, live sand, and hook up everything with a UV, we wait 2 hours and put the fish in and we leave and its good to go." He also said he has been in the business for 30 years and has never used a QT. He never QTs and never has ich he says cause of the use of a UV.
I guess what I am getting at. What is the benefit of a UV? Are they really all what they are cracked up to be?
Pros/Cons

 

[renogaw]

should be UV, really that bad, or UV, really that waste of a money, or UV, really that detrimental to your tank, or UV, really doesn't cure ich, or UV, really is useless...
sry, just my opinions from what ive read about them.

 

[bohle]

Well I would like to see input. This guy we talked to SWORE by them. We were just curious.

 

[renogaw]

Ok, the way uv's work:
you have to have a SLOW flow through them to kill off anything that goes through them. there fore, not all of your water will go through it. so all the water that goes by it will still have ich, algae, copepods, plankton, etc.
anything that goes through it will be insanely clean, but not everything will go through it.

 

[squishy]

A UV is not a cure all system. It is an added helper. I have a couple of tanks and they both run with uv. I would recommend them to everyone and anyone..
As for you lfs I would ask him to set up a tank in his store and wait 2 hours and see if your really good to go.
It may or may not work I would not try it.
If you have some extra time on your hands do a search on this site and you will find some very good material and also some very heated converstions on this site.

 

[nel621]

I was watching a program on tv on waste water purification and one key piece of equipment was a uv sterilizer.It was if I remember correctly the next to last phase before the water went through an ro/di system.I don't have one yet but I do believe they work.Maybe something like a 36 watt.

 

[notsonoob]

Originally Posted by Nel621
I was watching a program on tv on waste water purification and one key piece of equipment was a uv sterilizer.It was if I remember correctly the next to last phase before the water went through an ro/di system.I don't have one yet but I do believe they work.Maybe something like a 36 watt.

Yes and no. Depending up on who designed the system.
The company I worked for did UV first. That was just to kill the Chlorals and bacterias in the water coming into the system.
RO is next to last as they introduce OZONE last. That will sterylize everything.

 

[scsinet]

Wow. I'd stay away from that LFS.
UV does one thing and one thing ONLY. It KILLS LIVING THINGS. It does not and cannot remove ammonia, nitrites, nitrates, etc. It removes NOTHING from the water, nor does it change any chemicals or neutralize anything. What is alive, it makes dead, that's it.
Well... to be honest it just inhibits reproduction in most living things, but the end effect is the same..
There is no way it can "insta-cycle" a system as was implied.

 

[bohle]

Ya he told me this. I drove right home and had to post.

 

[scsinet]

It sounds like the perfect system for him. If he does tanks for people, he probably sells lots of replacement fish this way.

 

[notsonoob]

I agree.
Mine perfectly takes up space in the closet.

 

[srfisher17]

Originally Posted by NOTSONOOB
I agree.
Mine perfectly takes up space in the closet.

These things appear far less frequently than they used to, for a reason. I have heard of hobbiests who lost all their fish, thinking UV would cure a serious ich outbreak. The only thing they can kill must pass thru the UV system; and all it takes is 1 ich bug to settle on the bottom and within few days, every fish is covered with the stuff.
I took a quick look at the three marine fish keeping books that I consider the most reputable. One (Fenner) really downplays the value of UV; the other 2 don't even mention it in the index. That lfs idea of what UV can really do makes no sense whatever; it makes my fondness for the "Eco-Aqualizer" seem almost sane.

 

[scsinet]

Originally Posted by srfisher17

These things appear far less frequently than they used to, for a reason. I have heard of hobbiests who lost all their fish, thinking UV would cure a serious ich outbreak. The only thing they can kill must pass thru the UV system; and all it takes is 1 ich bug to settle on the bottom and within few days, every fish is covered with the stuff.
With all due respect, I submit that this is not a problem with the UV units, but rather a lack of understanding of what their proper application is.
People think that these things are a cure all or an easy fix, things get out of hand because they are ignoring other resolutions, and their system dies, and it's the UV unit's fault?
UV units have their uses, it's just not to cure ich outbreaks, which seems to be the most pervasive myth surrounding them. Obviously, this LFS owner is either incredibly stupid or an incredibly shrewd salesman. I'm delighted to see that the OP had the accumen to verify it before buying into the "easy answer." Bravo.

I do believe that UV units have their place in aquariums, but many people invest in them thinking it's a cheap way to do a lot of great things, while actually it's an expensive way of doing a few great things.
Originally Posted by srfisher17
it makes my fondness for the "Eco-Aqualizer" seem almost sane.
no comment.

