UV Sterilizer in a REEF
- Thread starter eaglephot
- Start date
sharkbait9
Active Member
Originally Posted by Eaglephot
I have heard that it is bad to have a UV sterilizer in a reef tank. Is that true? Why is it bad if it is true?
who would say that? The only reason why I can honest think some one would say that is because it will kill phyto and zooplankton. But are you or anyone trying to keep that alive? good luck doing that in a fish or reef tank. Uv lights have many beneficial qualities, and no real negatives. My answer to any one who ask this question is, when you go to a hospital where are the UV lights? In the hall ways, not in a patience room. Why? to sterilize and kill bacteria, pathogens that may traverse in the air out of a room into public walk ways, possibly infecting other people. So for any tank that will have life, some form of bacterial sterilizing is needed to help prevent the spread. Now some people who don’t use them and have never had a problem and that fine, I don’t take chances with my setups, the cost of one out weighs the cost of having to deal with a break out. My UV lights get turned on for a week when I do a water change add anything to my tanks or a fish is looking unhappy or a sudden death or fight causing a death or injury. No need to keep them on 24/
I have heard that it is bad to have a UV sterilizer in a reef tank. Is that true? Why is it bad if it is true?
who would say that? The only reason why I can honest think some one would say that is because it will kill phyto and zooplankton. But are you or anyone trying to keep that alive? good luck doing that in a fish or reef tank. Uv lights have many beneficial qualities, and no real negatives. My answer to any one who ask this question is, when you go to a hospital where are the UV lights? In the hall ways, not in a patience room. Why? to sterilize and kill bacteria, pathogens that may traverse in the air out of a room into public walk ways, possibly infecting other people. So for any tank that will have life, some form of bacterial sterilizing is needed to help prevent the spread. Now some people who don’t use them and have never had a problem and that fine, I don’t take chances with my setups, the cost of one out weighs the cost of having to deal with a break out. My UV lights get turned on for a week when I do a water change add anything to my tanks or a fish is looking unhappy or a sudden death or fight causing a death or injury. No need to keep them on 24/
mudplayerx
Active Member
I don't think it is bad or good. I think it is a waste of money that does nothing 
Just my opinion. The enormous amount of UV light needed to kill even a single pathogen, coupled with the the extremely slow water flow rate needed makes any UV sterilizer product on the market now nothing more than Snake Oil. Find me one major Aquarium run by the government that uses UV and I will stand down
They don't work, for better or worse.
Just my opinion. The enormous amount of UV light needed to kill even a single pathogen, coupled with the the extremely slow water flow rate needed makes any UV sterilizer product on the market now nothing more than Snake Oil. Find me one major Aquarium run by the government that uses UV and I will stand down They don't work, for better or worse.
sharkbait9
Active Member
Originally Posted by mudplayerx
I don't think it is bad or good. I think it is a waste of money that does nothing Just my opinion. The enormous amount of UV light needed to kill even a single pathogen, coupled with the the extremely slow water flow rate needed makes any UV sterilizer product on the market now nothing more than Snake Oil. Find me one major Aquarium run by the government that uses UV and I will stand down
They don't work, for better or worse.
Why do you follow me mud
? I swear you and me are like ying and yang. :thinking: This is my point some will say no, never, waste of money, spend the money on somehting better. While i can't honestly sit here and email the two aquariums by me, just not interested. The fact remains for every nay sayer you will see just as many ya's for uv light. I use them always have always will.
I don't think it is bad or good. I think it is a waste of money that does nothing
Just my opinion. The enormous amount of UV light needed to kill even a single pathogen, coupled with the the extremely slow water flow rate needed makes any UV sterilizer product on the market now nothing more than Snake Oil. Find me one major Aquarium run by the government that uses UV and I will stand down They don't work, for better or worse.
Why do you follow me mud
seannmelly
Active Member
we use a 18 watt uv on our reef, does it do any good...hopefully. does it do any bad, i hope not. are we going to take it off, no lol. if a fish is stressed, its going to get sick(i.e. a new fish), qt is the best way to go. have had no bad affects from having the uv.
melly
melly