Sterilizers

[Wonderboy]

What is everyone's opinion on Ultra Violet Aquarium Sterilizers?

I've been thinking of getting one, but I'm not too sure about them.

 

[Phoenixfish]

arnt they used to help decrease th eamount of algae

 

[Jules H-T]

People have been discussing these things in here, in the last day or so...

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=134420

 

[andywg]

Aquarium UV sterilisers are not aimed at reducing green water and algae, but to reduce free floating organisms and pathogens. The most obvious target is Ich. Most aquariums sterilisers actually say on the box that they are not for reducing algae.

It can be especially useful in tanks that are large, and thus treating with meds becomes very expensive and a bit hit and miss. People argue about how effective they are, but I had a fairly nasty outbreak and the UVs demolished the ich within a week. I have never had a problem since (and many new fish have been added).

I would always recommend them on a large tank due to the above.

 

[Phoenixfish]

and what counts as a large tank? 55-60+?

 

[andywg]

Difficult to say...

I would definately have them on 150 gallons (6x2x2) and to be honest, I am now running them on all my 4 feet tanks (from 37 gallons up).

It really depends on the local cost of meds and the availability of quarantine tanks. I can't really quarantine the 8" fish I buy as the other tanks aren't big enough.

As a guide, I would not feel happy running a 6 foot without it, purely for my own piece of mind.

 

[Wanda hornsey]

I agree I have one on our 130G one and wouldnt be without it, treating for white spot gets very expensive when your using over 1/2 a bottle for each dose!! my fish seem very healthy and after treating them for whitespot (which cleared in under a week no thanks to the rummy noses that bought it with them!) doesnt stop algy at all (that I can see) in fact you get a layer of it in the pipes to and from the filter and it makes a yummy snack for plecos when you squeeze the pipes and some pops into the tank

 

[trace1]

the uv's are not meant to reduce algea on the surfaces of the tanks as far as i know, but they are very useful for reducing floating algea in the water, i had 1 in my 4 foot tank due to having very green water at 1 point, it was that bad i couldn't see my fish & yes i did regular water changes & the uv did clear it within a week.