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#1
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UV Sterilizer - live plants - any issues?
Anything I need to know or keep in mind?
Also - how does the water circulate through the sterilizer - do i need a pump? |
#2
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UV Sterilizer - live plants - any issues?
Anything I need to know or keep in mind?
Also - how does the water circulate through the sterilizer - do i need a pump? There are two kinds of UV sterilizers: inline and standalone. Some can be used either way. The inline models are meant to be used with cannister filters. You just hook it up "inline" with the cannister filter, and the cannister filter's pump runs water through it. (You should get a T-connector, so you can control the amount of water that goes through the sterilizer.) The standalone models are meant to be hooked to a powerhead, which you must buy separately. (Check to make sure the flowrate of the powerhead is within the UV sterilizer's recommended flowrate.) As for issues...some people worry that UV light oxidize iron and other nutrients, turning them into a form plants can't use. This is a fairly small effect, however. UV sterilizers are routinely used with hydroponics setups, with no ill effects. Leigh http://www.fortunecity.com/lavender/halloween/881/ |
#3
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UV Sterilizer - live plants - any issues?
Totally stupid question he why do you use a UV sterilizer? Is this for
green water problems? -Bruce |
#4
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UV Sterilizer - live plants - any issues?
Totally stupid question he why do you use a UV sterilizer? Is this for
green water problems? No. I got a UV sterilizer because I stocked my tank slowly, over a period of months. I didn't have a quarantine tank, and didn't want to have to worry about ich outbreaks, introduced by the constant stream of new fish. A lot of people prefer UV sterilizers to treat or prevent ich and other parasites, particularly if the tank is large. It can be a pain to medicate a large tank, not least because you have to use so much medicine. And some people like to use UV sterilizers just to keep the water conditions more natural. Even the cleanest tank has something like 3 times as much bacteria per ml as the dirtiest pond or stream. So a UV sterilizer can help keep bacteria levels down to "natural" levels. A UV sterilizer is certainly not a necessary piece of equipment. If money's tight, you're better off spending it on substrate, lighting, or a good filter. But it's a convenient thing to have, if you have a few bucks to spare. Leigh http://www.fortunecity.com/lavender/halloween/881/ |
#5
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UV Sterilizer - live plants - any issues?
Huh. Thanks for that explanation. I was not aware that a sterilizer could
conquer an ich outbreak. -Bruce |
#6
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UV Sterilizer - live plants - any issues?
Thanks for that explanation. I was not aware that a sterilizer could
conquer an ich outbreak. Used correctly (with the right size and flowrate), UV sterilizers are very effective against ich. And unlike medications, they cause no stress to fish. They are also effective against green water, but that's not why I bought one. I haven't had green water since I was a kid, and I kept a single molly in a gallon jar on the porch. :-) Even when I was trying to create green water, to raise a daphnia culture, I wasn't very successful. Leigh http://www.fortunecity.com/lavender/halloween/881/ |
#7
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UV Sterilizer - live plants - any issues?
LeighMo wrote:
Used correctly (with the right size and flowrate), UV sterilizers are very effective against ich. And unlike medications, they cause no stress to fish. So, would you recommend a UV sterilizer instead of medication for treating ich? Also raising the temperature perhaps? I'm curious because I plan to introduce some loaches to my tank (they'll be the last fish in) and I'm weary about ich. These guys seem to get it every time they change tanks, or so I've read. -- Victor M. Martinez | The University of Texas at Austin | Department of Chemical Engineering http://www.che.utexas.edu/~martiv | Austin, TX 78712 If we knew what we were doing it would not be called research, would it? |
#8
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UV Sterilizer - live plants - any issues?
Used correctly (with the right size and flowrate), UV sterilizers are very
effective against ich. And unlike medications, they cause no stress to fish. So, would you recommend a UV sterilizer instead of medication for treating ich? Only if you don't mind spending the money. Ich can be treated with Rid-Ich or Quick-Cure, for much less than a UV sterilizer costs. Also raising the temperature perhaps? I don't recommend that. (Ich can be treated by raising the temperature only, but you have to raise it above 90F, and keep it there awhile. For many fish, that is more stressful than medication. OTOH, some fish, like discus, will be fine with that temperature.) Raising the temperature a little is often recommended along with medication, in order to speed the parasite through its life cycle. I don't think that's necessary, though. It can be downright harmful. Speeding up the ich's life cycle can make the disease worse before it gets better -- much worse. In addition, warmer water has less oxygen in it. The fish are already suffering respiratory distress, from ich infesting their gills, and from the medication in the tank. The last thing they need is water with less oxygen in it. Leigh http://www.fortunecity.com/lavender/halloween/881/ |
#9
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UV Sterilizer - live plants - any issues?
"LeighMo" wrote in message ... Just wanted to say a huge thankyou for all the advice you've placed on this board. I've learnt so much reading your posts - always polite, concise, and balanced. Wow, thanks! :-D I second that. As a newbie I have learned so much from reading LeighMo and Netmax's posts. --donovan |
#10
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UV Sterilizer - live plants - any issues?
"Donovan" wrote in message ... "LeighMo" wrote in message ... Just wanted to say a huge thankyou for all the advice you've placed on this board. I've learnt so much reading your posts - always polite, concise, and balanced. Wow, thanks! :-D I second that. As a newbie I have learned so much from reading LeighMo and Netmax's posts. --donovan Thank you!! but LeighMo is in a special class all by herself ;o) NetMax |
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