coralife uv sterilizer

[hitawaah]

I'm setting up a 300 gallon reef tank (96X24X30) I want to eventually get sps corals and clams(maximas) but will start with 400 lbs. of dry pukani and marco rock that I will seed with live rock and the tank will have about two inches of live sand. My question is Instead of going out and buying a $400\800 uv sterilizer for my size tank I already have two BNIB coralife turbo-twist 6X 18watt sterilizers, rated for 250 gallons each so can I (with the right pump) run the the two in a row? The pump will force water through the first one have about 3"of tubing right into the second one it will flow through it and back into the sumps return compartment. From everything that I have read the main thing you want is the amount of time the water is getting hit with uv rays not how powerful the bulb is. Can anyone help me with this? I'd appreciate any advice on this matter. Thanks.

 

[jd371]

I don't see why not, as long as you have the room to do it. When the time comes it might be a PITA to break down and clean 2 UV's though.

 

[GimpyFin]

IMO, if you want a UV, save yourself some frustration and buy a good one from the get-go (Like an Aqua UV classic.) I'd also look at the micro watt/flow rate specs to see that what you are targeting (Algae, bacteria, etc.) can be hit with a particular UV size and flow rate. I've used the turbo-twist in the past and they are pretty lousy. They also have a steel sleeve on the inside (To prevent the cheap plastic housing from degrading with UV exposure) that rusts pretty good after about 3 months use.

 

[slief]

IMO, if you want a UV, save yourself some frustration and buy a good one from the get-go (Like an Aqua UV classic.) I'd also look at the micro watt/flow rate specs to see that what you are targeting (Algae, bacteria, etc.) can be hit with a particular UV size and flow rate. I've used the turbo-twist in the past and they are pretty lousy. They also have a steel sleeve on the inside (To prevent the cheap plastic housing from degrading with UV exposure) that rusts pretty good after about 3 months use.

+1. If you are going to use a UV, get a good one that does it job well that can be properly sized to the aquarium and the flow rates. I've been using AquaUV Classics for about 10 years now. They are very efficient, very well made and easy to clean. They have great bulbs and work extremely well. If it were me, I wouldn't waste my money on the Coralife.

 

[BlackTip]

X UV chained together increase the dwell time, but it will be limited by the maximum flow rate of just one. They are too small for your new tank. I have the same size tank, and I have Emperor Aquatic 80W Smart UV.

 

[tkeracer619]

The turbo twists are pretty bad. Invest in a good one if you want to run uv. It isn't necessary though. I wouldn't really run one other than on a FO setup.

 

[hitawaah]

I don't see why not, as long as you have the room to do it. When the time comes it might be a PITA to break down and clean 2 UV's though.

Yeah it is twice the amont of work on both sides setting them up, wiring them and plumbing them, and then also cleaning both of them every 6 months or so. Also eventually bulb replacement will be twice as much also. I do understand all that. Thank you for your response!

 

[hitawaah]

IMO, if you want a UV, save yourself some frustration and buy a good one from the get-go (Like an Aqua UV classic.) I'd also look at the micro watt/flow rate specs to see that what you are targeting (Algae, bacteria, etc.) can be hit with a particular UV size and flow rate. I've used the turbo-twist in the past and they are pretty lousy. They also have a steel sleeve on the inside (To prevent the cheap plastic housing from degrading with UV exposure) that rusts pretty good after about 3 months use.

OK I understand what you are saying go buy a $400+ uv sterilizer but right now I have invested in the tank,stand,canopy. Then 4radion xr30w pros plus a kessil ap 700. Plus a tunze skimmer and 2 vortech mp40s and apex controller with tunze apex wav with 2 pumps and a gyre 150. That's just some of the equipment. My point here is not bragging but saying I've got a lot invested already and these (what you call cheap) uv sterilizers I have just sitting here already paid for. I am not sure how much a reef tank even needs a uv yet as this is my first reef tank( I've had FOWLR and FO for over 20 years) and I just want to use this setup for six to 12 months. Then when I am up and running and have done enough reading on the topic of uv and reef setup I would be willing to spend the money. I'm just asking will it work in the short term and is it really needed? Thanks for the response and advice though! I'm trying to learn as much about all aspects of reefkeeping as I can.

 

[GimpyFin]

OK I understand what you are saying go buy a $400+ uv sterilizer but right now I have invested in the tank,stand,canopy. Then 4radion xr30w pros plus a kessil ap 700. Plus

Yeah, I completely understand where you're coming from in regards to cost, and you already have two NIB Coralife sterilizers. They're also not a necessity, and I wouldn't even run one at all until the tank is established a little. I don't even use my Aqua UV very often, but IMO, I'd rather have no UV and maybe buy a decent one down the road than have another turbo twist. They're cheaply made (The hanging clamps break easy too), the bulbs don't last very long, and they rust on the inside. Stuff I really just prefer not to deal with. Anyway, just my $.02.

