U V Sterilizer... Worth the $?

[rwoolley]

I've lost two corals over the past year that I suspect were victims of some type of bacterial infection. Are UV Sterilizers helpful? Has anyone noticed any difference in there tank after adding one?

 

[Len]

Very few people nowadays use UV, but I have in the past without any observable benefits. I'm sure it kills waterborne pathogens and may reduce the possibility of outbreaks. It just didn't do much for me. I still had stuff die from pathogenic infections when I had one running.

 

[silly34]

I've used them to kill off floating nasties like ick. Extra insurance really, I am adding a small one to my tank here soon but only because I can get it really cheap.

B.

 

[J.Howard]

Don't have one, not getting one either, just one more thing to plumb/maintain/replace w/o much benefit.

 

[DOGMAI]

I know in a pond it will stop/control algae. Will it perform the same function in a SW tank?

Shane

 

[Len]

I know in a pond it will stop/control algae. Will it perform the same function in a SW tank?

Shane

Not in my experience.

 

[Anonymous]

I used to work for a company called Aquanetics and IME They didnt work well at all. It could have been the quality of product the company was putting out too though. They claimed it would stop bacteria and free floating agea spores but I have had tons of customers come back and say they still have bacteria/parasite problems and algea problems. It worked for a short time but not a good investment.

If you have ick in you tank chances are that adding a UV wont help much either since they can settle on rock and substrate and stay dormant for a long time. ITs funny I used to have customer calling me becuase they needed a replacement bulb and they are "Hurry and send it my fish are dying because I dont have it on right now" I would always tell them that its not going to save them

 

[CiXeL]

i think uv sterilizers would be more effective if they sucked up a chunk of water, let the light sit on it a few minutes and then released it again. it takes awhile for uv to kill organisms and cycling it through a uv lit tube doesnt seem like it would work so well.

im suprised though that noone has tried to apply this concept to home air purifiers. all it would take would be to put a strong uv bulb inside an existing air purifier. i wonder how much it would cut down on things like colds and flus floating around in the air.

 

[rwoolley]

Hey, thanks everyone for your input. I love this place! It sure helps hearing everyone's experience and opinions before making a decision. I don't mind making an investment if I can justify it, but I think I'll pass on the UV Sterilizer this time based on the feedback.

 

[Anonymous]

ITs funny I used to have customer calling me becuase they needed a replacement bulb and they are "Hurry and send it my fish are dying because I dont have it on right now" I would always tell them that its not going to save them

PT Barnum was right...there is a sucker born every minute :lol:

 

[vair]

I used to use one, a big one, forgot the specs now. Had it on 24/7 tank did alright but really slow coral growth and coraline growth was almost impossible to see. I turned it off and bam, tons of coraline and way better coral growth.

Dave

Oh ya I originally bought it as a newbie to fight ICK and algae.

 

[CiXeL]

i wonder if anyone has tried spot lighting of intense uv to fight bacterial infection. are there any UV leds?

 

[Bobzarry]

Yes there are UV leds.

Bob