UV Sterilizer on a Discus Setup??

Hi All, after my recent outbreak in my discus tank I have been advised by a collegue who keeps Marines to set up my tank with a UV sterilizer to help cut down on the nasties in the water? Does anyone use UV on Discus set ups -If so does it help? I have been looking at a Vecton UV15 as they and Spare bulbs seem easily available here in the UK at an affordable cost. Does anyone have any experience with these sterilizers and Discus? Regards Foghorn

Keep in mind that a UV will kill everything, good bacteria as well as bad.

I use UV sterilizers on some of my tanks, including my discus. There are definately no problems from it. Whether or not it is a big benefit I can't say for certain, but it won't hurt.

Thanks everyone.In reply to John the extra insurance of the UV is really what I am after. I work away from home at sea and luckily have an understanding wife who does 30% water changes every 2 weeks for me. Basically if the UV can buy me a bit more time against infection then thats great for me while I am away.Once I get home the discus get a 25% HMA water change twice a week which gets the tanks in a good condition for my trips away. Since posting this article I have read a few threads on other Aquarist sites and the majority of UV users on Discus tanks give them the thumbs up. Thanks again

They work great, but should be put on a timer. If on for more than a few hours a day, it will oxidize trace elements. In that sence it would be kind of like having 100% RO water - it would/could mess with the fishs osmoregulation (the control of body fluids) ............Frank

Ray wrote;

Sure does. I was doing the same thing with my first all fish saltwater tank. I had a DIY ultraviolet sterilizer hooked to the outlet of the filter for about 6 months, but did weekly water changes. Never had any kind of trouble, but was told by one of the guys in the fish club to put the UV light on a timer set for 8 hours a day. I did, had the tank for another 3 1/2 years without any troubles. I would think 8 hours a day would be more than enough. ....... Frank

Thanks for the 411 Frank. I have only one surviving fish from the big Ich outbreak. IMO the UV saved his life. After 48 hours of UV, he looks absolutely 1000% better than he was. Any fish that I was able to catch and QT, died anyway. I treated the display tank with Kordon Ich*Attack which is reef safe, that didn't do anything more than make my tank a big brown cloud.

I think I'll leave it on 24/7 for another week or two, then set it onto the timer for the daily 8 hour shift.

Could you detail, briefly, what made up this DIY UV sterilizer? I'm interested in this as a method of dealing with some the algae (not a full time proposition in other words) that gets into my water from time to time.

Regards

I made up about a dozen back in my pet store days - used them on incomming shipments and as loaners. Used 3' PVC/DWV plumbing pipe. End cap, short piece of pipe, and the other end cap. Cap to cap, about 1/4' short of the glass part of the UV light tube. Drill Two holes in each end cap, *one* a 1/4' larger than the UV tube. These holes need to be drilled to where the outside edge of the hole would be next to the inside wall of the PVC pipe.The other (second) hole is for a short piece of 3/8' or 1/2' PVC, 1.5' leaves enough sticking out of the cap to get a hose and clamp on (water inlet and outlets). Glue togeather with PVC glue. Glue the UV tube in with clear silicone so you can see when the tube burns out, and it can be removed and replaced. The UV tube holes are offset to allow the tube to still fit in the light fixture. ........... Frank

Thanks!