UV Sterilizer - Good or Bad?

[Scott23]

I hope I'm not posting too many topics. The ARC community has been so helpful.

I see that you can purchase an in-sump UV sterilizer for not much money. Is this a recommended enhancement to a setup or something to only used as a last resort when you have a bacterial bloom in the water column? Is it a good addition to run 24 x 7 to keep the water super clear?

 

[hzheng33]

How big is your system?

 

[Scott23]

Tank is only a 20L

 

[BlackLitez]

UV sterilizer is good to have. I don't think it's a must have. I think most people who have one, don't even run it 24/7. I believe most people only run when necessary.

Once I get fish, I'll be more inclined to get a UV sterilizer. However, if I see one for less than a hundred bucks....it's mine.

It is very rare for me to find a UV sterilizer that is small(less than 10 whatever). I don't think many people bother with UV on a small tank, so I think that's why most manufacturers don't have a small model for nano tanks.

 

[Cook]

20L? so 5 gallons?

 

[BlackLitez]

20L? so 5 gallons?

I recently learned that 20L in this hobby usually refers to 20 Long

 

[Cook]

Oops. Yeah OK. I have used this UV before on a tank that size, but it's still too big for everyday use:

https://www.amazon.com/Aquariums-Sterilizer-Submersible-Machine-Replace/dp/B07DFR6CRQ/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?crid=25O2DE5HZ9CXM&keywords=uv+sterilizer+for+aquarium&qid=1644680499&sprefix=uv+sterilizer%2Caps%2C87&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUE3VU9JNkYwNFJQQUkmZW5jcnlwdGVkSWQ9QTAzNDA2NDgyS0E0MU1PM0QxTjNCJmVuY3J5cHRlZEFkSWQ9QTA0OTUwMTQzNVVSSzg3MFFSQzgxJndpZGdldE5hbWU9c3BfYXRmJmFjdGlvbj1jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ==

It's good though if you need a temporary solution to clarify water.

 

[dball711]

Or if you have a sump...for $20 you cant go wrong.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07RDK29VS/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[Reefer-Madness]

I have one of those cheapo green killing machine UVs and honestly I didn't think it was doing anything till I took it out and started getting bacterial blooms. It's definitely worth it.

 

[BlackLitez]

Or if you have a sump...for $20 you cant go wrong.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07RDK29VS/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I like that. Didn't realize i could just drop one in my sump. I've only read up on the in-line uv sterilizers. I started getting lost when it got to flow rate efficiency.

I assume an in-line UV sterilizer would be much more effective in keeping the tank clear of diseases (which is my main concern).

 

[Scott23]

The drop in bulbs seem like a very inexpensive way to see if it makes a difference. You have to be very careful about not exposing yourself or any of your livestock to the intense UV light. The other day, a very small clown fish slipped through the overflow into the back part of AIO tank where the lamp would be. That has only happened once, but it is a little bit of a concern when using a UV sterilizer that is not enclosed.

 

[dball711]

The drop in bulbs seem like a very inexpensive way to see if it makes a difference. You have to be very careful about not exposing yourself or any of your livestock to the intense UV light. The other day, a very small clown fish slipped through the overflow into the back part of AIO tank where the lamp would be. That has only happened once, but it is a little bit of a concern when using a UV sterilizer that is not enclosed.

Not if it’s kept in the pump chamber, fish should not be able to get there unless they jump the false wall.

 

[Rainblood]

I like that. Didn't realize i could just drop one in my sump. I've only read up on the in-line uv sterilizers. I started getting lost when it got to flow rate efficiency.

I assume an in-line UV sterilizer would be much more effective in keeping the tank clear of diseases (which is my main concern).

For reef tanks its mainly for keeping algae down and not disease control. It'll improve water clarity and you'll clean your glass less.

 

[Scott23]

Not if it’s kept in the pump chamber, fish should not be able to get there unless they jump the false wall.

Excellent point....In my case, the tank was a hand-me-down Fusion Nano 20 where the previous person cut that wall down to make more room for a protein skimmer.