TwoTankAmin
Fish Connoisseur
I have a small UV unit. I got it when I began working with Altum Angels. They are wild caught fish from very acid waters where many bacteria cannot survive. As a result, the Altums are not exposed to a lot of diseases. When they arrive here they are very vulnerable. They are difficult to even keep alive as their immune systems are not up to par since they have not been greatly used until they leave home and get into waters with nasties in them.
So, on my second try I had the UV unit. I also started with a brand new tank, water etc. etc.
I had to learn a lot about UV before I felt confident about how to use one properly. For that, I read a ton on the site where I finally bought mine. What is below is a quote, and the place to go to read much more great info on this subject us the link at the end of the info below.
Here are a few BASIC points as to what a Properly Installed, Well Designed TRUE UV Sterilizer (or Sterilizer) Can Do for your POND or AQUARIUM:
• Clear Green Water in Aquariums or Ponds when run in parameters for clarification. Clarification is the simplest use of a UV Sterilizer and in fact many if not most UV Sterilizers are ONLY capable of clarification, which is why many are misnamed "UV Sterilizer" when in fact these lower end models are actually just "UV Clarifiers". It is noteworthy that a true level 1 capable UV Sterilizer will also clear green water in ponds much more quickly and maintain water clarity MUCH better than a basic UV Clarifier!!!
• Kill most suspended bacteria and many viruses in the water column when run at level 1 or 2 Sterilization, while not affecting bacterial colonies in filter media and substrate
• Kill Epistylis in the water column which feed on bacteria in the water column before attaching to fish. The Epistylis is ciliate distantly related to Ich, which it is commonly confused with. My experience with Epistylis is that in an aquarium utilizing true level one or higher UV Sterilization, is that Epistylis infestations are 99.9% nonexistent!
• Improve Redox Balance in aquarium or pond in part by lowering oxidative stress and thus improve the fish’ ability to fight disease (this has been proven in well researched human studies too)
• AID in the control of parasites such as Ich or Cryptocaryon by improving immune function and at very low flows can more directly aid in parasite control in the water column, although not on fish directly (that requires Level 2 Sterilization; under 8-12 gph per watt, which is still not 100%).
• Stop the spread of toxic red tide dinoflagellates which can make humans very ill and has recently been shown to infect home/office marine aquariums. These red tide dinoflagellates have been shown to be effectively destroyed by either level one or higher UV Sterilization or an ozonizer connected to a Protein Skimmer (much more so than by chlorine).
To read more than you knew existed on this subject and good advice on how to chose the right unit for your needs (if you have them), here is a link to all the great info you could want: https://www.americanaquariumproducts.com/sterilization.html
So, on my second try I had the UV unit. I also started with a brand new tank, water etc. etc.
I had to learn a lot about UV before I felt confident about how to use one properly. For that, I read a ton on the site where I finally bought mine. What is below is a quote, and the place to go to read much more great info on this subject us the link at the end of the info below.
Here are a few BASIC points as to what a Properly Installed, Well Designed TRUE UV Sterilizer (or Sterilizer) Can Do for your POND or AQUARIUM:
• Clear Green Water in Aquariums or Ponds when run in parameters for clarification. Clarification is the simplest use of a UV Sterilizer and in fact many if not most UV Sterilizers are ONLY capable of clarification, which is why many are misnamed "UV Sterilizer" when in fact these lower end models are actually just "UV Clarifiers". It is noteworthy that a true level 1 capable UV Sterilizer will also clear green water in ponds much more quickly and maintain water clarity MUCH better than a basic UV Clarifier!!!
• Kill most suspended bacteria and many viruses in the water column when run at level 1 or 2 Sterilization, while not affecting bacterial colonies in filter media and substrate
• Kill Epistylis in the water column which feed on bacteria in the water column before attaching to fish. The Epistylis is ciliate distantly related to Ich, which it is commonly confused with. My experience with Epistylis is that in an aquarium utilizing true level one or higher UV Sterilization, is that Epistylis infestations are 99.9% nonexistent!
• Improve Redox Balance in aquarium or pond in part by lowering oxidative stress and thus improve the fish’ ability to fight disease (this has been proven in well researched human studies too)
• AID in the control of parasites such as Ich or Cryptocaryon by improving immune function and at very low flows can more directly aid in parasite control in the water column, although not on fish directly (that requires Level 2 Sterilization; under 8-12 gph per watt, which is still not 100%).
• Stop the spread of toxic red tide dinoflagellates which can make humans very ill and has recently been shown to infect home/office marine aquariums. These red tide dinoflagellates have been shown to be effectively destroyed by either level one or higher UV Sterilization or an ozonizer connected to a Protein Skimmer (much more so than by chlorine).
To read more than you knew existed on this subject and good advice on how to chose the right unit for your needs (if you have them), here is a link to all the great info you could want: https://www.americanaquariumproducts.com/sterilization.html