Best Thing Since Sliced Bread

[andywg]

I run one on my large tank as a precautionary method left over from treating whitespot. I also run UV on my rack as central filtration carries a higher risk of cross-infection.

Once I set up a larger marine I shall choose Ozone over UV.

 

[SkiFletch]

I run one on my large tank as a precautionary method left over from treating whitespot. I also run UV on my rack as central filtration carries a higher risk of cross-infection.

Once I set up a larger marine I shall choose Ozone over UV.

I too run UV on my marine setup. consequently I've never had any outbreaks of whitespot and my water is always clear. I think its a great precautionary measure especially in marine tanks where livestock is less than cheap

 

[raptorrex]

UV units are great at covering up the symptoms of underlying problems. If your tank is overproducing bacteria/algae or whatever, then finding the source and fixing that will have a better long term effect then buying a fix-it-quick cosmetic job.

yep i`ve got to agree,

We have one on the marine tank but it will only ever get turned on if there is a problem. (at 25 quid a fish and 40 quid a coral its alot of live stock to risk loosing)

lol i had never thought about having one on all the time. i assumed you used it as needed or say once a week. in FW at least.

 

[andywg]

lol i had never thought about having one on all the time. i assumed you used it as needed or say once a week. in FW at least.

You can use UV only as necessary, or as a preventative.

I only have mine on my FW setups at the mo. 2 of my marine tanks are species only with only one fish. I don't see how it would be possible to introduce white spot to those tanks now. Once I change out my reef cube to a 6 foot tank I shan't bother with UV as I will set up Ozone, far more effective.

The downside to treating with UV, as Bignose will tell you, is that you are never actually treating the whole tank, only that water which flows through the UV filter - this can lead to low level infections persisting. I recall reading some science on it and it found that UV is not the best thing on a single tank, but it does have a large benefit on central filtration systems (like my rack) as all the water from all the tanks is mixing, so running all returns through UV helps lower the risk of infection.

I must admit that my own experience is somewhat different, I found it cleared up an infection far quicker than using medication, though this is probably due to the majority of the pathogens being zapped and the fishes' immune systems taking up the strain on the rest of the infection.

 

[Lateral Line]

I also run UV on my rack as central filtration carries a higher risk of cross-infection.

Certainly true.

 

[kev350d]

I'd like to add that i still continue to do my weekly water changes and test my waters chemistry as often as i always have, I have seen UV devices sold in pet stores that state less regular water changes will be required (this should be a huge no no)..

The UV has done a far supperior job on helping me rid the tank of whitespot (and alot less stressfull on the fish) than medication was "medication and high temps alone failed to shift it".

How does the UV sterilizer serve only as a cosmetic fix that clouds the underlying issue as im sure anything that can aid us to keep our aquatic life in good health has to be a bonus and i will be most certainly keeping mine, other than whitespot (no fish loss) this is the only health effecting issue ive had.

We use co2 in our aquariums to aid with plant growth, aquatic plants can and will grow in aquariums without us adding it ....... but its nice to have and certainly does make a big differance, the same goes for UV we can look after our water and fish without it but its nice to have and does certainly help..

The UV in my case was bought to assist me in clearing up the whitespot as chemical treatments were proving not only stressfull to the fish but also useless against the strain in my tank, using only hight temps and the UV i have not had a single fish showing any signs of infection.

BTW.

I dont have marine, this is installed in my tropical freshwater set up.

 

[JamieH]

this is really interesting .... both your water and the fish behaviour improved? regardless of whether you have an underlying problem or not, anything which improves theliving conditions of your fish has got to be a good thing.

i've had a slight prob with haziness in my current tank...