UV Sterilizers

[rdd1952]

I am having a problem with green water in my 75 gallon tank. I don't have any algae problem but can't get rid of the greenish water. I have been doing 25 gallon water changes every day for almost 3 weeks now with no luck. I actually did have it lookin much better last week until I went out of town for the weekend. I was gone 3 days and all my efforts were pretty much gone as the water was back to it's yucky color again. It gets so bad that by 24 hours after a WC, I can't see the hoses at the back of the tank.

Has anyone had first hand experience with UV sterilizers? Are they worth the investment? When I posted the problem a couple weeks ago, someone suggested it was single cell algae. If that is correct, I don't want to suddenly kill it all off and create a huge ammonia spike. I know they are expensive but I am willing to pay the money if they work.

 

[CFC]

I run UV sterilisers on my two largest tanks and believe them to be worth every penny, both tanks have crystal clear water and very little in the way or the dreaded hair algea which is common in most peoples tanks in my area due to our hard alkeline nitrate&phosphate rich water.

 

[rdd1952]

My tap water doesn't have any of the problems you have. No nitrates or phosphates and very soft water. I think I'll go ahead and order one. Do you run your's inline with your filters or just use a water pump so you can cut it off when you want. I have two Fluval 304 filters so I could run it with one of them. Would it be best to put it in before or after the filter? Also, any brand you would recommend?

 

[smithrc]

as CFC has said - worth every penny.

we got one after 2 of our clowns got whitspot that got a bit worse than normal...
Since then we have not had white spot since (and we've moved them to my parents house too)

I hadnt noticed it untill CFC said about it - but the hair algea we do have - hasnt spread round the tank at all

PS - we run ours on the output of a 304
Pre filtered water is better through UV filters.

 

[CFC]

I run mine inline off the return from Eheim canister filters. The TMC Vectron sterilisers are good quality and come in a variety of sizes to suit any sized tank.

 

[gaya]

CFC, don't want to high jack this thread but i have a quick question. I've noticed that my tubes connected to my UV get icky, almost dirty looking. have you ever noticed that and if so what can i do about it besides replacing the tubes (which is what i have been doing). thanks

 

[CFC]

Do you mean the filter hoses or the tube the water passes through under the UV light? I take my hoses off and jet them through with mains pressure water in the garden every few month to blow out all the gunk and crap that collects in them. I scrub inside the UV tube and hose fittings with a dogs tooth brush every 6 months when i change the bulb.

 

[rdd1952]

Do you run your's constantly? I read somewhere that said it wasn't advisable to run them all the time. Since they are inline, I know the water is still passing through but that doesn't mean they have to be on.

 

[CFC]

Why would it not be good to run them all the time,? The only reason to not do so would be to try and prolong the life of the bulb and save money, but at £12 every 6 months they dont exactly break the bank anyway.

 

[rdd1952]

Thanks to everyone for the help. I'm off to surf for pricing and get an order in.

 

[Paul_MTS]

i run one on my biggest tank aswell. I bought it when i put stingras in there and since i can't treat with anything because of the rays i got one to help prevent diasease...none so far!!

i run it on my return pumps from my sump. when i received it the quarzt tube was well encrusted with calcuim so a good scrub every 6 months is well worth the effort.

never had hair algae and my water very hard aswell...although never had it in other tank either??!!

 

[gaya]

thanks cfc, that answeres my question. I should clean the system more than i do. I was just worried if that gunk could get in the tank and hurt the fish but it doesn't seem that it would.

 

[Def]

The reason people say not to run them constantly is due to immune system of fish. Immune systems in animals are built and maintained by combating disease (which is why when you get a flu shot or measels injection, you're getting an inactivated version of the virus). Running a UV permanently reduces/eliminates pathogens in the water, potentially making the immune systems of your fish weaker. Also in marine tanks UV will kill useful stuff that may pass through as well.

 

[rdd1952]

I just ordered a Coralife Turbo Twist 3X - 9 Watt from Big Al's online. I still haven't decided if I want to get a water pump and run it as a stand alone unit or try to put it inline with my fluval filter.