UV Sterilizers?

BryanJ · 12/07/2006, 01:02 PM

Which UV sterilizer do you use and what is the size of your tank?

DRC69 · 12/07/2006, 02:14 PM

Vecton 25 watt on a 120 gal.

jag1979 · 12/07/2006, 04:36 PM

40 watt current gamma for a 180

JC VT · 12/07/2006, 05:14 PM

15w Aquanetics on a 20L

TracyZeuner · 12/07/2006, 09:54 PM

36 watt Turbo on a 180

BryanJ · 12/08/2006, 07:47 AM

Tracy

I have been looking at the turbo twist myself. You could have gotten away with the 18w why did you go up a step and do you feel it was over kill?

jag1979 how are you running that uv? Inline with both overflow drains?

Who sells vecton and aquanetics sterilizers?

gh0st · 12/08/2006, 10:54 AM

Watch out with UV ratings, many of them are rated for water clarification, and not disease control, which takes a good deal more power and contact time.

About 40 watts per 100 gals is about right with good contact time.

yeldarbj · 12/08/2006, 11:01 AM

15 watt Aqua UV, 65 gallon tank. I plumbed it as a stand alone running on a MJ1200.

Great prices and service from BlueZooAquatics. They carried some other brands too. A lot of people recommended Aqua UV based on build quality. Aqua UV has decent info on the web-site too regarding flow volume, UV size, and what you are trying kill.

BryanJ · 12/08/2006, 11:49 AM

I lost a clam to whatever pathogen causes clench mouth and I would like to try a clam again but I won't get one till I do something about the issue. I have been looking at turbo twists and the Aqua UV. I am trying to decide if this is like a skimmer where overkill is reccomended or if the units seem to be rated correctly.

JC VT · 12/08/2006, 12:12 PM

Personally I can't think of a reason that an oversized UV would hurt. The only minus being heat transfer.

jag1979 · 12/08/2006, 01:28 PM

I run my uv teed off from my return pump w/ a ball valve to slow the flow to about 75 gph, this is returned to the sump

TracyZeuner · 12/08/2006, 02:03 PM

I based mine on the gph and contact time.The instructions that came with the 36 watt turbo calls for about 260-290 gph for killing ick and other parisites. I was going to plumb the UV to one of my overflows so I tried to match it to the gph. In the end I decided it was easier to just add another pump encase I didn't like the performance. So far it works good. I have only had mine up and running for about 2weeks.

BryanJ · 12/08/2006, 03:53 PM

Great idea jag that way the pump is eliminated. No electricity consumed for the additonal pump either.

Well I guess I will be ordering the aqua uv 2000 when I order everything else next month. It is the proper size for my tank with a little room to spare.

JonnyD91 · 12/08/2006, 04:16 PM

Do you guys think it would have any effect on pod population putting the UV on the return side of the sump if you have a refugium?

gabe3d · 12/08/2006, 05:35 PM

I use an AquaStep 25 on a 210.

dirtyclownfish · 12/08/2006, 07:39 PM

I use a Coralife Turbo-Twist 3x, 9 watt on a 75 Gallon System

DrHank · 12/08/2006, 07:57 PM

The return side is the way to go. It's going to kill just about any single celled organism that passes by it but if you feed your tank first the organisms that pass to the sump and fuge have a chance to be eaten by your corals and pods before ths sterilizer zaps them. Who's to say that a single pass through the sterilizer is enough to kill them anyway. It's the repeated passage throu that ultimately destroys them.

I would recommend feeding phyto in the evening and powering down your skimmer until morning the nights that you feed. I also turn my sterilizer off the night that I feed as well. That's the wonderful thing about sterilizers. It won't hurt to power them down one or two times a week when feeding. The tubes are only effective for about six months anyway. Then it's time to change them.

JonnyD91 · 12/08/2006, 08:06 PM

ok so i have a 3x turbo twist just recirculating in my sump. Is it really doing anything? I would think a better one would be one plumbed right into the return line so the water HAS to pass through it.

johnnybravo234 · 12/09/2006, 08:29 AM

Ive heard that they also kill off a lot of friendly creatures that may be floating around in your water column. As for effectiveness I have an 18w one on my 20g quarantine and it did absolutely nothing as far as having an effect on an ich infested PB tang I treated. It still took a good week and copper for him to show improvement. That was on a fresh bulb. Although Im sure they do kill a lot of bad stuff I dont think the trade off is worth it and they arent the answer to all microscopic problems.

jag1979 · 12/09/2006, 09:24 AM

"Ive heard that they also kill off a lot of friendly creatures that may be floating around in your water column. As for effectiveness I have an 18w one on my 20g quarantine and it did absolutely nothing as far as having an effect on an ich infested PB tang I treated. It still took a good week and copper for him to show improvement. That was on a fresh bulb. Although Im sure they do kill a lot of bad stuff I dont think the trade off is worth it and they arent the answer to all microscopic problems"

they kill free floating stuff, they won't kill ich that is actually on a fish, unless maybe the fish swam through the UV steralizer

Myka · 12/17/2006, 01:05 PM

Sorry to hijack the thread, but I have a Turbo-Twist 6x 18W for sale if anyone's interested.

