Uv Help?

[Gadgetman1805]

Hi all,

I have not posted in a while i need some help. I have just set up a fluval vicenza 260 litre tank running a fluval 305 and and eheim 2028 filter. I want to purchase a TMC V2 Vectron UV filter. Can anyone tell me which one i need to purchase i heard that you have to buy one up from your tank size. So would i need:

The V2 Vectron 400L

or the

V2 Vectron 600L

Also which filter is it best to connect it to? currently suffering the "new tank syndrome" with black algae so trying to reduce this down (sorted out the lights and also curtains for sunlight)

be grateful if anyone could tell me if these are good UV filters also. I used to have a fish r fun one which did next to nothing on my 180litre tank!

 

[Vin Swords]

Hi all,

I have not posted in a while i need some help. I have just set up a fluval vicenza 260 litre tank running a fluval 305 and and eheim 2028 filter. I want to purchase a TMC V2 Vectron UV filter. Can anyone tell me which one i need to purchase i heard that you have to buy one up from your tank size. So would i need:

The V2 Vectron 400L

or the

V2 Vectron 600L

Also which filter is it best to connect it to? currently suffering the "new tank syndrome" with black algae so trying to reduce this down (sorted out the lights and also curtains for sunlight)

be grateful if anyone could tell me if these are good UV filters also. I used to have a fish r fun one which did next to nothing on my 180litre tank!

.



I have two vactone 25v hooked on a 2028

I have no algae..


Ps... during an med treatment time I switched off the uv for week and realise what a great job they do..

Btw.. It's 450l tank..

 

[Vin Swords]

Btw.. Btw.. Tmc tubes are no good. Get philips ones. They r same fitting.

 

[leysland]

I have a 200 one on a 200L tank, what you have to bear in mind is the size of the unit. a 300 one wouldn't fit in my cabinet as the it doesn't have a solid back to fit it to. So measure before you order, photos are deceptive they are bigger than you think.

 

[Vin Swords]

photos are deceptive they are bigger than you think.

lol.. tell me about it....

when i went to pick up my first 15w vactone.. i thought i could just put it in the extra pocket of the laptop bag ..


i end up carring it with both hands.

 

[raptorrex]

I have two vactone 25v hooked on a 2028

I have no algae..

thing is, i don't have any algae either, but i don't have a UV unit. so, is the fact you have 2 uv units, really the reason you have no algae? quite apart from the fact, uv units can destroy much more than algae, much of which is useful.

now i understand how much use these units can be. my worry is, they are being used , continually. personally i feel they are not good to use as a "prophylactic". but fantastically good as a treatment.

 

[Vin Swords]

uv units can destroy much more than algae, much of which is useful.

hmmmm.. news to me.. please elaborate..

 

[raptorrex]

uv units can destroy much more than algae, much of which is useful.

hmmmm.. news to me.. please elaborate..

you dont really think UV units only kill algae do you. they kill all biological matter that passes through them. they, also, create polymers from fat and oil.

 

[bodge99]

Hello,

IMHO, UV sterilisers are essential. Just look at all of the posts on this forum and others regarding fish diseases et al. There seems to be a lot of misconceptions about their effectiveness and usage. My experiences indicate that they are a great way of reducing algal problems and virtually eliminating the chances of disease problems starting. I have had no disease problems whatsoever since I started using them.

Of course, you do have to follow normal infection control procedures, i.e. quarantine new fish properly, clean equipment properly, be careful with the choice of live/frozen food etc. etc.

A UV steriliser is useless with an already sick fish. The use of UV will not kill all microscopic life in your tank. It will only distroy whatever is passing through the steriliser at that moment. The normal bacterial colonies still exist in the filter and on everything in the tank itself. Anything waterbourne tends to be killed off..

I'd suggest that you purchase the largest power you can that is within your budget. I work on the principle that you cannot have too much UV. Different types of microrganisms/parasites require different UV exposures in order to kill them. Tank parameters (size, layout and circulation efficiency) and pump flow rates do affect the overall calculations for UV power requirements. I just go a bit bigger!

Just make sure that you connect it after the external filter (i.e. on the return path to the tank), and ensure that the UV tube is changed as per the manufacturers recommendations.

Just my 10c worth..

Bodge99

 

[raptorrex]

Hello,

IMHO, UV sterilisers are essential.

it seems the same is not true of the vast majority of fishkeepers. oddly those who dont have a UV unit, don't fail in their attempts to keep fish. so just how essential is it? true it can be useful. but until and unless everybody has to have a UV unit in order to their keep fish healthy.(which is far from true), the answer is, not at all.

you may find it essential to have a UV unit, the question then is why? thousands of others don't!

