This maybe a dum question but......
Toothy has just persuded me to instal a UV unit which I started running last night.
I am planning to get another fish once my tank is all sorted out and I've been reading the quarantine advice.
I'm just wondering if you can use a UV for a quarantine tank instead of the salting method. Would it work just as well or not?

Good question Pixiefish - I'd be interested in finding out peoples views on that too.

I know a UV system on a mian tank can aid in the introduction of a new fish (after QT) to an established system, offering the new fish and the existing tank mates protection against unfamiliar background pathogens. I have a UV on my main tank and personally, I'd always QT any new fish prior to introduction into it anyway, regardless of the UV - although the UV does add extra protection/peace of mind at that time and thereafter.

Would be interesting to know whether it had a role during the QT period too? Although, a UV system works by zapping the water, rather than any parasites etc. already on an infested fish - although I guess it could wipe out the cycle of reproduction of the spores etc. ?

What do ya think Toothless? and others!

I see no harm in a UV on a qt tank or just about any other tank, with the exception of one that is being treated with certain UV sensitive medications.

I, personally, would not waste an expensive unit on a qt tank. In my qt tanks, I generally will salt and/or treat as needed, but the tank is often not even cycled. I change 100% of the water daily - leaving behind any water bourne nasties in the last batch of water - hense there is little need for a UV. A UV on a main tank is wonderful - and it will help protect your new fish as well as your old fish as you mix them together - just in case there is anything that may attempt to transfer through the water from one to another.

For the UV lamp is best used for removing the vectors between fish. This means that for one fish to infect another fish the parasite or bacteria or whatever must pass from the infected fish, through the water to the second fish. The UV unit, properly running, will reduce or eliminate this direct vector from one fish to another.

The UV will not remove anything that is actively on or in the fish - it can only work on that which is water bourne - that which passes through the unit and is exposed to the UV rays. This is why it will not cure a fish that is already carrying a parasitic load, but it can help reduce reinfection once the fish is cleared of problems. It does a HUGE amount in reducing the transfer of problems from fish to fish - like a personal force field.

Salt, because it comes in direct contact with the fish in the tank, is invaluable during quarantine. Unlike the UV, salt CAN remove parasites that are actively on and infecting a fish. Salt dips can strip away many slime dwelling parasites. Salt bathes (as in 0.3% for 2 weeks) can kill off a good deal of the nasties. I would not replace the salt treatment with a UV.

Great. That's very helpful and has cleared things up for sure.
If you go the filterless route in the QT - is that like bucket to bucket? Do you test the amm. during the day or just do an automatic 24hr 100% change? I imagine you need an airstone in there, too?
Seen a nice fishy.........

I actually have a filter in the qt tank - turning over the water. I run it without carbon and do not bother with a cycle - the filteration is an aeration/turnover thing - with a waterfall return as well as mechanical filtration.

To clean, I simply draw out enough water to fill a clean bucket, place the fish in the bucket, dump the entire qt tank, fill the tank again and replace the fish. Then I dump the bucket and clean. This is essentially bucket to bucket. I do treat the water with PRime, the fish is fed very lightly, mostly with greens to keep the waste down. The qt tank is usually kept at 0.3% salt. There are no plants, no decorations and there is no substrate.

I always test the water midway between changes - usually at about noon. If the water issues need to be addressed more often than once a day, I do so - it is very important to keep the fish in GOOD water to not start any new problems!

I did use a UV in a qt tank once, I recall. At that time, I was qting three fish that came from three different sources and had NO way to qt them separately. The UV was used in hopes of preventing cross contamination. Luckily, there were no problems found in any of the fish that the salt did not take care of.