Do You Need a UV Sterilizer? What Does a UV Steriliser Do in a Freshwater Aquarium?
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 2 พ.ย. 2024
- G'day everyone,
An often debated topic is whether or not there is any need for an UV steriliser / sterilizer in your freshwater aquarium.
Today I hope to clarify the confusion and fill you in on what they actually do.
Please Comment, Like & Subscribe.
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Hi from Texas. Just got back in to the hobby since my kids are now bigger. Your videos are inspiring and knowledgeable and i started my 75 gallon tank. Will start planting in a few days and will keep looking at your videos for more knowledge. Thanks for helping us out.
there is an interesting "DIY and How To" playlist, especially videos about live food cultures
Using a uv sterilizer almost always affects my water clarity in a positive way. Especially in newer tanks when bacteria causes a haze in the water column.
I have been running uv on my tank for years, I consider it essential equipment. Just mind the flow and get uv that is powerful enough.
Hey Blake! I used to use them quite often for ponds and sometimes fish tanks and they work well. I've switched to using diatom filters now as I find it less destructive to the nitrogen cycle. Great topic!
I'm interested. Anything you recommend?
Been using a diatom filter for years but not as a fulltime thing .I still use my Marineland Magnum 330 which was the first actual canister filter they made without the glass jar which goes way way back .Got this thing in 93 and I've only had to replace the motor but that was because of my own stupidity when saltwater got to the motor ,otherwise still running great .Using the diatom filter option has always been great for clarifying the water and gives it that polished look .Another option I only recently discovered is the Seachem product aka "Regen" .I was initially a bit skeptical but based on a review from a trusted source I paid the whopping $7 for the pouch container with the resin granules,popped it in my filter next to the intake tube on a HOB filter I use as every day filtration and wow , absolutely amazing results .
Not only has it really cleared the water but also the algae issue I was having is being reduced to zero all within a couple of weeks .
I've used the stand alone units and in line versions. Hard to gauge how effective they are on the bacterial and microbial level but there's no doubt they can nuke a green water issue. Good video explaining their use bud.
I have a I’ve submersible lite I place in the hob filter from time to time, great vid mate as always🙂👍🏻
Great idea, was thinking about getting a inline one but this actually sound way better and cheaper too
@@cristobalsilva6288 yes it was not expensive, and worked great🙂👍🏻
Uv sterilization really needs to be running 24/7 in order for it to be effective. Once you disconnect the power source to the uv light, those undamaged DNA's floating/swimming around in the aquarium's water body will quickly regenerate thus start the rebirth of the problem you initially installed the UV sterilizer in the first place. This only applies to the type of uv sterilizers that aren't intended for consistent long term use.
Always wondered about these. Thanks for the great information 😊
I came here because i have been looking at the pros and cons of have a UV sterilizer in my tank, I was shocked at how awasome they are and wondered why no one talks about them or used them😂
Awesome video Blake, I’ve always wondered how these worked and what they did.❤️🇦🇺
I’ve never tried one but I’ve always wanted to experiment with one!
should i still run my canister filer with the green killing machine
Great video and tutorial, would this be effective to combat fish TB or Mycobacteria?
Brilliant, I’m looking forward to watching this.
My tank was green. It took awhile but it cleared it up. I need a new bulb now tho.... Could you show us how
Would you recommend this in a Newly planted tank, I'm afraid it'll kill the good bacteria.
Hey mate it will inhibit that new algae growth and wont kill beneficial bacteria (only that what is added via bottles bacteria whilst is it in the water column) as the bacteria grows on surfaces
@@BlakesAquatics right on, i'm planning to add them good bacteria, ideally the ada super 4 below the substrate, what you said makes sense ha ha, thanks 👍
Hey Blake interested in this product is it worth it after a year use? Have you replaced the uv bulb? Did you see a difference after using it?
It is now running on my 8 foot tank, i havent replaced anything.
