Uv Sterilizer Need Some Help

[MORGANpl]

As I write in other topic Im after new tank. Im changing frome Fluval 90 to Fluval 240 and I wanna make everything as good as possible. So I thinking as well of getting the UV sterilizer and my question is Do I need seperate external filter to run the sterilizer??? Mayby someon have one fitted so can tell me If it is worth it??

 

[TwoTankAmin]

The primary consideration when using UV is what you are using it for and how long the water must be in contact with the UV light to accomplish this. Controlling algae takes a much shorter contact time than killing germs and bacteria. So the flow rate through the UV unit and the power (wattage size) become the two issues.

If you are running the UV to kill as much stuff as possible, then you are likely better of running it on its own small pump or power head where you can achieve a slower rate of flow through the UV than might be possible if its connected to your filter. Normally a small pump can cost less than a much larger UV unit.

 

[MORGANpl]

I foun two that I would be interested. Which one could be better??

My link

or

My link

 

[Miles_hot]

There is some thought that sterility might be a bad thing in a tank as it could lead to fish with poor immune systems...

 

[MORGANpl]

Just got today a new Fluval 205 and Vecton UV V2 400 sterilizer

 

[raptorrex]

As I write in other topic Im after new tank. Im changing frome Fluval 90 to Fluval 240 and I wanna make everything as good as possible. So I thinking as well of getting the UV sterilizer and my question is Do I need seperate external filter to run the sterilizer??? Mayby someon have one fitted so can tell me If it is worth it??

i have to ask why you are considering a UV unit. they will have no beneficial effect, long term. they DO NOT protect you from bacterial infections, they can not cure, bacterial infections. they can, however, clear algae problems. even then, you can take them out, after the bloom is cleared.

unless you have a problem with Algae, or wish to pump your tank water through, prior to a medication, they are totally useless. in a fresh water tank.

I guess they could give you something to post about, though. lol.

There is some thought that sterility might be a bad thing in a tank as it could lead to fish with poor immune systems...

not sure they are harmful, though the, incorrect assumption that you tank is safe if one is fitted. i guess that could be said to be 'harmful'. they just do noting but burn electricity and bulbs.

 

[MORGANpl]

Some people saying that they will help others that they wont help. Lets see what happen. I bougt the UV today and is allready running. I will do every day pictures of my tank and after week I will post them. (if there will be any difference )

 

[TwoTankAmin]

Utraviolet light can kill bacteria and is used to do so. Anybody who says it doesn't needs to go back to school I think. But don't believe ne- just Google "UV light + killing bacteria" and you can read til your hair turns gray.

As I stated above, and as you will see if you Google, killing bacterial has to do with a combination of the exposure time to direct UV light and the intensity of that light. basically death can be caused by short intense exposure or longer expossure at lower levels. Killing algae take less inensity and time than killing bacteria.

Ultraviolet light kills microorganisms by damaging the DNA. UV radiation disrupts the chemical bonds that hold the atoms of DNA together in the microorganism. If the damage is severe enough, the bacteria cannot repair the damage and will die. Longer exposure to UV light is necessary to ensure complete kill-off of all microorganisms. Unlike chemical treatments, UV-treated air or water does not resist re-contamination.

 

[MORGANpl]

WOW !!!!! That works!!!!! I will upload some pictures later but I just wake up, went downstairs to see if everything is working and just after 12 hours I can see my fishes Love that pice of kit

 

[raptorrex]

Utraviolet light can kill bacteria and is used to do so. Anybody who says it doesn't needs to go back to school I think. But don't believe ne- just Google "UV light + killing bacteria" and you can read til your hair turns gray.

As I stated above, and as you will see if you Google, killing bacterial has to do with a combination of the exposure time to direct UV light and the intensity of that light. basically death can be caused by short intense exposure or longer expossure at lower levels. Killing algae take less inensity and time than killing bacteria.

Ultraviolet light kills microorganisms by damaging the DNA. UV radiation disrupts the chemical bonds that hold the atoms of DNA together in the microorganism. If the damage is severe enough, the bacteria cannot repair the damage and will die. Longer exposure to UV light is necessary to ensure complete kill-off of all microorganisms. Unlike chemical treatments, UV-treated air or water does not resist re-contamination.

ahh, all the common misconceptions. few facts.
ok so UV does kill bacteria.(i didnt actually say it wouldnt) but it can not eradicate only reduce the bacterial load. only a whole tank treatment (medication) can eradicate an infection.

thing is not ALL the water in the tank will ever go through the filter. so,

I do understand how UV light work. that knowledge also tell us that it can not do what is vendors claim.

as for "go back to school", perhaps if you looked how this really works, you might gain some 'education'.

they are a nice flash gadget, but of little more use than that. there is no benefit to having one run, contiuasly, though i agree the only down side is waste of power and money. and the FALSE sense of security they bring. even so, its money wasted.

this is not MY view. its reality.

 

[MORGANpl]

Ok so I took some pics. First 2 pics are showing how the water was be4 installing my new toys. Unfortunetly the pic dont show haw exactlly the water was but as you can see it was cloudy...

http/i1187.photobucket.com/albums/z392/ZIOMEKpl/P1020999.jpg

http/i1187.photobucket.com/albums/z392/ZIOMEKpl/P1020998.jpg

This pic was done 12 hours after fitting Fluval 205 and Vecton UV

http/i1187.photobucket.com/albums/z392/ZIOMEKpl/P1030002.jpg

and that one 17 hours after

http/i1187.photobucket.com/albums/z392/ZIOMEKpl/P1030006.jpg

 

[TwoTankAmin]

only a whole tank treatment (medication) can eradicate an infection.

thing is not ALL the water in the tank will ever go through the filter.

Under normal circumstances there are any number of bacteria present in an aquarium. The concentrations of most is what really matters not the 100% absence of them. To that extent, if one can severely reduce the numbers, one will also be reducing the risk of illness. Immune systems will fight off mild attacks more readily than large scale attacks.

Secondly. it is not necessary that every unique molecule of water in a tank pass through the sterilizer. It is able to kill a greater % of the total bacteria than whatever % of the total water passes through the unit. By that I mean if 90% of the water passes through it, then more than 90% of the bacteria in the tank will be killed.

The reason this is the case is the same reason an automatic swimming pool vacuum can effectively clean the bottom of a pool using random movement- ie going over some places multiple times and never going over others. The secret it in the sweepin tail the unit has which stirs up the bottom a few feet on either side of the vaccum but behind it. This stirs up the dirt which then falls down all over. Where ever the vac goes there is always something to get.

In a tank with the UV unit the bacteria are not motionless nor is the water itself, there is current in a tank caused by pumps/filters/airstones even the movement of the inhabitants. As a result, the bacteria will constantly be redistributing throughout the tank. Every gallon of water taken into the UV unit should contain the average bacterial load/gallon for the tank at the time. It isn't as if the bacteria are ultimately limited to only being in whatever small % of the water itself never actually makes it into the unit.

Most folks who run UV on a fw tank don't do so 24/7. I know some folks who keep wild fish from lower pH water often rely on a 12/7 sort of schedule on their tanks to minimize the risk of micro-organisms creating problems.