UV Sterilizer

Unexpected

Unexpected

Active Member
Build Thread
May 7, 2023
281
370
Albuquerque
Recommend a UV sterilizer to me please. 120 gallon tank, prefer ease of installation and would prefer it not be overly bulky.

I’m currently running an Aqua Shield universal, but it’s not getting the job done
 
I had one, green machine I think. I haven’t used in forever. It’s in the garage attic with my collection of aquarium stuff. It worked pretty well from what I remember.

I assume this if for green water algae? I’ve used an over sized spare canister filter stuffed to the gills with pillow batting (filter floss) and it’s cleaned up the fine particles and green water pretty rapidally.

Wish the kids didn’t hit it with there electric motorcycles and crack the housing. Would make dealing with uprooting so much easier than triple water changes.
 
FrankZ said:
I had one, green machine I think. I haven’t used in forever. It’s in the garage attic with my collection of aquarium stuff. It worked pretty well from what I remember.

I assume this if for green water algae? I’ve used an over sized spare canister filter stuffed to the gills with pillow batting (filter floss) and it’s cleaned up the fine particles and green water pretty rapidally.

Wish the kids didn’t hit it with there electric motorcycles and crack the housing. Would make dealing with uprooting so much easier than triple water changes.
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I tried those on my last tank and I think the quality stepped down a lot. The motor was consistently noisy after a period of time. I ended up giving them away. I do like the submersible types but it seems the larger tank size may prevent this route.
 
Unexpected said:
Green water and long term I’d like to lower my chances of disease.
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What has led you to believe that you need UV to lower your chances of disease? Really curious because none of the experienced fishkeepers I know/have followed have touted it or advocated for it. From my experience and learning, proper quarantining and buying the highest quality of critters have been the biggest gamechangers for not dealing with disease. Since I implemented those practices, I don’t experience any issues, and I had all sorts my first year of being in the hobby like callamanus.
 
Freshflora said:
What has led you to believe that you need UV to lower your chances of disease?
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I guess I wouldn't use the word need, but UV is another tool available to us as a "holistic" approach. QT is not eradication; I would imagine eradication would require a massive amount of money and protocol that I couldn't achieve. UV is also not eradication, but they do reduce the free floating population that has the potential to overwhelm closed systems.

I QT and dose meds regardless of seeing any disease and have had a few things slip through that quickly went severe. What I found interesting was the tank running UV showed no signs versus the tanks without UV. UV definitely reduces free floating algae and bacterial blooms and clears water so well and these alone, for me at least, validates UV use.

I watch BRStv and I don't believe these guys do all the testing they do just to boost sales. I believe they actually just want to know if certain products work and are worth the expense. They are convinced UV is worth it, maybe I'm a sucker though :unsure:.
 
Unexpected said:
I guess I wouldn't use the word need, but UV is another tool available to us as a "holistic" approach. QT is not eradication; I would imagine eradication would require a massive amount of money and protocol that I couldn't achieve. UV is also not eradication, but they do reduce the free floating population that has the potential to overwhelm closed systems.

I QT and dose meds regardless of seeing any disease and have had a few things slip through that quickly went severe. What I found interesting was the tank running UV showed no signs versus the tanks without UV. UV definitely reduces free floating algae and bacterial blooms and clears water so well and these alone, for me at least, validates UV use.

I watch BRStv and I don't believe these guys do all the testing they do just to boost sales. I believe they actually just want to know if certain products work and are worth the expense. They are convinced UV is worth it, maybe I'm a sucker though :unsure:.
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Oh good to know. I’m also a fan of BRSTV, and I appreciate hearing about your experiences!
 
I have an AquaViolet UV in-line unit on my 180g tank that I've used for a dozen years. During that time I've gone through a half-dozen bulbs (or more, maybe) and at least 3 or 4 power supplies. Is it nice? Well, no GW, so maybe. Does it help with disease? Yes, maybe some, but when I consider the cost of it, I'm on the fence a bit. On occasion I unplug it for a few months. Once in a while I notice the bulb has burned out. The difference isn't all that noticeable really.
 
Whelp, the unfortunate has occurred. It's ironic my interest in getting UV set up on this tank has been building over the last few weeks. Not because of the disaster I just discovered, but this is a good example how a 1 month QT with meds can miss things. I have had 4 fish recently go sick and have lost 2. This morning a fish went from fine the day before to dead this morning. I was noticing a sudden stop in eating, a bit of wasting then some fluff coming out of the anus. I pulled them out, did a round of parasite meds and antibiotics and the 2 got better. But the anus was red and inflamed and in the back of my mind I was dreading Camallanus. And sure enough, I have Camallanus. Zero doubts, text book red worms coming out of the anus....I'm so mad right now!

That's the one parasite I don't treat for in QT....so mad!
 
Unexpected said:
Whelp, the unfortunate has occurred. It's ironic my interest in getting UV set up on this tank has been building over the last few weeks. Not because of the disaster I just discovered, but this is a good example how a 1 month QT with meds can miss things. I have had 4 fish recently go sick and have lost 2. This morning a fish went from fine the day before to dead this morning. I was noticing a sudden stop in eating, a bit of wasting then some fluff coming out of the anus. I pulled them out, did a round of parasite meds and antibiotics and the 2 got better. But the anus was red and inflamed and in the back of my mind I was dreading Camallanus. And sure enough, I have Camallanus. Zero doubts, text book red worms coming out of the anus....I'm so mad right now!

That's the one parasite I don't treat for in QT....so mad!
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Sorry to hear you’re dealing with that. Been there and it’s not fun. Where did you get the fish? An LFS?
 
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