Thanks so much for this, Blake. I'm a bit confused, though. Does it come with a pump or do you need to buy that separately? Is the pump in the box with the green light on it? Thanks! ❤
It comes with a pump, the pump is the thing on top with the elbow directing flow
an external one would be great that attaches to the out/inflow hose of a cannister filter
Fluval do make them 👍
@@BlakesAquatics but not for the bigger pipes on a fx6 ..... unfortunately
There are UV sterilizer units that are external and do connect to the outflow of the canister filter. I for one used the FLUVAL 307 canister and connected it to the coralife twist UV sterilizer unit.
Just keep in mind that in order for the UV sterilizer to become and remain effective to its fullest potential, the water flow has to be slow moving.
This way, the water passing by the ultra violet light has time to be sterilized before returning to the aquarium water body so you may need to adjust the exiting water flow from the canister filter to the UV sterilizer in order to accomplish the fullest potential of sterilization.
Cool video and info covered!
Hey Blake….will this help prevent algae buildup on my aquarium glass/plants/hard scape? My tanks are SUPER healthy (never had one single plant or fish die), but I just CANNOT keep algae from building up on the glass.
-75 gallon aquarium
-4500 lumen 5000k light
-A turtle and probably 14
No that sort of algae is usually too much light intensity imo
Are there potted plants in the aquarium in the background?? I hope you have some videos about those guys. I’m going to go check. Great vid!
Yep 😄 love using terracotta pots in my tanks
Great vid mate. How did you get an Aquarium Co-Op hat?
Bought it and got it shipped to a mate in the states who then shipped it on to me
This week I was checking stand alone UV sterilizers because I don't have a canister filter. Seems like the flow from this one isn't that strong, correct? For me low flow is better as I have small fish and shrimps. If only it the price was lower...
Correct its quite low flow
If UV kills bacteria, will it kill the beneficial bacteria we need to main the Nitrogen Cycle in the fish tank? I like the idea of a UV Sterilizer getting rid of any bacteria or parasite that may harm the fish as well as potential algae problems. I've had problems with hair and Black Beard algae before in a low tech planted nano tank with only a full spectrum LED light. I don't use any fertilized substrates, fertilizers, or have CO2. I know CO2 helps get rid of algae, since the plants will suck up more nutrients with the added CO2. But what really interested me is being able to prevent bacterial and parasitic infections in the fish through UV Sterilization. Watching the video now, but wanted to comment first my questions coming into this topic.
Only bacteria that passes by the light. Luckily the beneficial bacteria lives on surfaces and not in the water column so its not to worry 👍
does this work on milky water that isn't green?
Nah thats usually an ammonia issue
Man, he didn't say legends... I love it when he says g'day legends lol
Will it kill live phytoplankton?
Yes
How long we can use this uv light? can i turn it off once my water is already crystal clear and put it back when it's needed? tq
Sure can, can turn it on and off as needed or run 24/7
@@BlakesAquatics Do we need to take the UV filter out of the tank once it’s off or can we leave it off in the tank?
Great info
Pro bio blast is what I add everyday and when I've just completed a water change so that would mean that the good bacteria that I just added would be killed because it will pass through the uv . What are your thoughts?
Yes i agree thats what would happen
If you turn off the uv for a couple hours when waterchanging it gives the good bacteria time to bind to either your bio media or surfaces where it usually gathers.
Isn’t the fluval one a clarifier one so UVC right ? Which is different no?
Uva uvb and uvc describe different wavelengths of uv light. All sterilisers and clarifiers should be uvc to work
@@BlakesAquatics gotcha so it does the same thing then
@@leo2o915 yep its just advertising buzz words
Gents there is a difference between a steriliser and clarifier.. a UV Steriliser is more intense light and can kill floating protozoans unfortunately a clarifier doesn’t have the same light intensity, having used both in the past I can say without shadow of doubt I’ll be investing in a steriliser and not the new FX UVC Clarifier.
would it kill the beneficial bacteria ?
