uv sterilizers

[ostrow]

Getting all sorts of contradictory info on uv sterilizers. Anyone use them in a FW tank? I'm trying to figure out if I'd get any benefit from one or whether I'd be wasting money. Having persistent parasite problems in my 30G tank. Thinking QT tank but worried my main is the source of the problems and have tried many meds/chems, with predictable stress to the inhabitants who weren't sick.

Tank is fine now, but in a few weeks I'd like to try clown loaches again. Every time I add them the problems (ick, velvet, internal parasites) seem to reappear. Doesn't seem to depend on supplier -- 3 different lfs, one online.

Anyway, wondering if anyone knows much about UVs. Some sites say they are effective on parasites, others say no.

 

[CFC]

Fitting a uv may help in keeping the free swimming parasites down but wouldn't eradicate them entirely.Over here in England i use a general tonic type medication which works as a prevention rather than cure(it is a parasiticide,bactericide and fungiside all in one).Unfortunatlely i dont think its available in the US at least not under its English name (PARAGON made byWaterlife products)but im sure there must be something similar over there, if you manage to get it down to there being no visable signs of disease i would recomend using a product like this, hope this has been a help.

 

[ostrow]

We have paragon and paragon II but made by aquatronics I think. Paragon is:

T18 PARAGON AQUATRONICS
advanced cocktail concept for treatment of most parasitic diseases with due regard for the control of secondary infections which can develop after the parasites are eliminated. The anti-parasitics are Dylox and Isoniazid. The secondary infection fighters are Kanamycin Sulfate and Nitrofurazone, while salt is used as a carrier. Can be used in Marine aquaria. Treat tank consecutively for 2 days and then use at 1/2 dose on the third day. (Sold since 1979).

I don't think this is the same. Anyway, how do you use yours as a preventative? Are you always adding it???

 

[CFC]

Its added once every two weeks after a water change at a dose of one tsp per 24 USg, ive never had any problems in the tanks i use it in but the one i couldn't use it in due to sensative fish recently had a fungus diseaese whish wiped out nearly half its inhabitants,so it must be doing something?

 

[ostrow]

I'm pretty sure these products are different.

 

[William]

I used to have a koi pond, never had any problem with parasites before I got a UV or after I got one I did find the UV removed the algae bloom I used to get which was great and this was the reason I bought it

 

[ostrow]

Ok, so here is my story with my 29G tank.

Basic history is an ick infestation since around October, with some velvet thrown in for kicks. Whenever it seemed licked, it came right back. Search my name and you'll see the sordid history.

So I gave up on meds and ordered a Coralife Turbo-Twist 9W, with an Aquarium Systems Maxi-Jet 400 (106GPH).

The day I hooked it up, white spots were visible on one platy and several cardinal tetras, with two of the latter showing ragged fins and sitting on the substrate, lethargic. I expected to see them on the filter intake the next morning. As I had meds including some copper in the water, I had run the carbon filter after a water change, for 12 hours, before turning on the UV.

Then turned it on. 36 hours later, no spots on any fish, and the tetras were all swimming around happily. Today is now 4 days spot-free in the tank, tetras fins all healed, and all fish seem to be in the prime of life.

The additional power head in the tank is not so sightly and a bit of a drag, particularly for a tank this small. But it is better than fish dying. The total cost was around $100, which I had already easily spent on a box full of meds and dozens of dead fish.

I recognize it is still soon and anything can happen. But so far, I am delighted with the results and hope this may be of help to others with persistent, raging ick problems.

 

[CFC]

Glad you seem to have solved yor problem,keep us posted on how things work out,i've been thinking of rigging one up on my big tank to try and control a hair algea problem but since it seems to have other benifits as well think i will add one anyway.

 

[ostrow]

Siamese Algae Eaters (crossocheilus siamensis) will eat up all the hair algae in no time...if you can find them!

 

[CFC]

Thanks for the advice but i cant follow it unfortunately,i already have sae's in my other tanks but in the big tank i have a shovelnose catfish who would just love to have some little friends round for dinner!