UV sterilizer setup question

[pacificdiver]

I have an Aqua UV 40W (3/4" inlet / outlet) unit and I'm getting confusing info from the manufacturer. I'm told by Aqua UV that the minimum flow rate through the unit should be 936 GPH? My sump can't handle that flow rate, so can I install the unit inline with a flow rate of about 500 GPH? When I asked the tech at Aqua UV, she said they have never tested the units below the minimum flow rates and wasn't sure if it would work for disease eradication at the slower rate. I don't see any need to have a raging torrent flowing through my sump, since I have a total turnover of about 25X per hour with my current setup.

My understanding was that flow through the unit needs to be quite slow for disease eradication, vs algae and water polishing. I'm interested primarily in disease prevention, so I don't want to install this thing incorrectly. If anyone has set up a 40W unit and has had good results, I'd love to hear how you set it up.

Thanks

System:
145 Gallon total volume mixed reef
30 Gallon sump volume
Pump: eFlux Loop 3170 GPH DC
Wave Pumps: 2 x 2100 GPH eFlux Loop running at 80%

 

[Dmorty217]

It should be setup on the return pump if possible. Dwell time and wattage are the two most important things when trying to control algae. For controlling disease, a UV sterilizer is mostly useless (though it may cut back on some diseases such as ich, it will never cure a tank of it on its own) The only issue I see with having a lower flow rate is the water temperature may rise due to contact tim with the light

 

[pacificdiver]

It should be setup on the return pump if possible. Dwell time and wattage are the two most important things when trying to control algae. For controlling disease, a UV sterilizer is mostly useless (though it may cut back on some diseases such as ich, it will never cure a tank of it on its own) The only issue I see with having a lower flow rate is the water temperature may rise due to contact tim with the light

Ok thanks. Am I wrong in assuming that running the unit in-line at 500 GPH instead of the recommended lowest flow (936 GPH) will not reduce its effectiveness at controlling pathogens? That's what was confusing me - the tech at Aqua UV was basically stating that running slower than 936 would decrease its effectiveness.

 

[fishsuse29]

Running it slower would increase the effectiveness/kill level. IMO 900+ would be way to fast anyways if you are trying to kill pathogens. Take a look at what emperor aquatics rates theirs for that seems to be a much more realistic flow rate

 

[pacificdiver]

Running it slower would increase the effectiveness/kill level. IMO 900+ would be way to fast anyways if you are trying to kill pathogens. Take a look at what emperor aquatics rates theirs for that seems to be a much more realistic flow rate

That's what I thought. I'm wondering if I got the "new guy" at Aqua UV. What I was being told made absolutely no sense. Thanks for the feedback.