UV Sterilization

[Eraserhead]

Would any of you recommend the use of a UV sterilization system to help prevent disease in a cichlid tank? I have been toying with the idea of putting one on the outward end of the filtration system (it's a canister filter). I'm a little paranoid about diseases, I lost several fish last year to a little plague in the aquarium.

[emc7]

I haven't heard of it for that purpose, but UV sterilizers are often used for algae control. Factor in the price of bulbs (replace on schedule, not when they go out) and electricity. The faster the flow, the more lights you need for an effective UV dose. So you may not be able to use your filter output. You might need a separate pump, or a tee in the output. I sympathize with your desire to nuke the plague and they do market systems as reducing disease. Of course, UV only affects stuff in the water, not anything already in/on the fish. If it works, I think that it would reduce disease spreading from fish to fish. I don't doubt that effective UV systems exist, but anyone can put a light in a box and call it a sterilizer. Distrust anything that has both high flow-rate and low-wattage.

[TheOldSalt]

Slow, powerful, and continuous.. that's the formula you want. They work very well when properly applied.

[GoodMike]

Originally Posted by TheOldSalt

Slow, powerful, and continuous.. that's the formula you want. They work very well when properly applied.

Exactly! a good uv, with plenty of exposure time will effectively help reduce the spread of parasites from fish to fish. keep in mind though, they arent magic, but they do help.

[Eraserhead]

Originally Posted by GoodMike

Exactly! a good uv, with plenty of exposure time will effectively help reduce the spread of parasites from fish to fish. keep in mind though, they arent magic, but they do help.

Great, thanks for all the excellent info, guys! Much appreciated