How many people use a UV in their Reef?

[Mike's Reef]

Just curious. How many people use a UV in their reef? If you are for or against using a UV list your reasons why. If you use a UV indicate the brand UV you are using with wattage. Also include the total volume of your reef/FOWLR tank. I will start.

IMO UV are very helpful at minimizing the effects of ICH and other parasites. I have a 57 watt Aquaultaviolet UV on my 300 gallon DT. 120 gallon fuge, and 50 gallon sump. In total I have approx. 470 gallons of water in my system.

Cant see keeping a reef tank without one.

 

[fishman1069]

I've never used one on the 4 tanks that I've had. I've also never had ick. I must be doing something right lol
The reason I've never used one is, I've heard they really don't do much. For the UV to efficiently treat the water, the flow has to be slow and running at a perfect rate. Most setups have the flow way to high and the water doesn't have time to be treated.

 

[strgazr27]

Coralife TurboTwist 6X - 60 Gallon Display - 130 Gallon system volume

Used primarily for algea reduction and water clarification. I dont think they are an absolute neccesity but I prefer to run one. I like the tank to look like it has no water in it

 

[vio]

if u got fish only , make sense, but if u got Clams ,Sponges,Feather duster worm, Pods, etc. i think is bad idea to run UV .

 

[Jan]

I have a 57 watt Aqua twist UV sterilizer on my 156 mixed reef. It helps to keep the water crystal clear and reduce algae. I see the difference when I unplug it for a couple of days.

Had my water tested by a vet a couple of weeks ago. She said there were trophants in my water. My fish have never ever exhibited any signs of ich. Could be the UV sterilizer is keeping the load down and my fish are keeping infection in check because they are healthy.

 

[lfsmarineguy]

How many people who respond with "UV in a reef tank? It kills all the good stuff!" are utilizing a magic protein skimmer that only removes the bad stuff? There's a good amount of info that goes into properly sizing a UV for an aquarium and if you do it right they're very useful, even in a reef.

 

[ClosetFishGeek]

how many people who respond with "uv in a reef tank? It kills all the good stuff!" are utilizing a magic protein skimmer that only removes the bad stuff? There's a good amount of info that goes into properly sizing a uv for an aquarium and if you do it right they're very useful, even in a reef.

+1

 

[albano]

I have a 57 watt Aquaultaviolet UV on my 300 gallon DT. I have approx. 470 gallons of water in my system.

Please describe your system...how many/size of tanks, reef/fowlr, sumps?

 

[smoq]

How many people who respond with "UV in a reef tank? It kills all the good stuff!" are utilizing a magic protein skimmer that only removes the bad stuff? There's a good amount of info that goes into properly sizing a UV for an aquarium and if you do it right they're very useful, even in a reef.

+2 I'm puzzled as well how skimmer became a "good guy" and UV sterilizer a "bad guy" Skimmer pulls off much more "good stuff" than any other piece of equipment in a reef tank. UV sterilizers are a great fail safe and can help polish the water, I'm just not a fun of running them 24/7.

 

[pmoneyt]

Mike 57 watts is too small for the total water volume. I am running 2 UV's one on my display and one one my QT.

On the display I a running about 250 GPH or less through it.

 

[Mike's Reef]

Pmoneyt I do agree with you. I have been researching this over the last couple of days. I am actually upgrading to a 80 Watt Aquaultraviolet.

 

[kres1024]

Emperor aquatics 120w Ho uv on a 400gallon

 

[jdino]

Good thread. I have wondered the same. I have a a turbo twist 6x 18 watt still in the box for the last two years. I go back a forth on if I should hook it up to my 90 gal reef? I run a sump with bio balls and a marine land pro 100 in-sump skimmer. Any thoughts are appreciated.

 

[albano]

Mike 57 watts is too small for the total water volume.

Exactly why I asked for system info... In most cases, it is unlikely to have anywhere near 470 actual total volume with a '300'g DT.

 

[OGGISPORTS]

Not me

 

[Jan]

I have a 57 watt running on a total of 200 gallons.

 

[thirty6]

Those are running one, are you running it plumbed I to set or sep. From other plumbing. I admit i don't have tremendous amount of knowledge on them. To me its forgotten pc of equip. Not sure how or why that happened really but it did

 

[Jan]

Mine is plumbed from the right overflow to the return. So not all the water is going thru it.

 

[lfsmarineguy]

Proper installation of a UV sterilizer with bypass control off main supply pumps. This is a 400 fowlr with a 120w HO Emperor Aquatics.

 

[Mike's Reef]

UV thread

Awesome picture. Do you have a flowmeter plumbed into the line as well?