Green machine UV sterilizer

Be102 · Dec 31, 2018

I just purchased this sterilizer and was wondering if anyone else ran one. This will be my first uv and I just figured I’d buy it on amazon and see if it worked well or not and if not I could always return it. I am thinking about placing it somewhere in my sump maybe the return pump section. Does anyone have any experience with them or have any advice in general?

I also have a freshwater tank that I kind of assumed I could potentially switch it over and use it on the freshwater whenever I needed it. Wonder how that would be on the lifespan?

Anything to share is great. depending on the results I might just upgrade to a larger unit all together.

DLHDesign · Dec 31, 2018

How big is your tank?

Waters · Dec 31, 2018

What are you trying to achieve using the UV? If you are just trying to clear green water or a bacteria bloom, they will work good (in a small tank). Due to their design, they are pretty ineffective in helping to control any parasites....you would have to slow it WAY down which would never allow it to keep up with anything but the tiniest of tanks. Won't hurt anything though to throw it in your sump :-)

wangspeed · Dec 31, 2018

I have a 24W unit running on my 60 gallon frag tank. It works well enough for me. I have crystal clear water now. It used to look like skim milk when I suddenly got a bacterial bloom.

It does have some quirks though. The suction cups on the motor and body of the unit all pretty much have to go only one particular way so that you can stick it to glass and ensure air can come out. If you don’t do that, air will get trapped and the unit will invert itself over time and stop working due to air trapped in the motor. I also took the elbow out to help promote air release as well. If the suction cups let go, it will become air logged too.

Not sure if I would buy it again, but it works for me.

Be102 · Dec 31, 2018

I have a 65 gallon tank with about 20 gallon sump id say. Nothing too major. If I liked the results maybe even thought about getting another one. Idk they seem very user friendly but I could be completely wrong since 1 it’s not here yet and too I don’t reallt need much water clarity I’d say.. maybe just other benefits or it. I know I have ich in the tank and am going fallow to remove but maybe this could even help with that.

DLHDesign · Dec 31, 2018

It's unlikely to help with the ich - the unit is too small for that (not enough water will pass through it and what water does pass through won't have much dwell time). Going fallow will solve that, however.
It may help a little with clarity if you're seeing algae blooms and such.

Be102 · Dec 31, 2018

DLHDesign said:
It's unlikely to help with the ich - the unit is too small for that (not enough water will pass through it and what water does pass through won't have much dwell time). Going fallow will solve that, however.
It may help a little with clarity if you're seeing algae blooms and such.

I understand. Down the line I would possibly upgrade to a better unit and that may be sooner than later depending on how this goes. I figured at the price point I’d be better off getting this and if ends up on my planted tank then so be it.