Is a UV sterilizer good for a reef tank?
Is a UV sterilizer good for a reef tank?
In conjunction with a quality filtration system, UV sterilizers are an excellent way to help keep your reef tank clean. The main benefit of a UV sterilizer is that it helps to keep nuisances like algae, parasites and bacteria under control in your tank.
Do I need a UV sterilizer in my marine tank?
The consensus is that if an aquarist has a well maintained and uncrowded aquarium, as well as follows good quarantine procedures when introducing new specimens to their system, then a UV light filter is not necessary.
What size UV sterilizer do I need reef tank?
The maximum flow rate should be greater than the number of gallons in the system (tank & sump). For example, if you have a 100 gallon tank and want to control parasites, you would need a minimum 18 W UV with a maximum flow rate of 100 gph. A 25 W UV at a flow rate of 150 gph would be preferable.
Is a UV sterilizer worth it?
If set up appropriately, the UV sterilizer will kill the pests you want gone. It will also not kill beneficial bacteria unless they flow through the water. You will not need to worry about your fish either—they may be stressed with the device at first but will grow used to it.
Does UV sterilizer lower pH?
The uv breaks down the material, which then leaches into the solution, thus changing pH. That would make sense, but I don’t think that was in the context. Permeation of both UV light and carbon dioxide will slowly alter the pH of a drink.
How many watt UV sterilizer do I need?
As a rule of thumb, you need 10 watts for every 75 gallons of salt water. For fresh water, 10 watts per 150 gallons of water volume works well. Since outdoor ponds get sunlight daily, which is an excellent UV source, you won’t need a strong sterilizer. Ten watts for every 1,000 gallons of pond water is sufficient.
Should a UV sterilizer be on all the time?
An aquarium UV steriliser should be switched on and running for 24 hours per day, every day. Exceptions would be setting the tank up before there are any fish in it, adding beneficial bacteria to the water, as UV light kills bacteria, or if you are using a medication that stipulates that UVs should be turned off.
Will UV sterilizer lower nitrates?
UV only affects living organisms, so no, it will not affect amonia nor nitrates. For living organisms, it basically destroys there ability to reproduce. Generally speaking it doesn’t kill anything, just stops their ability to reproduce. I don’t know what it does to algae.
How do I choose a UV sterilizer?
To choose the right UV sterilizer size, you should consider your tank size and the pump’s flow rate. Different microorganisms are able to resist certain radiation intensities. You will need a lower wattage for killing algae than for parasites.
How do you choose UV light for aquarium?
There are lots of UV sterilizers out there, so it can get a little confusing when choosing the one you need. The main factors to consider are the power of the pump and the power of the bulb. You need to consider the size of your tank and the types of microorganism you want to kill to determine the right combination.
Does UV sterilizer prevent algae?
By showering algae with ultraviolet rays, a UV sterilizer kills algae the same way it kills other microorganisms. Radiation prevents it from reproducing. Because algae contribute so much to the turbidity of your water, killing free-floating algae dramatically improves your tank’s clarity.
Will a uv sterilizer raise pH?
Active Member. Randy Holmes-Farley said: The uv isn’t contributing noticeably to pH.