I was curious what the scapecrunch community view is on UV sterilization/ disinfection units. A supplier convinced me to buy one a while back and I have it in my new system, but I’ve recently picked up on some thoughts that’s it’s a waste of time in a planted tank and could just harm my flow. Please let me know what your thoughts are and maybe just if you use one or not?
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UV Disinfection Units?
- Thread starter Noahspapa
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I have a UV bulb in my SunSun canister filter.
I have never turned it on.
If I had a green water outbreak I might turn it on.
I have never turned it on.
If I had a green water outbreak I might turn it on.
Kwyet
After every new tank—“This is my last one!”
I don’t think they are effective for sterilization, unless they’re large and ridiculously expensive. I do have a cheap one that I started running for 24 hours after the weekly maintenance session and water change for the Dutch tank. I think it helps keep algae from getting started after stirring everything up, but it may just be wishful thinking, lol!
UV sterilizers are routinely used on reef tanks and some discus tanks, to manage infections of their very sensitive livestock and ecosystems. Here's a long discussion on required flow rates and sizing
www.reef2reef.com
In freshwater planted tanks they can provide the same support for livestock hospital and quarantine.
Otherwise some some have seen some improvements in water clarity, nothing extreme. People have tried them on greenwater algae outbreaks with mixed results.
Here's extensive web page about sterilizers, from someone who also sells them
QUESTION OF THE DAY - UV Sterilizers: Are the benefits a MYTH or a REALITY?
UV Sterilizers: Are the benefits a MYTH or a REALITY? Let's talk a hot button topic today. Let's talk about UV sterilizers and if you believe the benefits of running one on your aquarium system is a myth or reality! Here is a description I found for UV sterilizers. How UV Works? Ultraviolet...
www.reef2reef.com
In freshwater planted tanks they can provide the same support for livestock hospital and quarantine.
Otherwise some some have seen some improvements in water clarity, nothing extreme. People have tried them on greenwater algae outbreaks with mixed results.
Here's extensive web page about sterilizers, from someone who also sells them
UVC Sterilization | How Aquarium & Pond UV Sterilizers Work
Information how a TRUE Aquarium, Pond UV Sterilizer/clarifier work. Category A, B, & C Sterilizers. Affect on green water, disease prevention, & Redox
www.americanaquariumproducts.com
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I never used one, until I got a green water outbreak that I COULD NOT clear.
Plants were healthy and algae-free, CO2 was perfect, yet I had green water. 70% WC (100 gal of RO water each time) wouldn't get rid of the green water; it would come back within 1 day.
I installed a 14W UV sterilizer and after 3 days had crystal clear water.
On my experimental tank that has an actual volume of 34 gallons, I have an Oase 7W UV clarifier. It's unlikely to do any sterilizing, but definitely has helped keep the water crystal clear. I mean, CRYSTAL clear. I get GSA on the glass at the end of the week, but the water itself is like acrylic. It's beautiful.
I daily dose micros, and the only chelated thing in the micros is the Fe DTPA. UV Sterilizers WILL break down chelates rapidly, so I run the UV sterilizer only at night, right up until the minutes that the daily doser doses my micros. Haven't seen any issues!
On my bigger tank, I haven't had a UV sterilizer for a while. Water is very clear, especially with a dense-sponge prefilter, but it's definitely not as clear as it was when I had the 14W UV clarifier installed.
In the next version of my big tank, I'm installing a "real" 55W sterilizer, usually used for reefs. Is it required? No. Would I recommend it? No. Does it improve water clarity? Maybe in some situations. Will 55W actually sterilize my water of free-floating bacteria and algae? at the flow rates I'm running, not unless I run it for 8+ hours a day, which I plan on doing. Am I going to write way too many words on scapecrunch about it? Yes!
So I would not consider them even remotely close to a necessity. In fact, I'd recommend finding a removeable in-tank unit that can be installed for cloudy water situations, and removed a few days later. Let me test the $600 UV sterilizer and I'll let everyone know if it makes a difference or not!