 

[bodge99]

Hello,

IMHO, UV sterilisers are essential.

it seems the same is not true of the vast majority of fishkeepers. oddly those who dont have a UV unit, don't fail in their attempts to keep fish. so just how essential is it? true it can be useful. but until and unless everybody has to have a UV unit in order to their keep fish healthy.(which is far from true), the answer is, not at all.

you may find it essential to have a UV unit, the question then is why? thousands of others don't!

Hello,

Yes, you are quite correct in stating that the vast majority of fish keepers don't use UV or perhaps need to. A stable tank, coupled with good, effective procedures will go a long way to keeping fish stock healthy.

All I can say is that they work for me, and others who now use them have seen a marked reduction in problems over a significant period of time.

Some people are of the opinion that a sub £5 fish is not worth spending the money on in attempting a cure when ill. A quick scan of any fish forum indicates that a significant number of fish keepers are very concerned about the health of their stock and will spend a considerable amount of time and money on chemicals and treatment. Unfortunately, in some cases this fails and the fish either dies or has to be euthanised. The only chemicals I now keep is aquarium salt and water conditioner. I have had no fish health problems whatsoever since I started using UV.

My opinion is that, as most problems in a closed environment such as an aquarium come from an external source, anything that can reduce the chance of fish disease must be worthly of consideration.

I have (and know of people who **do** know what they are doing) lost a full tank of fish due to an overwhelming parasite/bacterial infection. In my case, I **think** it came from the water supply, as nothing else had changed. I have even heard of some keepers who only use UV sterilised water for water changes. Yes, these are very rare, expensive fish in these cases.

You don't **need** a steriliser to keep fish.. but us UV aficionados would prefer to have that extra level of security that these units bring us.

They are not "snake oil".

Bodge99

 

[Vin Swords]

they kill all biological matter that passes through them. they, also, create polymers from fat and oil.

i dont think so, coz u dont have friendly bios in water.

ps.. i dont know wat polymers is is..

 

[bodge99]

they kill all biological matter that passes through them. they, also, create polymers from fat and oil.

i dont think so, coz u dont have friendly bios in water.

ps.. i dont know wat polymers is is..

Yep, this can happen. Normally it is insignificant as oxidised long chain carbon polymers are quickly broken down by bacteria in the tank. Yet another reason to up the UV power a bit. A unit with sufficient UV exposure (a function of flow rate, exposure time and tube power) will kill everything in the water passing through the unit **at that moment in time**.

Bodge99

 

[raptorrex]

they kill all biological matter that passes through them. they, also, create polymers from fat and oil.

i dont think so, coz u dont have friendly bios in water.

ps.. i dont know wat polymers is is..

yes you do. you may not get much filter bio in water. but that far from all the bio in water. how on earth can people consider using kit like this, without a basic understanding of their water?

as for polymers clicky

algae for a start is not caused by some problem with your water, not even remotely. its caused by excess light. perhaps finding the true cause may stop people buying useless gear. you can use UV to cure a bout of algae. but not having UV is not the cause. you the keeper are!!!!!!!!

 

[bodge99]

they kill all biological matter that passes through them. they, also, create polymers from fat and oil.

i dont think so, coz u dont have friendly bios in water.

ps.. i dont know wat polymers is is..

yes you do. you may not get much filter bio in water. but that far from all the bio in water. how on earth can people consider using kit like this, without a basic understanding of their water?

as for polymers clicky

algae for a start is not caused by some problem with your water, not even remotely. its caused by excess light. perhaps finding the true cause may stop people buying useless gear. you can use UV to cure a bout of algae. but not having UV is not the cause. you the keeper are!!!!!!!!

Hello,

Raptorex is totally correct with his statement regarding algae and associated problems. However, it would appear that a significant number of tanks are kept in not totally optimal locations. I don't mean on a window ledge in direct sunlight, I mean the typical location in someones front room with bright lights (both tank and room) that are switched on for a significant proportion of the day. After all, most people keep fish for them to be seen. The financial cost of a decent aquarium is not insignificant and this major purchase is often displayed with pride. A consequence of this can be the occasional algae problem... Is it reasonable to expect a typical household to modify their lifestyle totally to accomodate an aquarium?? I think a bit of give and take is required here.. and a UV unit can help.

I still think that the bacteria/parasite/virus control assistance that these units can give is invaluable.

bodge99