 

[srfisher17]

Originally Posted by SCSInet
With all due respect, I submit that this is not a problem with the UV units, but rather a lack of understanding of what their proper application is.
People think that these things are a cure all or an easy fix, things get out of hand because they are ignoring other resolutions, and their system dies, and it's the UV unit's fault?
UV units have their uses, it's just not to cure ich outbreaks, which seems to be the most pervasive myth surrounding them. Obviously, this LFS owner is either incredibly stupid or an incredibly shrewd salesman. I'm delighted to see that the OP had the accumen to verify it before buying into the "easy answer." Bravo.

I do believe that UV units have their place in aquariums, but many people invest in them thinking it's a cheap way to do a lot of great things, while actually it's an expensive way of doing a few great things.
no comment.

In re-reading my post above; I guess it could sound like I'm saying UV units are useless. That's not my opinion, I think the can play a small, but important role in eliminating possibly harmful organisms. When I was breeding FW angels & discus in the mid 1990s (to support my SW habit), I considered UV vital; there was a virus that attacked angel fry that I avoided. I'm convinced that was because all the water in my system was cycled thru UV.
Because SW fishkeeping is evolving so quickly, especially the untold number of living things imported with LR &LS...I'm not sure anyone can be 100% sure that everything they are doing is beneficial in the long term. I'd also bet the farm that the majority of UV systems in use are not doing anything, because they lose their effectiveness if the bulb & sleeve are not meticulously. serviced.
I'll save the update on the Eco-aqualizer for a new post. Great stuff going on with it!

 

[scsinet]

Well I believe that UV units are helpful in preventative maintenance applications.
They help maintain better water quality, but they are only one piece of a responsible fishkeeper's maintenance regimen, husbandry approach, and filtration scheme.
It's when people think they can cure what's already broken that they get blamed, when it's only because people were misguided or naive about their application in the first place.
Personally, I think they are like calcium reactors. If you've got the money to just write a check for one, then great... it'll be a "helpful" addition as a premium piece of equipment, but if you don't have one, you can get along just fine without it.
If you have to save up for a unit, then that means you are probably lacking equipment that you'd be better served to get.
I like the way you call SW a "habit." It's kind of an "illness" for me.

 

[al mc]

Originally Posted by SCSInet
I like the way you call SW a "habit." It's kind of an "illness" for me.

There is a 'twelve step program' run by Dr. Phil for SWF people. Oprah will have him on next week to talk about it.
IMHO...If you have the best RODI unit, skimmer, lighting, and sump/refugium money can buy, and you have more money, then go for a UV sterilizer. It has a place, but you can spend money more wisely in this hobby.

 

[scsinet]

Originally Posted by Al Mc
There is a 'twelve step program' run by Dr. Phil for SWF people. Oprah will have him on next week to talk about it.

Hi... my name is Dave
"Hi Dave!"
It's been 3 months since my last tank upgrade.
"****thunderous applause******"

 

[swalchemist]

You will hear many opinions from both sides on this. Personally I have used on since day one on my reef tank, and when it's time to replace my bulbs I know. Also as for the ich thing, I have a blue hippo about 2 years old now, when it first broke out with ich I bought a UV and within a week no more ich coincidence? Maybe but I run one on most of my tanks especially those with tangs. Do you have to have one? No, not at all, but if you find one cheap give it a try you may like what you see. The only danger from a UV in my opinion is if the quartz sleave leaks or breaks then you have big problems and I have seen this happen more than once with the Coralife UVs.

 

[srfisher17]

Originally Posted by SCSInet
Hi... my name is Dave
"Hi Dave!"
It's been 3 months since my last tank upgrade.
"****thunderous applause******"
Yes, this is more of an addiction than a hobby. The AMA and most Doctors consider addiction to be an illness, so illness would probably be the best description. But, the therapeutic benefits of just being around a healthy tank; far out weigh the costs (money, time, & effort). In fact, I get so much peace & serenity from my addiction that I'm sure that there are several people still living, that might not be if I didn't have this "illness". I think this illness is so good for our health, that all expenses should be tax deductible. Do we have a volunteer to run this by the IRS on their tax return this year?

 

[andy51632]

Originally Posted by srfisher17
Yes, this is more of an addiction than a hobby. The AMA and most Doctors consider addiction to be an illness, so illness would probably be the best description. But, the therapeutic benefits of just being around a healthy tank; far out weigh the costs (money, time, & effort). In fact, I get so much peace & serenity from my addiction that I'm sure that there are several people still living, that might not be if I didn't have this "illness". I think this illness is so good for our health, that all expenses should be tax deductible. Do we have a volunteer to run this by the IRS on their tax return this year?
Have you ever watched the program Intervention on A&E I think. Anyway addiction is not only considered a illness but more importantly a terminal illness. Meaning that it will kill those who will not recover.