Sizing UV sterilizer

[GRVY]

I have a standard 29 gallon tank and no sump at this point. What size sterilizer would you recommend for level 1 and 2 sterilization? I don't have any outbreak of ich at this point but like to be prepared for anything. Yes, I know UV sterilization doesn't rid a tank of ich but I do believe it lowers the actual amount of parasites in the water column thus giving a fish a better chance at successfully beating an ich episode. I just like to be prepared. Plus, I want to see what it can do for water clarity as well.

They seem to make 2 kinds that I have come across. Ones that go in the tank and ones that are plumbed into the tank. All the ones I have seen plumbed to the tank seem to go through a sump. First, can I just put a pump in the tank and pass through the sterilizer and then back into the tank or does it have to filtered first? Something like this. Look at the last diagram.

http://uvsterilizerworld.blogspot.com/2015/11/setup.html?m=1

Second, are any of the intake options worth it like the green killing machine, etc?

Thank you

 

[GRVY]

I don't know how to edit my posts but if anyone knows the formula for deciding wattage/gph/flow through rate, I would appreciate it if you could share. I am so confused about all this. Any recommendations on sterilizers, pumps, etc is appreciated.

 

[slief]

Pumping from the tank and back to it is essentially a closed loop and that IS the best way to run a UV sterilzer. As for wattage to gallon, there really is no calculation for that. Inline UV’s are the best but the cheap Chinese ones are junk as are the submersible ones. Personally, if you are going to use a UV, you might as well do it right the first time and not waste money on cheap ones like the Chinese garbage or the Coralife twists. Personally, I prefer AquaUV. They make their own bulbs, they do studies on UV sterilization for salt water applications, they rate their products based on system size and provide size ratings and flow ratings for saltwater where as pretty much every other manufacturer rates their sterilizers based on green water/pond applications. That said, you are going to spend more on an Aqua Ultraviolet but like I said, do it right or don’t waste your money. For a tank your size, a Classic 8w would do the job with flow of around 250GPH. Anything over that in terms of wattage with one of these will be overkill and add unneeded heat to the tank.

 

[tomreefer]

In my opinion UV Sterilizer not worth the money

 

[RBU1]

I like emperor aquatics. I was told get a UV about half the size as the gallons in the tank. I have a 120 watt unit on a 260 gallon tank.


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[Crowed]

How many hours per day you run Uv? 24/7 or?

 

[RBU1]

How many hours per day you run Uv? 24/7 or?

Based on size of uv and manufacturer suggestion.


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[RBU1]

How many hours per day you run Uv? 24/7 or?

Sorry. Read that wrong. 24/7


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[Dmorty217]

www.americanaquariumproducts.com has a lot of good info on figuring out what size UV you might be looking for and for what purpose (clarification or disease control) just have to navigate the menu to get to the information you seek.