Only free floating bacteria, as in immediately when poured from a bottle but normal BB lives on surfaces only
I just ordered the 25 watt for my 55g tank. I'm really struggling with green algae in the water column. Did a 50% water chg yesterday and I can't see an inch in to the tank today. Tried all kinds of combination of things but I'm tired of dealing with it so I put down the $$$
Used the uv sterilizer and it's crystal clear ...took about 6 days
@@FishRfun this is great to hear, my tank looks like mountain dew despite changing 20% of the water daily. The UV light is in and I'm excited for it to help me get this bloom under control
@@BonesMcoy o promise you in 6 days you'll have crystal clear water. I even took mine out about a week after the green cleared up to save the bulb life
@@FishRfun that's my plan too, and also it's generating a lot of flow that some of my fish don't like. So I'll maybe put it in at some interval when I learn what works best.
@RomeoAndRandom at first it's vital that you leave it in ans on 24/7 until at least a few days after it's gotten clear. FYI it won't do anything for blackbeard algae which I'm now dealing with
hi
Will this help stop cyanobacteria from spreading more while I continue to fight with it?
Itll help the waterborne bacteria but wont help whats already formed on surfaces
Better off dosing an antibiotic for cyano
@@BlakesAquatics Thanks man. I had to be away from my tanks for about two months and every surface was covered. I have it about 90% recovered so far haha
Is this neocaridina safe?
Yes definitely
Just a question does it kill beneficial bacteria
No BB only lives on surfaces
@Blake's Aquatics thanks this was my question...I have the same one coming tomorrow to help the green water. I've spent way too much on this tank and the fish not to be able to see them
looking at the filter it looks like the power head isn't even moving any water if thats the flow level not worth the price
You dont want a lot of flow with a uv filter you want contact time with the uv light..
Thank you for the video. Can I use aquarium UV light to sterilize drinking water?
Hi.. I really enjoyed your review. Very clear. Thank you. Two questions - with the unit you have, does it tell you the flow rate (per minute, per hour, per gallon, etc)? And also, is the unit you reviewed sized for a specific number of gallon tank? I guess what I am asking is do they make a large, medium and small size units for a specific range of gallons size of the tank? Maybe it is just how many gallons flow over it per minute or hour or something?? Anyway, thanks so much for a clear review. I never did understand UV sterilizers...
They do, i shouldve mentioned it but this one is sized for a 450L tank, apprpx 125g. 450L/h flow rate
@@BlakesAquatics Thank you. Does this unit have an adjustment so you can dial in the correct flow rate? Or is the pump that is supplied do the job?
@@TheAuriconGroup no adjustment, just one pump with a preset flow but im pretty sure its a universale connection, wouldnt be too hard to swap out the pump for something else though it will also mean less uv exposure time
Probably not good for shrimps and fry too.
True youd have to swap out for finer sponge
Do UV sterilization kills bad and good bacteria?
Yes technically any freefloating bacteria and pathogens
If I'm running one of these filters do I need to add tap safe every time I do a water change sorry if this sounds stupid.
Not stupid mate but yes this wont eliminate chloramine
Thanks for the quick reply keep up the good work🤣😀 @@BlakesAquatics
👍🏻
The bulbs are 20$ for 3 bulbs
Depends where you are in the world
is an ebay uv light ok?
Never tried one but i imagine so
It's "Sterilizer" (you have it misspelled in one part of the title), and "a", NOT "an". Learn to use proper spelling and grammar
Actually i included both the US and UK spelling to make it more searchable. I am Australian we spell it with an S..
You are also incorrect with your an vs a trope www.scribbr.com/commonly-confused-words/a-vs-an/#:~:text=A%20or%20an%20before%20U,-Similarly%2C%20for%20words&text=For%20words%20where%20the%20%E2%80%9Cu,utter%2C%20use%20%E2%80%9Can.%E2%80%9D