UV Sterilizers for Aquariums; Forum/ Blog Hall of Shame -5; About.com, Fish Channel

 

Updated 6/01/13

Once again in my research I stumbled upon a gem of poorly researched anecdotal information posted by about.com, which unfortunately seems to be common with this website, which is sad considering their internet prominence, at least on Google, which is another reason to avoid using Google in serious searches.
As well Fish Channel among others also brought up incorrect anecdotal information about UV Sterilizer use.

While there is some excellent information in this article, such as "Most effective if UV bulb is new, or replaced regularly (at least every 6-8 months)", there are several misleading or factually incorrect comments or implications.

Here are some quotes from about.com and Fish Channel, then refutations:

*"Suggested wattages are 4-8 watts for 20-40 gallon aquariums, 20-25 watts for 50-100 gallons, and 40 watts for larger aquariums."

Refutation; Better is to consider flow rate and tank turnover rate. A flow rate of 25 gph per watt and a turnover of at least twice per hour (not counting recirculation on a sump) using a An average UV Sterilizer is a much better starting spot for UV Sterilizer wattage/size.

Often when I was called out on a service call and found an ineffective UV that a client installed on their aquarium or pond it was that the flow rate was too high. This was quite common with ponds and UVs installed on high flow rate sump pumps.

This was easily taken care of using a diverter valve so as to divert part of the water the UV Sterilizer/clarifier at a correct slower rater for the given wattage.

*"Using this method of treating water is quite controversial amongst aquarists. Some consider it to be a waste of money, not all that effective, or suitable for fish-only, but unnatural for reef tanks, while others feel it does have its benefits for either type of system."

Refutation; this actually is correct, as there are many anecdotal, misinformed aquarists who miss the researched benefits for use of UV Sterilizers in aquariums.
HOWEVER about.com words this in a way that would make any newbie wonder if this is a good investment rather than qualifying this statement as anecdotal.
There are those that say the Earth is flat (the Flat Earth Society), but that does not make it true any more than stating that being controversial sheds a question on whether or not UV Sterilizers are truly beneficial.

What is missed by such anecdotal comments as to this so-called controversy, is besides aiding in the spread of disease pathogens, cloudy water & "algae blooms", a UV Sterilizer can help with fish immunity by improving the Redox Balance in an aquarium.
See these articles:
The Aquarium Redox
Aquarium UV Sterilizer Articles

*"Should never be run when treating with any drugs or medications."

Refutation; this is only partially correct, and stating half truths is not good information in my opinion.
As stated in this article: ""Aquarium UV Sterilization; How it Works", chemical such as Malachite Green are not broken down where as Quinine Hydrochloride is broken down. For more information about UVC light sensitive chemicals, see the above referenced article.

*"The general consensus is that an aquarist that has a well maintained and un-crowded aquarium, as well as follows good quarantine procedures when introducing new specimens to their system, a UV light filter is not necessary."

Refutation; this comment left me both laughing and crying.
Whose consensus is this, the "Flat Earth Societies"?
I sure do not know any persons with UV Sterilization expertise asked this question, and if they were they certainly would not have agreed!!

This is not to say a UV Sterilizer is a must, HOWEVER every test I have conducted over the years (including an extensive one with goldfish), showed that the addition of a properly set up and well designed UV Sterilizer improved health & longevity even in well kept, fed, etc. aquariums.
The only possible exception might be a Reef tank used to raise large amounts of infusoria, ‘pods’, etc. (& even here my correct application of UV Sterilization caused little or no detectable problems).

*"Implementation of a UV sterilizer on your freshwater aquarium would be a waste of money. I would continue to keep good water quality in your freshwater aquarium, feed premium foods to your discus fish, and monitor where any new discus fish are coming from."

Refutation; This quote is from Fish Channel, another often anecdotal website.
http://www.fishchannel.com/fish-exclusives/fama/uv-sterilizer-discus.aspx

This is another one of those statements I do not know whether to laugh or cry.
Yes good water quality is a must for Discus health, HOWEVER a UV Sterilizer is an important aspect of maintaining water quality, especially for sensitive fish such as Discus, in part by the FACT a level one UV Sterilizer can improve the Redox Balance which is a parameter of water quality!!

