Need Advice on UV for 2000gal system

[prostaff]

Can anyone please reccomend a good UV sterilizer for a 2000 gal system?

[luke33]

Real big one! : ) Seriously, what a tank, congrats, its going to take multi for a tank that size. IMO, a uv skimmer is a waste for a system that large. Get a large qt and stock that bad boy slowly. Use the extra money for a nice skimmer and lighting. Good luck!

[prostaff]

I have always QTed my new fish but find that they still get ick from time to time. I have one FO tank that has gone thru 4 copper treatments and 2 hypo treatments and the fish still get ick from time to time. It has not been bad enough to kill anything yet but with the new project underway I will be investing in a lot more fish(100) and a little anxious about protecting the investment. Just had a couple of friends lose 60 fish when they upgraded to a bigger system. I am thinking of doing everything I can to give me a better chance of success including cleaner shrimp and wrasses plus QT and UV

[noodles9987]

look at the aqua unltraviolet viper unit. it's 400 watts, with 1 bulb. You would have to change out 1 bulb every 14 months. The bulbs cost 360.00 each. Custom aquatics has it for 1789.00. I've seen it on a couple of other web sites and the price at custom aquatics is the lowest i've seen.

They have it with an inlet/outlet size of between 2 inches and 6 inches so it should be easy to select the correct size. You can call aqua if you have any questions, but the guys at custom aquatics are pretty friendly and they have alot of information at hand.

[GoFishJoel]

Couldn't you get similar affects by using ozone?

[noodles9987]

Joel, ozone is a superior water treatment solution. The question was about UV, not ozone. However you are correct. Ozone will provide (in my opinion) far better water purification than will UV. Also, clearwater tech, LLC makes a very good ozone generator (light bulb UV not corona discharge). The model number is UV-2800 and the bulbs are good for 9000 hours. The unit contains 2 uv lamps and it is more than adequate for a 2000 gl. tank.

If you have ozone, you wouldn't necessarily need to have UV. However, there is one important point about this that possibly some people don't think about. UV is left on 24/7. Ozone is only dosed when the orp drops. So, for this reason, UV is a constant cleansing mechanism while Ozone is used intermitently.

Aqua Ultraviolet also makes a uv/ozone unit. However, I very much like the clearwater units. I suppose its just personal preference. My advice is this: Contact both manufacturers and ask questions before you make a purchase.

[prostaff]

Thanks a bunch guys for your suggestions. I will look into the Viper unit. For you guys currently using UV, how does it affect your pod/snail/ life. I am hoping there will still be stuff for my Mandarins and copperbands to eat

[Billy Rocket]

I use 2 Aqua 57 watt UV's on my 4000g system. My 400g system is an outdoor pond

[prostaff]

Originally posted by Billy Rocket
I use 2 Aqua 57 watt UV's on my 4000g system. My 400g system is an outdoor pond

I am assuming you are using this as algae control only. I am looking for parasite control

[prostaff]

Anyone else think it is a waste of time to put a UV unit on a 2000 gallon system?

[noodles9987]

Prostaff, I was not implying that UV is a waste of money. I have ozone and UV. And, I believe they work in tandem. Some people may disagree, but I would recommend both, providing you budget allows for these large purchases.

Also, I was talking about the clearwater UV type ozone generator earlier, because the UV type generators don't need air driers. The corona discharge units should be used with driers, unless they come with internal air pumps. I have come to understand that carona discharge units with internal air pumps do not use air driers, but the ones without the internall air pumps would require an air drier. For your size set up, this information is probably useless. However, I added it because others may find it useful.

Also, the UV is perfectly fine with snails,etc. I haven't had any problems with keeping them.

[GACDIVER]

Just some food for thought. I belive that the Viper UVs can only be sold to contractors or certified installers. You might want to check that out before base your filtration around it. Like Noodles said contact the mfgr's and ask lots of questions.

Sean

[prostaff]

Originally posted by luke33
Real big one! : ) Seriously, what a tank, congrats, its going to take multi for a tank that size. IMO, a uv skimmer is a waste for a system that large. Get a large qt and stock that bad boy slowly. Use the extra money for a nice skimmer and lighting. Good luck!

Hey Noodles
Sorry if my previous post was a bit vague. i was actually referring to this comment and trying to find out more before I invested that much money into the purchase.
Thanks for the insight. So your snails are still breeding and multiplying in your system?

[prostaff]

Originally posted by GACDIVER
Just some food for thought. I belive that the Viper UVs can only be sold to contractors or certified installers. You might want to check that out before base your filtration around it. Like Noodles said contact the mfgr's and ask lots of questions.

Sean

I already went ahead and got the Viper unit thru custom aquatics. You definitely don't have to be a contractor to buy one unless you meant that you could not buy directly through the manufacturer. I ordered from Custom Aquatics and it gets drop shipped from Aqua UV

[GACDIVER]

Thats awesome prostaff. They are some sweet units. Its like a halide UV system, wicked bright!!!

Sean

[prostaff]

Got it in last week. That sucker came in 3 different large boxes. I will be installing it on the system next week. I hope it helps control parasites without rendering my system podless