UV Sterilizer Choices

[Ms Tanky Panky]

I have decided to add one to my tank and as they are for me, a high dollar item I want to be sure before I buy. It will be for a 300 gallon tank but will need to fit in a limited space, around 2' . So far I have been impressed with the 36 watt aqua med Helix 40 watt aqua from Doc and Fost. I also liked the 40 watt Aqua with the wiper blade but don't see how I would have the room for it. Any suggestions, advice and recommendations will be appreciated. Thanks

 

[Frankie11977]

I have always used the coralife turbo twist and never thought about going with anything else.

 

[Ms Tanky Panky]

Thanks Frankie, I just looked at it and it's sure a lot better price but one thing I'm kinda of confused about. Why is there so many differences in the specs for all of these? One will say so many watts for so many gallons and another be at the other end of the scale. It almost seems like the most exspensive ones also reguire a lot more watts to get the same results. Would I be paying for a name more than performance. Is there really a difference in how well they work? Do the light bulbs make a big difference or are they all the same in each brand?

 

[wooden_reefer]

I have decided to add one to my tank and as they are for me, a high dollar item I want to be sure before I buy. It will be for a 300 gallon tank but will need to fit in a limited space, around 2' . So far I have been impressed with the 36 watt aqua med Helix 40 watt aqua from Doc and Fost. I also liked the 40 watt Aqua with the wiper blade but don't see how I would have the room for it. Any suggestions, advice and recommendations will be appreciated. Thanks

Why is space a limitation? It can be but seldom is. U can run it inline. UV should have a separate circuit or thru bypass to limit the flow rate, in general.

Quartz sleeve will maintain a higher bulb temp. I think this is why it gives a spectrum with shorter wavelength more lethal UV. I think a unit with quartz sleeve is more effective.

 

[wooden_reefer]

Thanks Frankie, I just looked at it and it's sure a lot better price but one thing I'm kinda of confused about. Why is there so many differences in the specs for all of these? One will say so many watts for so many gallons and another be at the other end of the scale. It almost seems like the most exspensive ones also reguire a lot more watts to get the same results. Would I be paying for a name more than performance. Is there really a difference in how well they work? Do the light bulbs make a big difference or are they all the same in each brand?

The benefit and functionality of the UV are elusive so sizing it is just basic judgement. The turbo twist design may well be superior as the exposure area is greater.

For me the primary function is to vastly reduce waterborne bacteria and viruses; for some it is to control algae.


You do not neccessaorily kill all the pathogens on each pass. Suppose each pass you kill only 30%, you will most of the time overcome the rate of generation of waterborne bacteria in a closed system of a certain volume.

For closed system, there is always a "batch" factor: that is, reduced pathogen concentration each pass and then return to the batch. Who can say that 20% kill rate each pass is insufficient, or 40% is sufficient? It depends on the rate of generation of the bacteria or viruses in a closed system.

I prefer to oversize my UV. The UV bulb degrades with time so a UV is best to be effective even with an older bulb.

 

[Ms Tanky Panky]

I only have a 44' circle to put it in which already holds the sump, refugium, skimmer, cal reactor, pump and a 5 gal top off bucket. Every square inch is extremely valuable. I am looking to help control algae so from what I read so far, I won't have to have it pass along quite as slow as if I was needing it to destroy bacteria. Thanks for your help Wooden