 

[hitawaah]

The turbo twists are pretty bad. Invest in a good one if you want to run uv. It isn't necessary though. I wouldn't really run one other than on a FO setup.

Thank you for responding! I will have a quarantine tank so everything I buy goes in there first. Then I will move to DT after I am sure of no problems from the lfs or online dealer. This is one of the last things that I have started to read about. I was reading more about water parameters and the equipment that help you achieve good steady parameters. So you are saying in my DT there isn't any need at all for uv sterilizers? Why is that?

 

[hitawaah]

, I completely understand where you're coming from in regards to cost, and you already have two NIB Coralife sterilizers. They're also not a necessity, and I wouldn't even run one at all until the tank is established a little. I don't even use my Aqua UV very often, but IMO, I'd rather have no UV and maybe buy a decent one down the road than have another turbo twist. They're cheaply made (The hanging clamps break easy too), the bulbs don't last very long, and they rust on the inside. Stuff I really just prefer not to deal with. Anyway, just my $.02.

OK coming from FO and FOWLR can you help me understand why there isn't any need to run it for a couple of hours a day? I have about 400LBS. of pukani and marco dry rock that I am going to seed with live rock to get coralline algae going and the critters that come with good live rock. Plus I do want a blonde naso tang, a white faced/golden rim powder brown (I know the powderblue while beautiful are ich magnets) a purple tang, flame angel and a couple of hawkfish especially the long nose hawk, and some perculas, plus some other reef friendly fish. I know that a couple of fish on my list are catergorized as iffy when it comes to being reef friendly. I want to add some of the fish first before a start putting frags in that way I know my system/water is well established with solid parameters.

 

[tkeracer619]

Some people swear by them in a reef, others like me don't. I've never really seen the need to run one in a reef, especially with a strict QT protocol.

I think if you had an issue with constant bacterial blooms it may be of use but wouldn't blindly add one unless there was a need.

 

[GimpyFin]

I agree with tkeracer619. IMO, UV just doesn't fall into the "Need" category. They can help if you have algae/bacteria blooms, maybe certain free floating parasites, but tanks run completely fine without them. I saw you mention ich with the Powder blue. IMO, UV won't do a lot if you get an ich problem, especially the Coralife. Ich can be killed during the free floating stage if it goes through the UV, but even then it requires something like 180,000 microwatts/cm2 to kill it. The 6x Coralife is rated about 45,000 mw/cm2 @ 110 gph. Anything less than 1-2x the tank volume per hour flow rate at the target exposure is useless when targeting something like ich. Anyway, I have one hooked up because I feel it's nice to have just in case of possible algae/bacteria issues, but it rarely runs and the tank is completely fine without it.

BTW, your tank sounds like it will be pretty nice. You'll have to post some pics in the tank builds section once you start getting it up and running.

 

[hitawaah]

I agree with tkeracer619. IMO, UV just doesn't fall into the "Need" category. They can help if you have algae/bacteria blooms, maybe certain free floating parasites, but tanks run completely fine without them. I saw you mention ich with the Powder blue. IMO, UV won't do a lot if you get an ich problem, especially the Coralife. Ich can be killed during the free floating stage if it goes through the UV, but even then it requires something like 180,000 microwatts/cm2 to kill it. The 6x Coralife is rated about 45,000 mw/cm2 @ 110 gph. Anything less than 1-2x the tank volume per hour flow rate at the target exposure is useless when targeting something like ich. Anyway, I have one hooked up because I feel it's nice to have just in case of possible algae/bacteria issues, but it rarely runs and the tank is completely fine without it.

BTW, your tank sounds like it will be pretty nice. You'll have to post some pics in the tank builds section once you start getting it up and running.

OK well at least I won't waste the time and set them up now, because I feel after talking with you, they are underpowered and just a not right for the size of my aquarium. I do believe if I can find a nice big one that is either used or a great deal I will eventually get one. I do know that they can be helpful but I'm big on putting everything in quarantine for a month or so, so that helps on keeping diseases from entering easily into the DT. Not guaranteed to stop disease bit it helps.

Thanks for that compliment I really appreciate it. I'm just a few weeks away from getting it on the stand. I'm gonna start taking pics this weekend when we tear out the carpet. But until me electrician comes I have only one dedicated 15 amp outlet. After he shows up , it's on!! and I will start a thread with pics and everything. Thanks alot for the advice!

 

[GimpyFin]

Awesome. I'll try and keep an eye open for the pics in the build threads. :beer: I'd love to have something in the 300 gallon range, but just don't have the room for it.

 

[tkeracer619]

Good call.