While his statement that a UV Sterilizer would be a "waste of money" is 100% incorrect, I would also not state it is essential, HOWEVER in my maintenance business I recorded considerable differences in Discus health, longevity, and Redox Balance in the aquariums with UV Sterilizers versus those without that along with marine aquariums, I later would not accept any service contract (since I provided fish guarantees at my expense) to any potential client unwilling to install a good quality UV Sterilizer!

BTW, since many of this persons who slam the use of UVC Sterilization state it is not natural, since when is a closed aquarium system natural??
Even if you could somehow provide the constant addition of positive mineral ions and other aspects of an open river or ocean system to a closed aquarium system (which you cannot), many fish would still benefit with longer lives because of the improvement to water quality a UV Sterilizer provides.
Thinking a UV Sterilizer is un-natural is analogous to stating we as humans should leave our modern societies and live in our own sewage and without modern medicine (this worked out real well in the middle ages didn't it??).

PLEASE read these articles for vastly better UV Sterilization information (with current research):

*
"ULTRAVIOLET STERILIZATION (How UV sterilization works)"
The above is a MUST read for anyone desiring researched and in depth information about the use and set up of a UV Sterilizer so as to step up to a higher level of aquarium care.

*AQUARIUM AND POND UV STERILIZER ARTICLES

*UV Sterilizer Directory

OR for an excellent pump to run your UV Sterilizer: Rio Pumps

Aquarium Cleaning Machine; Review

Aquarium Forums Hall of Shame #3

Aquarium Cleaning Machine Myths & Review: UPDATED 4/04/12

The Aquarium Cleaning Machine is no longer available as of early 2012, and based on disrespectful & unprofessional behavior by the owner (as well as Dr. Foster & Smith role in the demise in this product), I can no longer recommend this product if it ever gets back into production.

So most of this review has been removed.

Unfortunately for consumers this was an excellent product, however poor management by the owner including his decision to go around the original aquarium professionals who got this product off the ground by then selling only to Dr. Foster & Smith who allegedly never provided proper instructions and then shipped multiple units back to the distributor and manufacturer.
Then end result was the manufacturer being overwhelmed with returns and professional sellers dumping the product. This eventually took the manufacturer of the "Aquarium Cleaning Machine" out of business.

Sadly similar alleged behavior by Dr. Foster & Smith also resulted in Quality Pets & Aquatronics demise (this company is definitely not a favorite of many in the industry).
Related Content: Content Plagiarism, Aquarium Fish Searches





Consider the Eheim Sludge Remover as an alternative for aquariums up to 75 gallon.

This battery powered sludge removing vacuum is excellent for removing organic mulm resulting in lower nitrates or a more stable KH/alkalinity in an aquarium with a high bio load.

I recommend using this product in between water changes to remove organic debris from under rocks, decorations, or simply stagnant areas of the aquarium.

This is also an excellent tool when fish are over fed or in quarantine tanks where marginal filtration is often present so as to remove and uneaten food or particulates that may lead to ammonia spikes.



Another aspect of this Eheim Sludge remover is its simplicity of operation and cost (as compared to the discontinued APV-100 Aquarium Cleaning Machine)



Other suggest Reading, Websites, Forums:

For an honest, knowledgeable forum, I would recommend visiting “Everything Aquatic”

For the most accurate, researched information in aquarium lighting, where the information is regularly updated, including having the humility to correct errors when new information presents itself: Aquarium Lighting; Facts & Information

For only the best in True UV-C Replacement Bulbs, Lamps: UV Bulbs

Zebra Fish for Human Cancer Research

A Transparent Zebra Fish is created to give a clearer idea of how cancer spreads

FROM:
Science News; Transparent Zebrafish Help Researchers Track Breast Cancer

"What if doctors could peer through a patient's skin and see a cancer tumor growing? They'd be able to study how tumor cells migrate: how they look, how they interact with the blood system to find nourishment to grow and spread through the body.

Zebrafish are genetically similar to humans and are good models for human biology and disease. Now, researchers at Children's Hospital Boston have created a zebrafish that is transparent throughout its life. The new fish allows scientists to directly view its internal organs, and observe processes like tumor metastasis and blood production after bone-marrow transplant in a living organism".

