setting up nano cube reef tank are UV Sterilizers important??

Question

Just didnt know if this would be a good idea to get???

Answer 1

If they're a good idea depends on what your expectations are. They will help control some diseases, parasites, and free-floating algae, but they don't (and can't) kill everything. If you have attached algae, a UV doesn't affect it, nor will it kill parasites above a certain size, or those which can control their movements/level in the tank enough to avoid the intake which leads to the UV unit.

You also need to buy an appropriate size, since how well the unit functions depends on the amount of time the organisms that you're targeting are exposed to the UV radiation. Add to this considerations of flow rate, and needing to replace the UV bulb at least on a yearly basis. (BTW, there is a company selling an internal UV that uses a LED light - people who have tried these give them very poor reviews).

I have 3 marine tanks, and don't use UV on any of them. Instead, I use a quarantine tank to isolate any fish, inverts, live rock, etc. for 1-2 months before adding it to my tanks. This is a long enough period to be relatively sure the animals are healthy, eating, and acclimated to water conditions before having to deal with other fish, and any pests like Aiptasia, nuisance algae, etc. can be dealt with during this time.

Answer 2

I don't think so. They only kill what can pass through them, so all but the largest units are really very ineffective. They also kill the beneficial bacteria, so it might work against you in some sense. And, as posted above, it's really best to quarantine first, and treat any diseases/infections in a hospital tank, before adding anything to your main display. I would invest in a quarantine tank before I invest in a UV sterilizer.

Regards

Answer 3

Also it is best to use a UV light on a refuge tank and not the community tank. Too much UV light is not good for fish.

PK.

Answer 4

Sounds good just make sure you get a heater, parameter testing kit, refractometer, protein skimmer, live rock, and live sand. I recommend starting out with soft corals and mushrooms as that's pretty much all that light will cover.