UV or not UV

[TrollGod]

Hi All,

Three months ago I introduced a copper band to my reef tank to help eliminate some Aiptasia anemones. Although the copper band was quarantined once in the main tank he started breaking out with white spot. So it was on with the U.V. and made sure all fish were well fed. The white spot has now cleared and i will probably keep running the U.V for another couple of months. I was wondering what your opinions on the continual use of U.V are. My thought are that if continually run the fish will have a less immune system.

[oakwell]

i have always been advised against a U.V ....tbh i am not sure why?

I am sure someone will have better info than me on this matter :grin:

[Buster]

some if not most reefers are against the use of a u.v. why? Because they say that not only does the u.v. steralize the bad stuff it can also do the same to beneficial organisams too. as with most ideas and thoughts in this hobby what works for you may not work for the next person. in my opinion the jury is still out.

[flying Jock]

Hi TG

I have run Uv's and TBH is really have noticed no difference running my reef without one.

Uv's are thought to kill good and bad bacteria as well as damage plankton which is why you may have been advised against one.

I have always found the best way to keep a fish from getting WSis to keep your parameters are stable as possible and feed your fish! :wink:

I see no point in feeding your fish once every day or two.

Small but frequent meals is the best way to feed your fish and with a good variety of frozen, flake and fresh if you can get it.

By feeding more regular your fish will have a better immune system which in turn will be able to fight off disease better.

I use a mixture of flake foods dosed by an ehiem autofeeder to feed my fish when i am not there.

I do not see any reason as to why running with a UV full time would be detrimental to your fishes immune system but as with a lot of things in this hobby you will get a lot of different answers :grin:

Cheers

FJ

[Macca]

I agree with FJ :-D

Set up a small tank with a UV and hold all fish there before introducing to main tank. It may save a lot of headaches.

James

PS This is being organised, something I am not. I dont think it would cost that much to set up a basic holding tank.

[Chris, Reef Ranch]

Hi all,

Some of this might have been touched on above, but this is what I understand to be correct about UV.

Protozoan such as marine ich (Crytocaryon irritans) are large. They can be seen with the naked eye. UV is quite efficient at killing bacteria and microorganisms, but is relatively ineffective at killing larger organisms.

The free swimming stage of ich is more likely to stay in your aquarium than get pumped through a UV. Even if it does it emerges on the whole unaffected.

UV will also kill beneficial microorgamisms in your system. Both good and bad bacteria etc., are part of the natural biota and they should be encouraged. UV tends to remove certain parts of the flora in your aquarium.

If we don’t sell it you don’t need it.

Chris, Reef Ranch

[CORALS4YOU]

Hi i have u.v on my system at moment and may exsperiment with it of ,i ave been told about the us of ozonizers being very useful but very damaging if not used correctly your thoughts

[liquidlogic]

UV not for reef but for fish only :-D