VEGF secreting human tumor cells inducing angiogenesis within the Zebrafish body wall. Tumor cells are shown in red (DsRed), fish blood vessels are shown in green (GFP). (Credit: UCSD School of Medicine)



This is really neat in my opinion that a popular and easy to keep tropical freshwater fish is being used to help people in such a way.
Something I was not aware of is that Zebra Fish were chosen for their strong genetic similarities to human beings. Each internal organ of the fish and its bones can be seen clearly throughout its life. Through these studies, observations have shown already that the spread of cancer cells are not random – they home in on a particular area.

Zebra Fish were the first fish I got in a 5 gallon aquarium I received for Christmas in 1967. This tank was quite basic with a "bubbler" corner filter, which were quite simple but do not compare to even the most basic sponge filter. The aquarium lighting was basic clear incandescent bulbs and the heater was an automatic HOB Metaframe Heater.

Blog inspired and sponsored by Thomas Butler

Recommended Aquatic Sites	Premier Articles include Aquarium Lighting, Aquarium Chemistry; Calcium & more, etc.
AQUARIUM AND POND ANSWERS with articles such as RO, Soft Water for Aquarium, PUR vs PAR in Aquarium Lighting or Aquarium Silicone Applications

Aquarium Forum Hall of Shame-1; UV Sterilization, more

Aquarium Forum Answers Hall of Shame; Part One

I am going to add more of these posts in the future where I post answers and/or links to correct information in refutation of some poor to downright bad answers I stumble across in forums, Yahoo Answers, and even YouTube comments.
The sad part is that some of these answers come from otherwise intelligent aquarists that are unfortunately beholden to anecdotal misinformation and shun any new concepts that might make them rethink old ideas (believe me, I have changed my views on a variety of subject as new research/evidence forces me to be honest with myself).

If you are looking for a good group to join (& this is not to say this is the only good forum out there), I would recommend "Everything Aquatic". Many on this group are professionals and more important everyone here is friendly and open to learning, which is what a forum is all about!


The first “Hall of Shame” answer is actually a YouTube comment

YouTube UV Sterilizer installation Demonstration
YouTube Statement/comment
Did u know that if u leave uv lights on 24/7 they shut down a fish's defense systems? then they are turned off for a few hrs or so then illnesses can set in and kill the fish off.
Second comment: They don't shut them down, they simply weaken them since you're essentially creating a sterile environment.


My Comment

This is simply 100% WRONG!
Unfortunately this is a common anecdotal belief about UV Sterilization with absolutely no basis in scientific fact. Unlike the next Hall of Shame answer which is simply poor and based in closed mindedness, these comments are so bad they are hardly worth commenting on, so I recommend readers here follow the links to the articles below for more.
A UV Sterilizer actually improves the immune system by virtue of a reducing Redox environment created by the reaction of UVC radiation INSIDE the unit on oxidizers in the water that lower fish immunity (which are removed by this process). For a further explanation of how this works, please visit the articles below:

I strongly recommend reading this article for a much better explanation of this subject:
Aquarium UV Sterilizer; Does a UV Sterilizer help or hinder a fish' immunity
This is an article of this blog:
Aquarium and Pond UV Sterilizer; Blog

Followed by this article for a more broad understanding of UV Sterilization
"UV Sterilization"

*Note: It should be pointed out that if you have a UV Sterilizer and do not replace your UV Bulb every six months, your UV will become less effective and eventually a useless piece of aquarium equipment, so please do not forget this basic part of UV Sterilizer ownership.

The second one comes from a popular Google Group

Question: The question is basically if a power gravel vacuum such as the Aquarium Cleaning Machine can improve ones aquarium cleaning outcome, in particular the removal of DOC (admittedly this thread went all different directions, however this is the core aspects that the so called experts missed).

Answers: “You are much better off using a siphon, removing the waste from the tank. Those power vacs with the bag, traps the already decomposing waste in a bag just to let a flow of water speed-up the waste being dissolved and dumped right back into the tank as DOCs. You may as well siphon the waste in a glass of water, shake it up till the solids are dissolved and pour it back into the tank! It still does the same thing - makes and dumps DOC right back into the tank, only it does it at high speed.”

