Water Filtration for the Lower Mainland

[DJ88]

What an interesting argument. If the difference UV is going to make is "squat" then why bother running it at all?

My first comment was aimed at the Recreating the ocean. We aren't going to do it. Simple as that. If you believe you can do it. You are fooling yourself.

As for the rest.

don't think anyone is saying use UV because so and so has a beautiful tank

I think Troy said it all right there.

I am saying to use one as I have had personal experience with them now. And have done a lot of reading and talking to those who have sed them as well.

[Delphinus]

You're missing my point Darren. Whether we accomplish recreating the ocean or not is not the question; the question is whether do we try or not. If we don't try, then what are we doing in this hobby in the first place? We can't just say "well I can't recreate the ocean, so why bother trying? I'm going to acclimate my clownfish to live in freshwater instead, since what difference will a little salt make? Squat." I seem to remember someone saying something about whether we strive for the minimal environment, or strive for the optimal environment. How then do you define an optimal environment? Is not the real reef the optimal environment? If you're not striving to maintain the closest thing to nature, then what are you doing??? How do you judge whether your artificial environment is closer to "optimal" or closer to "minimal?" Obviously you have to have some kind of criteria whereby you can quantify the quality of captive care. You can't just say "well you're fooling yourself if you think you can recreate the ocean" and then stop it at that. If that's how a person thinks, then that person shouldn't be in the hobby, end of debate.

All I'm saying is, if you think using a tool moves you closer to that goal according to your criteria, then you should absolutely employ that tool. But if it's just an extra "cool toy" ... then you haven't addressed the question of "what exact purpose does this widget serve?" That's the whole problem I have with this hobby: that we prescribe a set of equipment without adequately justifying each. Setting up a tank should be goal-oriented. First identify your goals, then decide what tools you will need before you set out to accomplish those goals. Don't instead go out any buy everything under the sun because so-and-so says you need this stuff first ... how many people have failed in this hobby because they went out and bought equipment that they didn't need? All because some LFS told them that's what they needed. Do we not wish to evolve beyond that?

I don't want to pick on you, but you haven't exactly provided any concrete evidence beyond the anecdotal... I don't doubt you've done your reading; far from it in fact. But if you make the claim, then the onus of proof thus rests on your shoulders. Come on, man, convince me.

PS. Let me be clear: if it is not clear by now, I have changed my position from "I wouldn't run UV on a reef tank" to "I would consider running UV on a reef tank if I was convinced I was adding long-term value to the quality of my captive care by killing free-floating organisms [or whatever it is that UV does]." I'm not entirely clear on why killing free-floating organisms is a good thing, and that's why I'm not letting this point drop.