Aqua UV 25 Watt Sterilizer Flow Recommendation

[Lothar]

Looks like they are 15% off right now at premium aquatics.

Thanks.

 

[wisnia99]

Just adding my experience with the Aqua UV25.
I started my tank 2 months ago and started to have a big dino outbreak two weeks ago. I installed the UV one week ago and run it only at night for 12 hours at 450gph my system is 210gal Dinos are almost gone!

 

[C4Rez]

@wisnia99 thats promising to hear! I have the Waterbox 145.5 (100gallon display). I’m still debating between the Aqua UV 25 vs 57 watt. Based off of BRS, they’d recommend the 25watt. With your experience, you believe it’s sufficient? My return via Vectra M2 pump is probably only pushing at 400gph (@20%).
Also debating between closed loop via return pump or just utilizing a separate pump. Aye, choices. Lol. Anyways, thanks ahead of time for your feedback.

 

[wisnia99]

@wisnia99 thats promising to hear! I have the Waterbox 145.5 (100gallon display). I’m still debating between the Aqua UV 25 vs 57 watt. Based off of BRS, they’d recommend the 25watt. With your experience, you believe it’s sufficient? My return via Vectra M2 pump is probably only pushing at 400gph (@20%).
Also debating between closed loop via return pump or just utilizing a separate pump. Aye, choices. Lol. Anyways, thanks ahead of time for your feedback.

I think the 25W is plenty for your system. My tank looks clean now after 2 weeks. Remember I have about 240 gal total volume and run it only at night for 12hrs. I run it about 400-500gph through it. I hope that helps!

 

[Siberwulf]

Tagging into this thread! I just added a Aqua UV 25w to my tank. I'm running it on top (so no water going outside the tank) and while it's not gorgeous, it does provide some service!

I'm running 3/4" braided tube on here, with a 3" flare loc line to return it. I did some math and it said to get to 400gph, I essentially had to get to take 42 seconds to fill up a 5 gallon bucket.

This put the overall power of my CO15 (which is 1200gph) at 60% which felt really fast. Does that seem right? Is the 3/4" line that restrictive?

 

[dwest]

Tagging into this thread! I just added a Aqua UV 25w to my tank. I'm running it on top (so no water going outside the tank) and while it's not gorgeous, it does provide some service!

I'm running 3/4" braided tube on here, with a 3" flare loc line to return it. I did some math and it said to get to 400gph, I essentially had to get to take 42 seconds to fill up a 5 gallon bucket.

This put the overall power of my CO15 (which is 1200gph) at 60% which felt really fast. Does that seem right? Is the 3/4" line that restrictive?

Your math with the flow test sounds about right. I’d go with that.

 

[desert fish]

I think the 25W is plenty for your system. My tank looks clean now after 2 weeks. Remember I have about 240 gal total volume and run it only at night for 12hrs. I run it about 400-500gph through it. I hope that helps!

good afternoon, wisinia99 I was just looking at the 25watt aqua uv and saw that is good for 150 gallons my is a 165 gallon 132 in the dt and the rest in the sump. i see you use your on 240 gal and works well. so know that it should waork on my tank .

 

[Aqua Ultraviolet]

Hey Folks,

A few months ago I purchased and installed an Aqua UV 25w sterilizer. It's supposed to be a top notch brand. I hard plumbed it in all nicely using my return pump manifold (Reef Octo 8) and an Apex flow sensor. My problem is that the max flow I can get is 175 GPH. I emailed Aqua UV and they told me that for a reef tank specifically it should be 800 GPH for protozoa, and closer to 1200 GPH for algae etc. They also told me that flow lower than 800 GPH can actually cause damage and degradation to beneficial cells/life etc. The person I spoke with seemed quite sure about this.

I was shocked by how much flow they recommend... and now I've been all freaked out and haven't been using it. I'm debating putting a dedicated Vectra S1 pump on it just to get that crazy high amount of flow, but it seems almost ridiculous. In videos BRS recommended much lower rates/closer to what I have (few hundred gph).

Has anyone used this specific sterilizer? A similar 25w sterilizer? What flow did you have? Any results, positive or negative?

Thanks

UV flow rates depend on what you're targeting. Check the manufacturer's recommended range for your specific application before changing pumps. Are you targeting algae or protozoa?