UV Sterilizers

[Ichthys]

I am thinking about adding a UV Sterilizer to my 150 gallon system and thought I would post to ask members experience with them, the good the bad and the ugly?

 

[ReefGeeker]

I run the 18w coralife UV sterilizer, so far so good. I cant think of anything bad to say about it, some say it may kill pods though I've not had a problem with that in my 90g. I can't say exactly what effect it had as I upgraded my skimmer to a BM curve 7 and added a OBD Bio-pellet reactor around the same time but all together it has drastically improved my water quality and rid me of a little GHA & cyano problem I had sprouting. My glass stays cleaner longer too. Hope this helps.

 

[tamarindthai]

i am the UV fan ,,always work great for me

 

[Ichthys]

Where do people typically place a UV in the plumbing. I am thinking of using the outflow of my Two Little Fishies carbon reactor to feed it. Plus or minuses to this? I like to minimize the number of pumps in my system, I have a greatly overpowered return pump which I will be replacing when the new Waveline DC12000 comes out, however that pump will still be to much for my overflows so I could conceivable tee off of the return and feed a carbon reactor and a UV sterilizer.

 

[NC2WA]

Icthys, I have a 80w (2 40w bulbs) on my 375g..I love it....this is a matter of personal preference and is a debate in this hobby...to me, either you are a FAN and love it OR you are totally against it...there is no middle ground here... In case you missed it, I am including a link to Lee's article on UVs: http://www.reeffrontiers.com/forums/f15/uv-u-me-37925/ You are more than welcome to swing by and see my setup which includes UV, bio pellet reactor, and Ozone reactor..

 

[ReefGeeker]

I would also be interested in the best place to have the input and output for the UV. I run mine with the input and output in the skimmer chamber, kill stuff then skim it out and repeat was my thinking.

 

[NC2WA]

Input is T'd off my main return pump then output is on top of a bulkhead on my main display.

 

[TJL]

Chris, that is probably the best scenario IMHO locating the outlet of a UV Sterilizer near intake or same chamber as Skimmer. When I ran that unit on my QT it was setup right next to my HOB Skimmers intake.... Kill it >>>>> Skim it

Cheers, Todd

 

[Ichthys]

I am leaning towards a Lifeguard Aquatics 25 watt UV unit which Becca can order for me at OBD. Any comments on this unit?

 

[trido]

I've never ran one on my reef tank but can say that they do work. When I ran one on my koi pond in the front yard I had less than half the amount of GHA in it all summer long.

 

[wes]

Chris, that is probably the best scenario IMHO locating the outlet of a UV Sterilizer near intake or same chamber as Skimmer. When I ran that unit on my QT it was setup right next to my HOB Skimmers intake.... Kill it >>>>> Skim it

Cheers, Todd

That's very logical.

 

[NC2WA]

Icthys,

I'm partial to Aqua Ultraviolet units..they seem to be very sturdy and work....

http://www.aquaultraviolet.com/industries/aquariums

 

[NC2WA]

Icthys,

Sent you a PM