UV sterilizer

[Rob22]

Looking for a suggestion for a UV sterilizer for a nano tank, preferably submersible as the tank is a biocube 29 with no sump. 

[seabass]

Can I ask why you are looking at running a UV serilizer?

[Rob22]

Absolutely, the only reason I would even consider it on this tank is because it’s sole inhabitant is a peacock mantis shrimp. The bigger mantis species, peacock in particular, are prone to shell rot that is deadly to them. Not much is known about the cause of shell rot but it has been hypothesized that there is a bacteria in the water column that either causes it or at least contributes to it. It has also been observed that the best way to prevent rot is with pristine water conditions, varied high quality diet with vitamin supplements, low light and uv sterilization. Unfortunately there is no guarantee that any of this will work, but it has been shown, at the very least anecdotally, to be effective by people that have kept the species. This includes Dr. Caldwell who is considered a specialist on stomatopods. The current set up is a biocube 29 modified to accept an aqua c remora skimmer that I used to run on my 65 gallon, a small pellet reactor and an intank media rack for filter floss and carbon. I shouldn’t need gfo due to the biopellets. I have wanted to keep a peacock mantis for years and finally got one in this tank. With the amount of money I have spent on my 90 gallon reef, adding $100 uv to this tank even if it just for a possibility of keeping shell rot at bay seems a worthy investment. 

[seabass]

Would this fit?

• 

[Rob22]

I need to measure when I get back home. That one may fit but it is designed for a specific tank per marine depot and they won’t guarantee it will work on any others. It is gravity fed so I won’t have a pump to help it function. 

[seabass]

https://www.amazon.com/Coralife-BioCube-Sterilizer-Aquarium-Mini/dp/B00F1N7WNO/ref=sr_1_22?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1546493296&sr=1-22&keywords=Uv+sterilizer

 

There are probably dozens of units that should work/help.

[Rob22]

Thanks Seabass. I have seen most of them and most of the smaller ones have leaking issues or low bulb life. I have a 25 watt Aqua UV which is way too big for this set up. I may go with the 8 watt HOB Aqua UV. They used to make it inline as well but stopped for some reason. 

[Rob22]

I also spoke with Dr. Caldwell and he stated that he only use UV on multiple tank setups to prevent the spread so I may opt out altogether.  

[seabass]

1 hour ago, Rob22 said:

I may opt out altogether

I know that a number of reefers have successfully kept mantis without UV.  However, it was interesting to learn that peacocks are susceptible to shell rot.  Good luck, no matter how you decide to proceed.

[Rob22]

5 hours ago, seabass said:

I know that a number of reefers have successfully kept mantis without UV.  However, it was interesting to learn that peacocks are susceptible to shell rot.  Good luck, no matter how you decide to proceed.

Thanks. I misspoke though, he actually said he only uses UV on setups with multiple peacocks, not mantis in general. This is actually my second mantis tank. The first one was a G. falcatus and no UV was used on that tank. I had no issues with shell rot for her. I’m probably being way over cautious on this. 

[mcarroll]

7 hours ago, Rob22 said:

I also spoke with Dr. Caldwell and he stated that he only use UV on multiple tank setups to prevent the spread so I may opt out altogether.  

This is what I wondered.  

 

Disease, assuming that's what "shell rot" is, is always linked to stress – whether dietary, environmental or otherwise.  If I had to guess, Dr Caldwell might be keeping them in bare/non-reef tanks in a lab.   One would expect stress-related side-effects, especially outside of the short-term.   I could be wrong about the Dr, but that would not be a good recipe for housing anything. 😄

 

UV is good at keeping things contained, BTW, but it's no cure.

 

If you're familiar with keeping a reef tank running, Stomatopods should have identical water/tank requirements.

 

If you're familiar with proper feeding for you type of Stomatopod (I'm not, but read here) you should do fine like before.

6 hours ago, seabass said:

I know that a number of reefers have successfully kept mantis without UV.  However, it was interesting to learn that peacocks are susceptible to shell rot.  Good luck, no matter how you decide to proceed.

+1

[Rob22]

I agree completely with the lab situation comment about bare tanks and this may be true, not disagreeing with you, it should be noted though that the species has an elevated instances of shell rot even in tanks with proper habitat set up. This isnt saying that the animal isn’t stressed from being plucked out of an ocean where it keeps a territory and thousands of square feet for itself plus numerous tunnels and shoved into a glass box in my kitchen. It could be that the peacocks are more prone to stress.  

 

True that UV does not cure it. If it is a disease or an infection and is transferable to another specimen, i.e. contagious, it has to transfer through the water column or crawl to another space meaning it is bacterial, viral or a parasite that causes it. This is especially true when there is no physical contact with another specimen. If UV can keep it from spreading from one tank to another perhaps it can keep it in check with pristine water and a good diet. It may be a bunch of snake oil in this case because even the “experts” don’t know everything about it.