Plants were healthy and algae-free, CO2 was perfect, yet I had green water. 70% WC (100 gal of RO water each time) wouldn't get rid of the green water; it would come back within 1 day.
I installed a 14W UV sterilizer and after 3 days had crystal clear water.
On my experimental tank that has an actual volume of 34 gallons, I have an Oase 7W UV clarifier. It's unlikely to do any sterilizing, but definitely has helped keep the water crystal clear. I mean, CRYSTAL clear. I get GSA on the glass at the end of the week, but the water itself is like acrylic. It's beautiful.
I daily dose micros, and the only chelated thing in the micros is the Fe DTPA. UV Sterilizers WILL break down chelates rapidly, so I run the UV sterilizer only at night, right up until the minutes that the daily doser doses my micros. Haven't seen any issues!
On my bigger tank, I haven't had a UV sterilizer for a while. Water is very clear, especially with a dense-sponge prefilter, but it's definitely not as clear as it was when I had the 14W UV clarifier installed.
In the next version of my big tank, I'm installing a "real" 55W sterilizer, usually used for reefs. Is it required? No. Would I recommend it? No. Does it improve water clarity? Maybe in some situations. Will 55W actually sterilize my water of free-floating bacteria and algae? at the flow rates I'm running, not unless I run it for 8+ hours a day, which I plan on doing. Am I going to write way too many words on scapecrunch about it? Yes!
So I would not consider them even remotely close to a necessity. In fact, I'd recommend finding a removeable in-tank unit that can be installed for cloudy water situations, and removed a few days later. Let me test the $600 UV sterilizer and I'll let everyone know if it makes a difference or not!
- Thread starter
- #6
Thanks to all for your input!
I can't believe I read the entire thing. But damn I learned a lot! Feeling a lot better about making a big purchase on a "serious" UV clarifier this time around. I probably wouldn't use much less for any reason in the future.Here's extensive web page about sterilizers, from someone who also sells them
UVC Sterilization | How Aquarium & Pond UV Sterilizers Work
Information how a TRUE Aquarium, Pond UV Sterilizer/clarifier work. Category A, B, & C Sterilizers. Affect on green water, disease prevention, & Redoxwww.americanaquariumproducts.com
Still think that for 95% of scapers it isn't necessary, even after this awesome article.
*Ci*
Tending water worlds since 1975!
Tell me more about the 55 watt unit you have chosen, please. I will be putting a large UV on my upcoming goldfish tank, sized for level 2 sterilization, and am just starting to consider my choices.
I'll cover it much more in my upcoming journal, but it's a Lifeguard Pro-MAX HO Amalgam 3" diameter:
After tons of research, and spending way more time in the saltwater reefing forums than I would care to admit, I went with this one because of the way it's plumbed, the ratings, the fact that Lifeguard is a multi-decade well-known UV equipment company, AND that they carry 100% replacement parts including consumable/wear "PVC sleeves". These disposable/consumeable PVC sleeves are really important; UV light WILL break down even the toughest plastics over time, and unless you want to spend thousands on a stainless steel housing UV, you should have a UV that has sacrificial interior sleeve linings that you change every year or so:
The ballast also has some great features, including a countdown timer to when you need to change the bulb. I already bought a full set of replacement bulbs and O-rings and PVC sleeves.
Aqua Cave is currently running a good sale on Lifeguard Pro-MAX UV, so check those out! That's where I just got mine.
If you size up enough, you'll fully be able to reach Level 2 sterilization with one of these, AND have really good options for plumbing thanks to the swiveling in/outputs on the unit themselves. Just make sure to match your flow properly for what you want out of it.
Lots of pics of your plumbing please! 
I really want to see how you decide to route the manifold in the stand with a Yugang
No kidding, $111 off!
BRS has them on sale too
I really want to see how you decide to route the manifold in the stand with a Yugang
No kidding, $111 off!
BRS has them on sale too
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