“How in the world did we get into a
discussion on how NOT to do water changes when water changes are so
vital to an aquarium's health?”

My Comment This is not a case of wrong answers, rather VERY misinformed narrow minded answers. Devices like this are not intended to replace water changes, ONLY to improve then (especially in large tanks, or tanks with high bio loads).
The final answer I referenced misses this point altogether. This is an ALTERNATIVE to a traditional water changes where as you continue to vacuum even after removing the desired amount of water.
This does not dump DOCs at a high rate of speed back into an aquarium. After using this for a more traditional water change, you then set it to re-circulate and continue to vacuum through the micron filter that removes vastly more DOC contributing organic mulm than using a filter bag with the micron filter which is then removed (unlike a standard aquarium filter which traps the waste in a different location only to still breakdown into DOC).
What is really sad about these comments is that I went into this forum and replied with the correct information (I have used these devices, including filter bags, and the method of siphoning water into a bucket and letting it settle out and pouring it back in), and the results speak for themselves (lower nitrates, improved Redox, better pH stability). These persons never even tried this machine, yet were somehow experts and worse even in theory their arguments fall apart.

Please read this article for more about Aquarium Cleaning, including reasons and methods: "Aquarium Cleaning; About and Why"


I will have more of these posts in the future, so please “stay tuned”

Other Articles of Interest:

Aquarium Repair

Aquarium Lighting

Correct use of RO Water; for Betta, Discus, more

Turtle Bill; Keeping Turtles as Pets

Update U.S. Sen. David Vitter and U.S. Rep. Rodney Alexander sponsored the turtle amendment. The Farm, Nutrition and Bioenergy Act of 2007 (H.R. 2419) that included the amendment passed 79-14.

Area farmers say turtle bill needed to help industry - A new bill floating in Congress to allow the sale of baby turtles as pets in the United States could keep Louisiana's turtle industry from sliding away.

Louisiana leads the nation in pet turtle exports, with about 5 million to 10 million shipped to international markets annually.
The turtles, mostly red-eared sliders with shell widths of less than 4 inches, are popular pets in other countries such as China but are illegal in the United States.

A salmonella scare in the 1970s led the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to outlaw the sale and interstate transportation of baby turtles.
Earlier this month, U.S. Sen. David Vitter, R-La., introduced legislation to permit the sale of pet baby turtles as long as the seller uses proven methods to prevent salmonella.

Salmonella, a bacteria known to cause typhoid and paratyphoid fever, was recently linked to contaminated peanut butter, prompting the FDA to issue a warning to consumers not to eat certain jars of Peter Pan and Great Value peanut butter.

Complications from salmonella poisoning can include fever, diarrhea and abdominal cramps, according to the FDA. For people in poor health or with weakened immune systems, salmonella can invade the bloodstream and cause life-threatening infections.




Comment:

Hopefully this bill will go through, Louisiana needs this help with the economy. This is also needed to bring the turtle market out of the Black Market. I believe with proper documentation this can be made relatively safe and this is far better than the many dishonest pet stores selling them out the back door to unknowing parents with small children.
As well from my experience of professional keeping turtle tanks/aquariums for clients, there was NOT ONE I did not maintain a properly installed well designed UV Sterilizer on as the killing of Salmonella by Level One UV Sterilization is well documented.
As well for this Ultraviolet Sterilizer to be effective, the UV Bulbs MUST be changed every six months and I caution readers from buying the cheap cold cathode UV Bulbs flooding the market or the cheap UV Sterilizers such as the Submariner, AquaTop and similar that cannot maintain level 1 UV Sterilization.

UPDATE 6/26/07:
Florida has a ban on Red Ear Sliders set to go into place July 1, 2007;

"Tallahassee, Florida - Beginning July 1, people no longer may purchase red-eared sliders — common pet store turtles. A new rule passed by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) prohibits selling the species. However, anyone who already has a red-eared slider may keep it, under the new rule.

Red-eared sliders already in captivity will not be allowed to breed, so any offspring will have to be surrendered to certified red-eared slider adopters or dealers, or euthanized."


Aquarium Information If you are interested in an Aquariums this is a good place to start.

For a Fish Forum with dealing with the treatment of Ich:
Ich Treatment; Fish Forum