Alternative To A Uv Sterilizer?

[gotteeguy]

I don't have a UV sterilizer right now (I'm getting one for Christmas), but I would like to know if a UVB florescent tube on a strip light placed directly over the aquarium (about 4 inches away from it) kill any parasites? The amount of UVB in the tube is 5%. Since UV sterilizers use the same principal, would this work?

And would the UVB output benefit my xenia coral?

 

[seffieuk]

If it were me I wouldn't bother with either, save your money and spend it on a QT tank

Seffie x

 

[rabbut]

UV sterilisers are IMO detrimental to the system.

The best replacement for a UV steriliser is good husbandry.

You tend to find most people use UV to treat the symptom, not the cause, so stress their fish more by not fixing the issue causing them to fall ill. Further to this, UV reduces pathogen levels to a point where the fish loose their natural immunity. There is then a fault with the UV at some point and the remaining parasites have a field day on all your fish that aren't immune to them any-more

 

[gotteeguy]

Well, I guess I'll just stick to UVB lights for my reptiles. I read that UV sterilizers use UVC lighing anyway, not UVB, and UVC can pretty much kill anything.

Since I already asked for one for christmas, could the UV sterilizer be used JUST in the QT tank?

How can it be detrimental?

Ah, nevermind. I caught on to what you were saying. But would it be okay in the QT tank when I'm treating a fish?

 

[bitteraspects]

there is no scientific data backing up the claim that UV filters lower your fishes immunity.

UV filters effect ONLY free floating particles in the water. (bacteria, algae spores, microbes, fungi, etc.)unless your fish come in direct contact with the bulb, it will not harm them at all.
much like anything else, fish do not lose their immunity to anything overnight. it is a very long process.
there are always a few people who like to make these kinds of claims, yet never is is backed up with facts or scientific data.

but hey, maybe im wrong. maybe for once rabbut has some scientific facts backing up his claims.

what i do know for a fact is that i have used them personally, as have hundreds of thousands of people worldwide, and all without these "claimed" detrimental effects. most people who have ponds have these UV filters on them, and have their ponds stocked with many more fish than the average aquarium, yet not a single death or ill fish due to these "claims".

 

[xxBarneyxx]

Although I wouldn't agree with the way the above post is worded I do agree with the content. There is no proof that using UV will "destroy your fishes immunity" or the other old favourite of "its detrimental to corals because it removes any live food source from the water".

I know people that have used UV on reef tanks for many years with no issues at all and have thriving coral colonies and healthy fish.

I personally don't use one as with the livestock I have I think its overkill. However if you keep ich prone fish (such as regal tangs) which can get ich even in the most well looked after tanks it is a very useful tool. Yes it doesn't treat the cause and it doesnt replace a QT but it can stop things like ich from spreading and infecting all of your fish.

There is many arguments for and against them. To be honest the only valid argument against them (IMO) is that 99% of the time they are not actually doing anything of value. The biggest argument for them though is that in the 1% of the time they could save your whole fish stock.

Edit: Good point on the ponds too. My parents used to use a massive UV unit on their koi pond to help keep the water clear. They had fish that they kept for years without them getting ill or dying.