Uv and biopellets

Hi
I have a 120 gal reef tank with a sump
I just got a reactor and bio pellets
My question is will the uv kill the bacteria
From the bio pellets

 

Cokecolaguy

the bacteria confined in the reactor is not going to be killed by the UV
when the bacteria is sloughed off the pellets and enters the water column
some of it may well be killed of by the UV

if your running a good skimmer, most of the sloughed bacteria alive and in fact dead, will be skimmed out anyway
thus having a good skimmer that removes these and the nutrients that would be released is ideal



Steve

 

From the information available from reefers with microscopes, there does seem to be a substantial increase of bacteria in the water column when using biopellets. They UV will kill off the bacteria in the water. This will be somewhat counterproductive, but also, once bacteria is killed, it will then begin to degrade and pollute your tank if it is not removed immediately by your protein skimmer. If removed by your protein skimmer, it will not be feeding your corals, which is believed by many, to be why carbon dosing is associated with enhanced coral coloration of SPS corals. Regardless, the only proven effect of UV in a reef tank is to reduce some algae, which carbon dosing is also known to do. So, at worst the combination will have a detrimental effect, at best it will have no additional benefit.

 

I have read similar accounts as well. I had a UV planned for my big build coming up, as well as pellets. After seeing the success people have with the pellets, and possible detriment the UV would cause in conjunction, I crossed that off my list...$400 more in the budget for livestock!

 

imo, using bio pellets is a bit different than carbon dosing. it is something that is derived from the same thought process but not the same. a uv should not effect bio pellets. since the bacteria is in the reactor and not being formed in your tank water...( carbon dosing bacteria is formed in the tanks water) with the bacteria in the reactor , and the out flow of the reactor pointed at your skimmers inflow, as its supposed to be setup. the skimmer is pulling most of the bio pellets bacteria before it can even come into contact with the uv.

also a uv does more than just remove algae.

 

Based on the research efforts of fellow reefers, it appears to be an incorrect assumption that the bacteria from biopellets is limited to the biopellets. This just does not hold true in practice. (note: a good test of this if you don't have a microscope is your skimmer. When you add biopellets your skimmate will increase. If you have a microscope take some water samples when starting biopellets, you will notice that the bacteria increases over time after starting the reactor).

I agree that UV and carbon dosing are very different. They are really polar opposites. Carbon dosing drives bacterial growth. UV kills bacteria and algae. I don't agree that it reliably kills anything else; in a closed system anyways.

 

i respect your opinion as i think you know, but this time i dont agree with you on bio pellets and uv together.
hey long day? ( re-read) i said bio pellets and carbon dosing are different. same theory but operate differently to some degree.

from what i experienced, bio pellets do work with a uv running. i seen a nitrate drop. i wrote in my notes when the drop started. they are on my page here.

i take it you are one who does not believe in uv sterilizers. im a firm believer that they do work and are a plus for better water quality in a tank. with or without bio pellets.

 

thanks for all the help.

 

It was a long day, but not when I posted. At that point I just hadn't had my coffee yet I do agree in theory bio-pellets are different than carbon dosing. It's debatable whether or not that is true in practice, but that's another can of worms ;D

 

it seems so many things in this hobby is a can of worms LOL so many different ways to get the job done. maybe thats part of what keeps it so interesting. you are always learning, i find myself always researching things.and having to make a choice on many schools of thought.