Lets Talk UV Sterilizers

[Peppie]

Doing research on these for my upcoming 180.
The wattage and flow rates, not to mention the prices are all over the board!!
Some say 18watts @ 400gph, to 25watts @ 700gph, to 40 watts @ over 1000gph.

I would like a decent UV rig that I dont have to mortgage mt house for. Some where between $225 and $300.

Anyone out there able to recommend a unit that they have had good results with??
Is the wiper upgrade worth the extra $.

Where do you have it in line? Right at the raw water source from the tank? Or right before the water returns to the DT ( return chamber)?

 

[tamarindthai]

best of all from my experience is Aqua UV 40-57W will work great for you inline with manifold flow control valve for either min to max performance,,have fun

 

[pandora32]

I have the coralvue 12x. It uses a 36w bulb. Has no wiper. Is cheap on the budget. Bulbs are like 60-70 bucks. I dont use those bulbs. I got mine off ebay for $24 with free shipping and it came with 2 bulbs. I did have a leak where the hose connects. I got rid of the nut piece that tightens down on the hose. Just hose clamped them on. Im using a mag3 and have it in the return section of my sump. I purposely kinked the hose a bit and estimate my flow around 150-200 gph. Hope that helps. Oh, and i also have PLENTY of pods that make it through just fine.

 

[Peppie]

best of all from my experience is Aqua UV 40-57W will work great for you inline with manifold flow control valve for either min to max performance,,have fun

Is it this one??
Classic 40 Watt | aquaultraviolet.com

 

[Spinner]

Aqua 40 or 57 gets my vote with the wiper upgrade......!
I have never used one...had one never hooked it up but would be a nice option to have.

 

[Peppie]

I have the coralvue 12x. It uses a 36w bulb. Has no wiper. Is cheap on the budget. Bulbs are like 60-70 bucks. I dont use those bulbs. I got mine off ebay for $24 with free shipping and it came with 2 bulbs. I did have a leak where the hose connects. I got rid of the nut piece that tightens down on the hose. Just hose clamped them on. Im using a mag3 and have it in the return section of my sump. I purposely kinked the hose a bit and estimate my flow around 150-200 gph. Hope that helps. Oh, and i also have PLENTY of pods that make it through just fine.

I looked at this one. I was just worried that it is priced so much lower than most at this wattage. Do I get what I pay for??

 

[NC2WA]

Dave,

If you remember my setup, I have the dual Aquaultraviolet 40w (80w totals) inline right off my return pump...I love mine !!

 

[tamarindthai]

Is it this one??
Classic 40 Watt | aquaultraviolet.com

yes ,,that is the one 40W,,get the one non wiper,,it is will never leak.

 

[Peppie]

yes ,,that is the one 40W,,get the one non wiper,,it is will never leak.

Thanks tamar.
Good point about the leak point.

 

[Peppie]

Dave,

If you remember my setup, I have the dual Aquaultraviolet 40w (80w totals) inline right off my return pump...I love mine !!

Thanks Kirk,
I do remember yours. I wont need 2 of the 40s, but I am leaning towards this brand.

 

[NC2WA]

As long as the rubber gasket is in the correct position, they will never leak

 

[mercenary-grunt]

they are the best and the replacement parts are easy to get. I had a cheapo one and when I was installing it the bulb fell and broke the quartz sleeve. and could not find sny replacement parts anywhere on line. but I could find aqua uv. every where.

Sent from my Galaxy S3 using Tapatalk 2.

 

[sedrostyle]

Can we talk the bennifits of a Uv sterilizer for us that don't know.
Maybe what they do and if their worth the money. Or the number of watts to do what is needed.
Thanks

 

[pandora32]

The main use for them is to clean the water of free floating algaes (green water). Helps to keep the water clearer. The main reason i got mine is for this reason alone. I live on the water in manchester with big windows facing the water and all the sun from sunrise untill about noon comes in which causes a bit of a problem with water for me. Theres litteraly no where i can have my tank not be in the sun. The reason you would want a low water flow going through one is to use it to try and kill bacteria and viruses and parasites (ick).

 

[vlangel]

Its important to clean the quartz sleeve once a year or so too so that the UV rays hitting your water isn't diffused.

 

[NC2WA]

sedro,

I would read this sticky on Lee's forum.

http://www.reeffrontiers.com/forums/f15/uv-u-me-37925/

Along with cleaner water, it can remove free floating parasites from the water column..it can reduce (not cure) the lifespan of Ich. Notice I said "can" and not "does".

 

[pandora32]

Yea. I just reread my post. It was late. I shoulda put can. Really the only way it can do anything for ick, imo, is for all the overflow water to pass through the uv. But i dont think anybody has that low of a volume of overflow. As far as cleaning the quartz sleeve, its recommended to change the bulb out every 6-9 months because the effectiveness of the bulb drops so fast. So the way i see it, ill just be changing out my uv bulb when i change out my mh bulbs.

 

[pandora32]

Just read lees link above. Good read.

 

[sedrostyle]

Thank you for posting that link.