does UV Sterilizer help

[gunnwong]

I'm thinking about gettting LifeGard UV Sterilizer. Does the UV help eleminate the Ick? I have problem with ick on my blue tang for a while now so I thinking does the UV help kill the Ick since the UV kill the parasites
thank you

[adnup]

The UV will only kill the parasites that are in the water column. If they are attached to the fish then your best bet is to get him out an treat in a QT.

[mikersx02]

If you set the UV up with the correct amount of flow to kill parasites- you can and will interrupt the life cycle of Ich.

[mikeguerrero]

Mikersx02 is right.... I'm in the process of doing that in my 72 gallon reef...

Take a look at my thread under this forum; it's title is correct exposure to kill parasites...

Mike G

[Steven Pro]

Will it help? Sure. Is is guaranteed to effect a complete cure? Doubtful. Quarantine and using proven treatments is more effective.

[mikersx02]

of the people I know that have reef tanks (4)- 2 of them have steralizers and 2 of them dont. THe two that dont are constantly battling illnesses in their fish and algae attacks.


The 2 that DO have steralizers have more much stable tanks and have their fish for quite a while.

Will steralizers keep your fish from getting ich? NOPE. But it will greatly reduce the amount they get and how long it stays a problem.

[greg10]

I've thought about getting a sterilizer to use only in case of a disease outbreak.

[TWallace]

I've been thinking about getting one myself, possibly for my quarantine tank. I've heard good things about the Coral Life Turbo Twist model.

[greg10]

I'm in the process of quarantining all of my fish right now. it's a bit of a pain, but i will never again put a new fish in my tank without quarantining.

Is there a comparison of sterilizers around?

[mikeguerrero]

Marine Ich is best tackled by multiple forces that a reefer controls.

Think about a Chess Board and all the dynamics of the pieces. You have to protect the King from all attacks. So let us play chess:

King = Fish

Queen = Copper Safe Med

Bishop = Hypersalinty

Horse = UV sterilizer

Rook = Ozone unit

Pond = Garlic exlixir

Chess master = Smart Reefer

Protecting the King is what we all want, now stop for a moment and think of starting a game without a Queen or Bishop but having the other players, you may stay alive for a while, you might even win, but would'nt your chances be better with a full deck of players?

MG

[greg10]

I'm in trouble then because I've never been very good at chess.:)

is a UV sterilizer something you would always use or just in case of illness?

[mikersx02]

I think UV is intended to be more of a preventative measure along with a minor remedy for ich... It takes time to zap all of the bugs in the tank.

I have the smaller turbo twish for my 75 gallon and it needs 55gph to kill parasites. Since its introduction to my tank- I have had 0 ich issues --- at my dads house- he has 2 125gallon tanks that both have never had ich since the steralizers have ben running (3 years and 6 years on each tank.) He doesnt QT either (even against my advice)

[greg10]

do you keep it running all the time?

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7076833#post7076833 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mikersx02
I think UV is intended to be more of a preventative measure along with a minor remedy for ich... It takes time to zap all of the bugs in the tank.

I have the smaller turbo twish for my 75 gallon and it needs 55gph to kill parasites. Since its introduction to my tank- I have had 0 ich issues --- at my dads house- he has 2 125gallon tanks that both have never had ich since the steralizers have ben running (3 years and 6 years on each tank.) He doesnt QT either (even against my advice)

[mikeguerrero]

A UV unit should be kept running 24/7. There is no benefit in running it part time.

If you do feed live DT's then you could switch it off during the feeding and then back on afterward.

MG

[greg10]

ok, thanks for clearing that up

[mikersx02]

my device is on 24/7