12/07/2006, 01:02 PM	#1
BryanJ Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Green Bay, WI. Posts: 2,938	UV Sterilizers? Which UV sterilizer do you use and what is the size of your tank? __________________ Experience is the best source of information! Current Tank Info: 120 gallon mixed reef, 75 gallon sump, Sequence Wahoo, Tunze stream, Euroreef CS 8-1 and 2x250 MH

12/07/2006, 02:14 PM	#2
DRC69 Oh Well Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: RSM, CA Posts: 3,430	Vecton 25 watt on a 120 gal. __________________ Thanks, D Current Tank Info: "A government big enough to give you everything you want is a government big enough to take from you everything you have" ----- Thomas Jefferson

12/07/2006, 04:36 PM	#3
jag1979 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 982	40 watt current gamma for a 180 __________________ clowns, bi-color pseudo, coral beauty, yellow tang GBTA, crocea clam xenia, various polyps/zoa's, candy cane, tree leather, frogspawn, torch, various mushrooms, green/red plate, birdsnest Current Tank Info: 180 AGA, tunze 6100, 6025 and 6060, 3 x 250 mh's, 3 x 80 t5's, ASM G4+

12/07/2006, 05:14 PM	#4
JC VT Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Chicago, Il Posts: 579	15w Aquanetics on a 20L __________________ What ain't no country I ever heard of. They speak English in what?

12/08/2006, 07:47 AM	#6
BryanJ Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Green Bay, WI. Posts: 2,938	Tracy I have been looking at the turbo twist myself. You could have gotten away with the 18w why did you go up a step and do you feel it was over kill? jag1979 how are you running that uv? Inline with both overflow drains? Who sells vecton and aquanetics sterilizers? __________________ Experience is the best source of information! Current Tank Info: 120 gallon mixed reef, 75 gallon sump, Sequence Wahoo, Tunze stream, Euroreef CS 8-1 and 2x250 MH Last edited by BryanJ; 12/08/2006 at 08:29 AM.

12/07/2006, 09:54 PM	#5
TracyZeuner Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Simi Valley, Ca Posts: 636	36 watt Turbo on a 180

12/08/2006, 10:54 AM	#7
gh0st Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 956	Watch out with UV ratings, many of them are rated for water clarification, and not disease control, which takes a good deal more power and contact time. About 40 watts per 100 gals is about right with good contact time. __________________ I REFUSE to buy Named/LE/High End Corals for insane prices. I REFUSE to pay Per Polyp for micro "Frags." Further more, I REFUSE to sell in any similar fashion. This is a hobby, not the Stock Market. If you feel the same, change you're signature to something similar and spread the word! Long Live the Reef Revolution!

12/08/2006, 11:01 AM	#8
yeldarbj Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Tulsa, OK Posts: 1,295	15 watt Aqua UV, 65 gallon tank. I plumbed it as a stand alone running on a MJ1200. Great prices and service from BlueZooAquatics. They carried some other brands too. A lot of people recommended Aqua UV based on build quality. Aqua UV has decent info on the web-site too regarding flow volume, UV size, and what you are trying kill.

12/08/2006, 11:49 AM	#9
BryanJ Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Green Bay, WI. Posts: 2,938	I lost a clam to whatever pathogen causes clench mouth and I would like to try a clam again but I won't get one till I do something about the issue. I have been looking at turbo twists and the Aqua UV. I am trying to decide if this is like a skimmer where overkill is reccomended or if the units seem to be rated correctly. __________________ Experience is the best source of information! Current Tank Info: 120 gallon mixed reef, 75 gallon sump, Sequence Wahoo, Tunze stream, Euroreef CS 8-1 and 2x250 MH

12/08/2006, 12:12 PM	#10
JC VT Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Chicago, Il Posts: 579	Personally I can't think of a reason that an oversized UV would hurt. The only minus being heat transfer. __________________ What ain't no country I ever heard of. They speak English in what?

12/08/2006, 01:28 PM	#11
jag1979 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 982	I run my uv teed off from my return pump w/ a ball valve to slow the flow to about 75 gph, this is returned to the sump __________________ clowns, bi-color pseudo, coral beauty, yellow tang GBTA, crocea clam xenia, various polyps/zoa's, candy cane, tree leather, frogspawn, torch, various mushrooms, green/red plate, birdsnest Current Tank Info: 180 AGA, tunze 6100, 6025 and 6060, 3 x 250 mh's, 3 x 80 t5's, ASM G4+

12/08/2006, 02:03 PM	#12
TracyZeuner Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Simi Valley, Ca Posts: 636	I based mine on the gph and contact time.The instructions that came with the 36 watt turbo calls for about 260-290 gph for killing ick and other parisites. I was going to plumb the UV to one of my overflows so I tried to match it to the gph. In the end I decided it was easier to just add another pump encase I didn't like the performance. So far it works good. I have only had mine up and running for about 2weeks.

