Thoughts on UV sterilizers on a loach tank.

[chefkeith]

In private tanks however I think it is just a waste of monney and the risk of outbreaks of illnesses lies here in other reasons, like increasing Nitrate due to bad filtration and to less waterchanges.
You are far better off, with a good quarantaine and keeping the water in good condition.

Water changes, over filtration, and good quarantine procedures should be a given. It's all about prevention.

If you keep large messy fish like clown loaches, and like to feed them well.... UV technology can help prevention as well.

[rich]

Water changes, over filtration, and good quarantine procedures should be a given. It's all about prevention.

If you keep large messy fish like clown loaches, and like to feed them well.... UV technology can help prevention as well.

There are a lot of things that should be a given, but in my experiance, the most faults are made in those "simple" matters.
I`m sorry but I like to keep it simple. You can handle with all sorts of fancy stuff, up to computerized aquariums, nitrate filtration, UV`s, CO2-systems, sun rise and dusk lightning and so on and the Aquarium is still not working, but if you strip it down to what is needed, you will land with waterchanges, filtration, and quarantine.
Those other things might have their use. but are they really nescessary?
I think not.

[chefkeith]

You'd be amazed at what all that fancy stuff can do.
It opens the door for....
Amano style tanks -

huge Reef tanks -


new public aquariums-


and that the ball will keep rolling. It might seem like fancy stuff, but those things are needed to further the aqaurium hobby and trade.

[angelfish83]

In fact, fish in the wild live in an environment that is subjected to a UV sterilizer bigger than any captive system could ever have: The sun.

isn't that anecdotal too? Is there proof that the sun sterilizes water? And it wouldn't go very deep would it?

[mikev]

Actually, a very interesting question.

UVR does penetrate pretty deep, at least several meters. How efficient it is in terms of sterilization is not immediately clear....

One article that touches on the issue is

http://www.ciesin.columbia.edu/docs/001 ... 1-503.html

It is certain that sunlight interferes with some pathogens, like fungi.

My own feeling is that sun has no significant overall effect: a pathogen that is very vulnerable to sunlight would have found a way to evolve around the problem.

[rich]

You'd be amazed .

Nice tanks you`ve got there, but those are first of all run with deeep knowledge of aquaristic needs and not by simply adding all available fancy tecnologie. If you ask the people who run these facilities what is less needed, they will answer: UV-sterilizer.
Amano requires CO2, fertilizer, light, and good filtation.( btw, imagine what a shoal of clowns would do to this nice piece of art. )
And if you don`t get the poop of those many and big fishes out of the water of the big tank, you can blaze it with UV until the silicon melts and get only fatal results.
Yes, I admit you need tecnology to run those places, big fancy tecnology, but if you drop the curtain, it all comes down to the basics, a big filtration system is still a filter tank.
I thought however we are talking about home aquariums here and therefore you still have to learn to walk before you jump and since I`m a lazy person, even if Iknow how, I only jump when I need to.
In my opinion a UVS is not needed in the average aquarium.

[YellowFinned]

I would say there is no substitute for good biological filtration combined with water changed. There can never be too much bio-filtration, and I feel it should be a significant proportion of the total water volume. Pretty much all other devices, including UV sterilizers, come really low on the priority list, and might even be used as only partially effective substitutes.

Many may argue.

[Hell Fire]

Ihadnt used one on my loaches untill i got one for a real cheap price of a mate about 2 months ago. Ive been using it since then but for the recommended 2hrs a day, cant say ive noticed much difference to be honest lol

[cybermeez]

isn't that anecdotal too? Is there proof that the sun sterilizes water? And it wouldn't go very deep would it?

No. There have been several studies on how UV radiation impacts aquatic environments. Most of the data is the result of research on coral reefs. The salinity of the water has no real impact on how deep any given wavelength penetrates so the conclusions would also apply to freshwater.

[Jim Powers]

I have UV sterilizers on some of my tanks and consider it an "inusurance policy".

[chefkeith]

Rick- I'm not comparing UV to water changes, filtration, or quarantine though. Never was, never will.

the main topic-
Advantages of UV-
Can reduce free floating algae. Will disrupt green water algae blooms and keep the water clear. No more pea soup if lighting and water nutrients get out of whack.

Can reduce free floating microorganisms, Fungi, Mold, Viruses, such as Ich, Nematode eggs, Mycobacterium Tuberculosis, Flexibactor columnaris, Dysentery, ect .

Will warm the water and reduce the need for a heater.

Disadvantages-
Initial Expense- around $80 for 15w - $160 for 36 watt turbo twist.

Cost to replace bulbs- $42 for 15w - $60 for 36 watt bulb
If you have a Watt meter (Kill a Watt) you can a monitor the bulbs life more effectively. My 36 watt bulb is over 1 year old and it's output is down to 29 watts now, a loss of 20%. The bulb is still effective. Flow rates may need to be adjusted to compensate the intensity loss.

Some research may need to be done to determine the proper flow rate and UV Intensity needed.

UV should never be used on medicated tanks, especially those treated with copper based meds.

It might keep the water too warm during summer months. Tank temps needs to be monitored closely.

[cybermeez]

Nice reply Keith, you are spot on IMO.

Like Jim I also use one on my 150g Loach tank as an insurance policy. I've got some nice big Clowns that I've had for 7-8 years. I'm not about to risk losing them because one dither fish may have gotten through quarantine with an untreatable disease like TB or carrying some sort of virus immune to my prophylactic Q-T regimen. It would break my heart if that happened.

[crazy loaches]

Yeah, UV isnt an alternate to regular filtration for the common aquarium, its an extra. UV is much more effective at killing harmfull organisms and free floating algea if it is setup correct than any traditional filter would be. Is it required, no... It might not even make much a difference in some tanks. But remember alot has to do with dwell time under UV exposure. If you have a 15W UV plumbed inline with a 350 gph pump or canister filter, its not going to do much except kill the very most UV sensetive things. To be more effective you need a fairly low flow rate through the UV.

A lot of people buy a UV sterilizer and make it portable so they can move it from tank to tank when needed. I am trying one now to see if it will help much in my heavily planted brackish tank were I am fighting algea. I will probably just run it as needed after that or at the most on my timer with my lights, unless I find running it 24/7 to be of some benefit.

There are other types of extra filtration besides UV. There are diatom filters which filter out anything down to micron size or less (?) and even ozone filtration though I have never seen one on a home aquarium.

[tglassburner]

Well, I guess this is a topic that has strong support for and against using them. I'm almost scared to use it on any of my tanks. I guess I'll just wait to use it until I have allot more research dune on this subject. Either that, or I'll exchange it for something else.

[Emma Turner]

tglassburner,

You shouldn't be discouraged from using your UV steriliser because of a few unfounded opinions. There is no way I would endanger any of my 40+ clown loaches (including big Marge!) by using one on the tank 24/7 unless I was extremely confident that the benefits far outweighed any supposed slight risks. Even if any of these theories were true, the responsible fishkeeper would not think about moving fish from tank to tank and owner to owner anyway. My clown loaches are a lifelong commitment and I will continue to provide them with the best conditions possible - and yes, that means regular partial water changes (every other day), a huge amount of over-filtration & a decent amount of flow, a good varied diet, as well as the UV steriliser.

Emma