skemshead Posted November 6, 2013 Report Share Posted November 6, 2013 Hello everyone.. I am interested in purchasing a uv sterilizer for my 400 ltr tank. 1. Are they worth the investment. My first tank, a 130ltr had a small one built in and I never had any issues with fish getting sick. When I upgraded to larger tank with no uv I started having problems. 2. I have been told that uv sterilizers can kill off beneficial bacteria. I have started a refugium in my sump to combat nitrates, would this be affected. 3. What size, brand would be best for 400ltr tank. Assume money is not an obstacle. Thx. Stuart. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evilpierre Posted November 6, 2013 Report Share Posted November 6, 2013 If you need to keep pathogens at bay I would use a UV that is at least 50W strength, anything less really just aids in clarifying the water Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Betta Posted November 6, 2013 Report Share Posted November 6, 2013 +1 agree also, it won't have any effect on the bacteria in your sump as you will only be sterilizing the water as it goes from your sump to the tank. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skemshead Posted December 22, 2013 Author Report Share Posted December 22, 2013 Hi. I recently bought a purple tang who settled in extremely well, eating well etc. Unfortunately it came down with ich 48 hours after I bought it. It appears to be holding up ok at the moment but I would like to elimate this problem in the future. Am I better of going for a quarantine tank or the uv sterilizer. Also what is recommended to treat pygmy angel fish if ich is a problem. Has anyone had experience with the Aqua Ultraviolet Twist 25w. I have enquired at a number of fish stores around brisbane and this one seems to be best option. Thx Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Donny@ageofaquariums Posted December 22, 2013 Report Share Posted December 22, 2013 Aqua Ultraviolet Twist 25w is a thing of beauty. Buuuuuuuuuut a quarantine tank is a logic step too and a cheap one. Cycle a filter in your sump that you can use in quarantine! Also buy a bottle of medic. Its by far my med of choice for white spot. Espec on more expensive species...... that are often basically impossible to catch out of a reef anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skemshead Posted December 22, 2013 Author Report Share Posted December 22, 2013 Hi donny. My purple tang died overnight, extremely disappointed. I also lost a pygmy angel yesterday. I was using medic but had some concerns about the effect on the angel. My water quality is excellent so I am assuming the stress of being new to tank was to much. All my existing fish ( 4 chromis, 1 clown and flame hawk ) seem to be completely unaffected. I have never seen a fish affected this badly before so at bit of loss. I suspected once before that ich was present but was so mild I could not tell for sure. I did however have my salinity levels at about 0.016 for a while due to my hydrometer being out. Would lower salinity over time help fish build an immunity to ich ?? I will get a quarantine tank and a sterilizer before getting any more fish. Do I add the sterilizer to the quarantine tank or display tank ??? Thx stuart. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gollys Posted December 22, 2013 Report Share Posted December 22, 2013 i run an Aquasonic Emperor 25watt on my 6 foot tank, don't have any medical issues or algae problems. I recommend them. I have a tropical planted tank. The Aquasonic is a big beast and more than enough for my tank. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Donny@ageofaquariums Posted December 22, 2013 Report Share Posted December 22, 2013 Put the UV onto the main tank. We dont want to mask problems with livestock in a quarantine tank. Spewing about the medic not working in time to save the tang/angel. Its good stuff tho, has saved me many times. I would try maintain salinity between 1.024 and 1.027 anywhere out of that stresses the ideal filtration microbes. Freshwater dips are IMHO better than longterm hyposalinity in the main tank. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
