tanktop74 Posted July 24, 2009 Share Posted July 24, 2009 HI all... I have a few questions.... Since my display tank contracted ICK I have been considering getting a UV Sterilizer. What can you tell me about them? What brands are recommended? How do I hook one up when I have the plumbing already established? Do I need to have a pump to pump it through or can the feed from the overflow push the water through? Soooo many questions and so little education I have on these kinds of things! Thanks for the time and information. Beth Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tanktop74 Posted July 24, 2009 Author Share Posted July 24, 2009 OH... and one more.... Will this help clear up the tiny particles I have always had floating around in my tank, or is this normal to have little specs floating all around? Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick Posted July 24, 2009 Share Posted July 24, 2009 Carbon and a filter sock will help with some of the small particles. Probably not all of them though. I don't think you want to get rid of all of them anyway as some of them are food for both corals and fish. Just keep in mind if you run carbon then it needs to be stirred or kneeded once every day or two and filter socks need to be cleaned every few days as well so they don't turn into nitrate factories. (Personally I only run carbon from tiem to time) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tanktop74 Posted July 24, 2009 Author Share Posted July 24, 2009 I do have a filter pad... would a filter sock work better or use as an addition? I change my filter pad every other day. I have carbon... but have never used it before, guess I can give that a try! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick Posted July 24, 2009 Share Posted July 24, 2009 It will depend upon the micron count of particles each lets pass through. I think the socks are around 100 to 200 microns which I'm going to guess is less than the filter pad so it would probably take a little more out. Some people will take a sock and then put some carbon (rinse it first) in the bottom of the sock and do it that way. When I use it I just but it in a small media bag and toss it in on top of the chaeto under my tank drain. (Rather than us a sock I let the chaeto grab the particles) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benny503 Posted July 24, 2009 Share Posted July 24, 2009 most likely increase your tank temperature. I talked to peep by raising tank temperature would help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick Posted July 24, 2009 Share Posted July 24, 2009 Do you have any cleaner shrimp? Red Fire shrimp work also. Not sure about ick specifically but they do a good job of keeping parasites off fish. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dsoz Posted July 24, 2009 Share Posted July 24, 2009 UV sterilizers are of limited effectiveness against ick. Ick has three life stages One in the fish, two in the sand/gravel/rock substrate, and three free-floating. The UV only gets some of the the free-floating before they reattach to fish. On the down-side, UV also kills other free-floating stuff that is used for fish food and tank well-being. This is my opinion. dsoz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markdadof2 Posted July 25, 2009 Share Posted July 25, 2009 for those fine particles floating around - I run a filter sock and am always amazed at how well it filters stuff out. I change it at least once per week and if I go over that it starts to overflow out of the top of the sock. I toss my carbon in a bag in the filter sock. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reef165 Posted July 29, 2009 Share Posted July 29, 2009 UV wouldnt be worth the $ spent on it reguardless if its for ick or not, The bulbs only have a usefull life of up to 6 monthes, thats allot of lights being replaced. Ya some may say that they change theres every 12 monthes or so without any prob. but really that should be an argument for my point and there efectaveness, and if ya really need one. I (and many others) have ran a full sps tank for many years without and kind of uv or carbon ect Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.