12/08/2006, 03:53 PM	#13
BryanJ Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Green Bay, WI. Posts: 2,938	Great idea jag that way the pump is eliminated. No electricity consumed for the additonal pump either. Well I guess I will be ordering the aqua uv 2000 when I order everything else next month. It is the proper size for my tank with a little room to spare. __________________ Experience is the best source of information! Current Tank Info: 120 gallon mixed reef, 75 gallon sump, Sequence Wahoo, Tunze stream, Euroreef CS 8-1 and 2x250 MH

12/08/2006, 04:16 PM	#14
JonnyD91 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Manalapan NJ Posts: 1,444	Do you guys think it would have any effect on pod population putting the UV on the return side of the sump if you have a refugium?

12/08/2006, 05:35 PM	#15
gabe3d Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Elk Grove/Sunnyvale/Shibuya Posts: 1,605	I use an AquaStep 25 on a 210.

12/08/2006, 07:39 PM	#16
dirtyclownfish Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Lebanon, IN Posts: 257	I use a Coralife Turbo-Twist 3x, 9 watt on a 75 Gallon System __________________ L.P.Patmore Current Tank Info: 55 Gallon Display Tank, Euroreef RS-100 Skimmer, 30 Gallon Sump, Current USA Gamma UV Sterilizer, Current USA T5 Lights

12/08/2006, 07:57 PM	#17
DrHank Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Crestview, FL Posts: 2,138	The return side is the way to go. It's going to kill just about any single celled organism that passes by it but if you feed your tank first the organisms that pass to the sump and fuge have a chance to be eaten by your corals and pods before ths sterilizer zaps them. Who's to say that a single pass through the sterilizer is enough to kill them anyway. It's the repeated passage throu that ultimately destroys them. I would recommend feeding phyto in the evening and powering down your skimmer until morning the nights that you feed. I also turn my sterilizer off the night that I feed as well. That's the wonderful thing about sterilizers. It won't hurt to power them down one or two times a week when feeding. The tubes are only effective for about six months anyway. Then it's time to change them. __________________ Doc (Click the red house for the FPRS site) Current Tank Info: 210 gallon Mixed reef, 65 reef

12/08/2006, 08:06 PM	#18
JonnyD91 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Manalapan NJ Posts: 1,444	ok so i have a 3x turbo twist just recirculating in my sump. Is it really doing anything? I would think a better one would be one plumbed right into the return line so the water HAS to pass through it. __________________ Click my super cool username dropdown menu to see my new 90 Gallon In wall Build on my user home page :) Current Tank Info: 90G Reef - 2 MP40's - Apex Controlled - Reef Octopus PRO-SSS-DC1 Skimmer - 6 Bulb ATI Sunpower

12/09/2006, 08:29 AM	#19
johnnybravo234 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Litchfield County, CT Posts: 771	Ive heard that they also kill off a lot of friendly creatures that may be floating around in your water column. As for effectiveness I have an 18w one on my 20g quarantine and it did absolutely nothing as far as having an effect on an ich infested PB tang I treated. It still took a good week and copper for him to show improvement. That was on a fresh bulb. Although Im sure they do kill a lot of bad stuff I dont think the trade off is worth it and they arent the answer to all microscopic problems.

12/09/2006, 09:24 AM	#20
jag1979 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 982	"Ive heard that they also kill off a lot of friendly creatures that may be floating around in your water column. As for effectiveness I have an 18w one on my 20g quarantine and it did absolutely nothing as far as having an effect on an ich infested PB tang I treated. It still took a good week and copper for him to show improvement. That was on a fresh bulb. Although Im sure they do kill a lot of bad stuff I dont think the trade off is worth it and they arent the answer to all microscopic problems" they kill free floating stuff, they won't kill ich that is actually on a fish, unless maybe the fish swam through the UV steralizer __________________ clowns, bi-color pseudo, coral beauty, yellow tang GBTA, crocea clam xenia, various polyps/zoa's, candy cane, tree leather, frogspawn, torch, various mushrooms, green/red plate, birdsnest Current Tank Info: 180 AGA, tunze 6100, 6025 and 6060, 3 x 250 mh's, 3 x 80 t5's, ASM G4+

12/17/2006, 01:05 PM	#21
Myka Reefing since '93 Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: SK, Canada Posts: 2,436	Sorry to hijack the thread, but I have a Turbo-Twist 6x 18W for sale if anyone's interested. __________________ ~ Mindy, SPS addict. Current Tank Info: 69 SPS (73 gal net) established July 1/15. (HBD Canada!) ATB 840, ATI 6-bulb dimmable. Fauna Marin balling lite method.