| Author |
 Topic Search  Topic Options
|
rfoote 
Guest
Joined: February 24 2003
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 1926
|
 Post Options
 Thanks(0)
 Quote  Reply
 Topic: To UV or not to UV?
Posted: July 05 2011 at 10:21pm |
|
I completely understand the purpose of UV and have typically ran one and I do now. However, I may be changing my mind... - Have any studies been done in regards to % of good bacteria that is killed off by it?
|
 |
bstuver
Guest
Joined: April 17 2006
Location: Provo
Status: Offline
Points: 9386
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: July 05 2011 at 10:34pm |
|
All I know is running one makes things look sooo much better. I just barely got mine up and running again and have noticed a huge change in the happiness of my corals:)
|
|
Jackie Stuver
"wait these aren't the happy Hawaiians oompa doompa godly heaven on your face zoas? I dont want them then. lol!" Ksmart
|
|
CapnMorgan
Guest
The Capn'
Joined: August 19 2009
Location: Tooele
Status: Offline
Points: 3537
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: July 05 2011 at 10:45pm |
|
The benefits far outweigh any drawbacks. Parasite control, nuisance algae, and bacterial blooms are all managed well with UV. Bigger (typically beneficial) organisms like copepods aren't killed off by a typical UV, the exposure time is too short.
|
Steve My Old 180G Mixed ReefCurrently: 120G Wavefront Mixed 29G Seahorse & Softies Running ReefAngel Plus x2 435-8
|
|
Adam Blundell
Presidency
Joined: June 24 2002
Location: Davis County
Status: Offline
Points: 18526
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: July 05 2011 at 11:15pm |
|
The percent of good stuff killed is also 100%.
But I'm with the above... they are really nice to have and I'm someone who likes knowing I have it running in case something goes wrong. Like a skimmmer. And like ozone. I just hate that feeling when a fish gets sick.
Adam
|
|
Come to a meeting, they’re fun!
|
|
rfoote
Guest
Joined: February 24 2003
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 1926
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: July 05 2011 at 11:20pm |
|
I think it could be argued that it is killing off bacteria that would actually consume these...?
I'd assume those that are carbon/bacteria dosing are not running UV?
|
|
CapnMorgan
Guest
The Capn'
Joined: August 19 2009
Location: Tooele
Status: Offline
Points: 3537
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: July 05 2011 at 11:46pm |
|
I do carbon dosing and also run UV, as does everyone I know who does it. The UV only kills the bacteria, parasites, etc in the water flowing through it, which is proportionally small compared to the water that goes through your skimmer. Again keep in mind a UV's kill ratio is directly dependent on the flow rate going through it. A higher flow rate= less stuff killed, while a lower flow rate= more stuff killed. For parasite control you need a lower flow rate to get the proper amount of exposure, while if you're just targeting bacteria and algae you can increase the flow rate.
Edited by CapnMorgan - July 05 2011 at 11:49pm
|
Steve My Old 180G Mixed ReefCurrently: 120G Wavefront Mixed 29G Seahorse & Softies Running ReefAngel Plus x2 435-8
|
|
Quickness
Guest
Joined: July 14 2011
Location: Ogden
Status: Offline
Points: 758
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: July 31 2011 at 10:53am |
So if you have a lower flow rate going through the UV, does that mean you are killing everything?? I just installed one on my setup after my fish got ick. A coralife turbo twist 9w. It has a fairly small pump pushing that water through it. I am pretty sure that I do not want to be killing everything. I already have some coral in the tank and really do not want to kill it.
|
|
Molon Labe
Si vis pacem, para bellum
|
|
Jeffatpm
Paid Member
Joined: September 23 2010
Location: West Jordan, UT
Status: Offline
Points: 1740
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: July 31 2011 at 10:48pm |
Mores flow = less killed.
Think of it like cookies in the oven, more time is burnt!
I'm a huge fan of uv filters, they've helped me keep the green down on fresh tanks and ich down on salt tanks. I always go for the 18W uv fixtures because you can get bulbs for cheap(usually on ebay). You generally want to go for 75gph through them.
I have 2 on my 210 tank and 1 one my 120gal tank. They usually rate them funny and rate them with interesting flow rates, i just go with the standard.
|
|
210 Reef with loads of LEDS
Large Fishey Room
Located Near Jordan Landing in West Jordan.
|
|
Davidwillis
Guest
Joined: July 30 2005
Location: Weston Id
Status: Offline
Points: 605
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: July 31 2011 at 10:56pm |
|
You won't kill the coral in the tank. It will only kill what goes through the UV, and even then you won't kill 100%. I would use a slow flow rate to kill off some of the ick. I personally run a slow flow rate through my UV, and run it 24/7. You will still keep plenty of the good stuff in the rock/sand,etc.
|
|
Quickness
Guest
Joined: July 14 2011
Location: Ogden
Status: Offline
Points: 758
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: July 31 2011 at 11:12pm |
|
perfect! exactly what i was looking for
|
|
Molon Labe
Si vis pacem, para bellum
|
|
