UV and Ich removal

[scumonkey]

Just added a UV sterilizer to my tank today (a first for me).
Do to a nasty out break of ich that wiped out my small collection of fish,
I'm now at the end of my 4th week of a fishless 112g quarantined display.:tired:
The UV has about 100gph going through it right now. I used an adjustable pump so, if someone thinks I should slow down the flow I can.
How long should I keep up the quarantine and UV before I can start SAFELY
adding new (also quarantined for 4 weeks as well) fish?

 

[cali_reef]

UV does not eradicate ich. They are always in the tank waiting for a host.

 

[scumonkey]

They are always in the tank waiting for a host

I beg to differ on that point but don't want to get into it with you.
Anybody else who can answer my question?

 

[pecan2phat]

An UV will only eradicate ick in it's swimming stage while in the water column and passing through your UV.
You would need to go fallow (fishless) for 8 weeks and this is not always 100% cause I've done it and it has come back on occasion. But 8 weeks is the general concensus.

 

[Aqua Pro Builder]

UV can kill the ones that are in the water column but what are about the ones in the substrate? Therefore, I would still say 6 weeks.

In an experiment of curing my friend's fish, I bought an 18W from Salebig just to see how effective it works in controlling ich during an outbreak. I can see that it does help in lowering the infections(which is important to begin with in an ich ordeal) of fish but thus far has not completely eliminate all ich. It's now two to three months. The ich has lowered with no fish death but still there is some ich on one of the tang.

I would lower the flow to the UV just in case the contact time is not enough. BTW how many watts is yours?

 

[Henrye]

I would also agree on a 6 to 8 week quarantiene. As far as the flow rate through the UV streilizer, that's going to be determiined by the wattage of the UV bulb to determine the dwell time for sufficient irradiation at a flow rate to assure at least a 99% turnover of tank volume twice a day. Here's a link on UV sterilizers and calculating wattage and flow rates:
http://aquariumadvice.com/article_view.php?faq=2&fldAuto=39http://aquariumadvice.com/showquestion.php?faq=2&fldAuto=39

Henry

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

Ok heres my .02

UV's kill bacteria in the water column but cant tell wether they are killing good or bad bacteria, it just kills bacteria. So maybe not using a UV is a better idea than using one.

 

[Domboski]

I found using a UV helps (at the very least) control the level of ich in the system. I had a bad outbreak in one of my tanks and hooked up the UV. After the ich went into the water column stage, every outbreak from there after was less and less until now, I haven't seen an outbreak in over 6 months. That includes adding new wild called gobies (naked) which in my experience, are the most prone to getting ich and badly!

Just my experience, I wouldn't run a system without a UV. Your UV model should tell you the max GPH. If not, then you can do a search as others have mentioned.

 

[scumonkey]

Thanks everyone,
especially Henrye .....great link!!!!
I thought I read it would take 6-8 weeks...just couldn't remember(and a little wishful thinking on my part), nothing but bad happens fast in this hobby - eight weeks it is then- 1/2 way there! :turtle:
My new Gamma unit is a 25w and after reading the link, I found I needed to slow the flow down to around 80gph- about 20% less than where I had it set (thank goodness for adjustable pumps)!:spin:

 

[Aqua Pro Builder]

Thanks everyone,
especially Henrye .....great link!!!!
I thought I read it would take 6-8 weeks...just couldn't remember(and a little wishful thinking on my part), nothing but bad happens fast in this hobby - eight weeks it is then- 1/2 way there! :turtle:
My new Gamma unit is a 25w and after reading the link, I found I needed to slow the flow down to around 80gph- about 20% less than where I had it set (thank goodness for adjustable pumps)!:spin:

When the bulb gets old, may be you would also want to slow down a little bit to compensate for the efficiency downgrade.

 

[nycmat]

the slower the flow rate the more exposure the bulb gets to kill more. also if you wish to rid yourself of ich in the tank you should also give more info regarding sand bed and rock inside. there are reasons because lets say for example you have no sand bed and very little current chances are you wont get most out, but onn the other hand if you have high flow it kicks everything to by cycled. also you should look into a ozonizer they work well . but make sure you get someone who can show you how to operate it correctly

 

[Dace]

Just my experience, I wouldn't run a system without a UV.

i would have to disagree with this statement only because you have to remember that a
UV light kills good bacteria also which is beneficial in a reef tank. I have a UV light on my 400gal system but only use it when i come across a ick problem and only use it for a short period of time so i won't kill off the good bacteria in the tank, the other thing i do to help fight the ick is alot of Garlic and Selcon in the food. Hope this helps..

 

[scumonkey]

What up Daceman89?!
Trumpets doing swell- it has divided and now has four more heads than before!
Thank YOU!!!!
I am with your train of thought....

...only use it when i come across a ick problem and only use it for a short period of time so i won't kill off the good bacteria in the tank, the other thing i do to help fight the ick is alot of Garlic and Selcon in the food. Hope this helps..

I don't want to run this thing all the time! I just want to make the tank as
ich free as I can before I reintroduce some new (quarantined) fish.
I already have the garlic and Selcon- that goes with out saying ;^)
Unlike most reefers, I am about done putting in new corals (unless something else dies) cause what I have is enough for me, and I'm happy with my tank the way it is! Once I can get a few fish established I'll be leaving the tank the way it is except for maintenance- NO NEW ADDITIONS!
Then hopefully I can just sit back and watch everything grow?!