UV Sterilisers re-visited

[Fawke]

Hi there,

First of all i would like to apologise on the amount of threads i have going at the mo. I tend to Bulk post when i think of stuff....

I want to know all your thoughts on UV Sterilisers. I have posted a topic in the past but with no real outcome.

Basically - Effects on disease reduction, effects on natural fish habitat, effects on the fish immune system, effects on benificial bacteria....

I really want to get one to reduce disease and algae problems.... but i need a strong case in order for me to run this past my g/f...... talk about under the thumb... (im only kidding)

Thanks!

 

[mrV]

http/fish.orbust.net/forums/index.php?sh...c=35435&hl=uv-c
http/fish.orbust.net/forums/index.php?sh...c=31565&hl=uv-c

Effects on disease reduction,

It destroy "everything" that goes through it.

effects on natural fish habitat

Ehmm... Probably I don't understand what you mean...

effects on the fish immune system,

Some have said that it probably may decrease immune system, but I don't believe it. You can't get so pure, free of every bacteria, water with UV-C -sterilizer that fish immune system losts memory traces of diseases. It only lowers bacteria.

But sure, it could be critical if your UV-C is working very powerful and suddenly it fails -> water bacteria start to multiply very quickly and it may cause problem or not.

effects on benificial bacteria....

None, because beneficial bacteria live on surface not in water.

reduce disease and algae problems....

It, sure, reduce diseases (meaning amount of those bacteria/parasite) in water and helps on that way fishes to battle against them. But what becomes with algae, it's only affect "spores" that are in water - like volvox etc.. If algaes are groing on surface, it doesn't destroy them but it destroy flowing "spores" and prevent alittle algaes to grow.

 

[Fawke]

Hey you know what, that is great! Thankyou so much for that.... i think im gonna get one.... all the info i have read has led me to beleive, - it cant hurt

Thanks again!

 

[Fawke]

effects on natural fish habitat

Ehmm... Probably I don't understand what you mean...

O, just to clear that up....

I meant water and living parameters really..... im taking it the wild rivers of the amazon rain forest (or whatever) dont have UV sterilisers
I was not sure how it would effect the water itself.....

Thanks again!

 

[Tropjunky]

well it depens on the tank seze and wot sorta setup u got if u have tanks linked to the same filtration system then get on if u have masive tanks about 100gl up then get one but i've never used one and don't feel the need to.

UV serelizers kill and thing that lives when it goes past and therefore it will reduce algae desease and other bactrea in the water and this includs benificial floating un ur water (theres not that much it's all in ur flter) but ur fish should have an imunaty to them so i see no point in spending £100 on something that will have little or no noticable effect on ur tank.

But if u have tanks that are linked by filters then it's worth it 'cos the spread of desease from tank to tank will be reduced

and another point UV steralizers last about 3-4 years so thats about £50 per year i think it's not worth the bother.

But i would like to see how it turns out if u do get one

 

[mrV]

I was not sure how it would effect the water itself.....

It doesn't affect water. Water will be same when it went to that strelizer and when it came out - only it's more "pure" from organism.

(theres not that much it's all in ur flter)

I think that most of them are on other surface like in bottom. You can keep aquarium without filters too

and another point UV steralizers last about 3-4 years so thats about £50 per year i think it's not worth the bother.

Well, lamp lasts about 8-12000 hours and it's about over 300 days, so aproximately 1 to 1 and half year. It's still working but manufacturer recommends to change tube to new. New tube (15W) is for De-Bary system about 20 euros. (e.g.)

 

[CFC]

In my opinion UV sterilisers are essential on tanks of 75 gallons or more simply for the fact that they reduce the chance of parasites like ICH and velvet to almost non existent levels, having to treat these commonly encountered ailments in tanks with such large volumes costs a fortune if you have to use conventional meds. The fact that they reduce the spread of algea and keep the water crystal clear are just big bonuses. I use Vectron UV sterilisers on two of my tanks and both are always disease and algea problem free, the mnufacturer recomends changing the bulb every six months and the bulbs cost around £15.

 

[Fawke]

CFC - you are close to me, you dont have any for sale do you ??

Do you have a link to the vectron company website? and any idea of prices, i cant find it
I found a Vectron UV 15 on ebay -
http/cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...ssPageName=WDVW

Do you think this is sufficient for my tank? Can you have "too much" UV Light - IE If i but a UV 25 on there (also for sale on ebay).
Is it best to get one to suit ur tank...?

Thanks again

Aint the weather great Typical English Summer

 

[CFC]

no sorry no kit for sale here, i could do with another one myself

The vectron sterilisers are made by Tropical marine centre but can be bought from any good retailer, they start from about £50.

 

[Fawke]

Thanks CFC, i will probs be getting one soon!!! kool, shud b good.
I think a UV8 shud suffice?

 

[Max Action]

In my opinion UV sterilisers are essential on tanks of 75 gallons or more ...

OK, I'm in need of some advice from someone who actually knows something about these things. CFC, you seem to be a likely candidate!

So I have a 75 gallon, and am looking into a UV sterilizer for the tank. It is currently filtered by an Eheim .... not sure of the model number. I can try to figure it out from home later if this info is needed.

I'm specifically wondering about reputable brands (that I'll still be able to get bulbs from down ther road), wattage (do I need 25w?), and, finally - will I need a powerhead or some other additional water propulsion ... and if so, what should I be looking for?

Thanks in advance for the help.

 

[CFC]

You can run the UV straight from your eheim, just connect the return hose to the steriliser and then run a hose from the steriliser return back to the tank, it really is that simple. For a 75g tank a 15 watt tube will suffice. As for reputable brands it doesnt really matter since the tubes are a standard size and wattage, even if your model goes out of production you can still use any UV tube.

 

[Fawke]

An UV8 should suffice with a 35UKGal then? the water flow rate is withing the required!
Pucker! I can get one for £60, a worthy addition i reckon!

 

[Max Action]

You can run the UV straight from your eheim, just connect the return hose to the steriliser and then run a hose from the steriliser return back to the tank, it really is that simple. For a 75g tank a 15 watt tube will suffice. As for reputable brands it doesnt really matter since the tubes are a standard size and wattage, even if your model goes out of production you can still use any UV tube.

Re: these spiral-type dealies:

http/www.bigalsonline.com/catalog/produc...ategory_id=2967

and

http/www.bigalsonline.com/catalog/produc...ategory_id=2675

... can anyone figure out why to not get the Pondlife version for much less than the CoraLife one?

And will those twists and turns slow my water down enough that I need additional oomph?

 

[Max Action]

A 9-watt sterilizer I found (http/www.bigalsonline.com/catalog/product.xml?product_id=22513;category_id=2967) is cheaper from the start - plus, I can find replacement bulbs for it for $18 (http/www.bulbman.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=3977 - although I'm not positive these will work?) instead of $48 (http/www.bulbman.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=3978) for the 18 watt bulbs. $50 for a damn bulb?!?!?

And the 9-watt model claims to be good for tanks up to 125 gallons.

Hmmm ... feedback?