Hello all

[Fishfeet62]

Hi all, I just found your forum.
I have a question, I have a 20 gallon mini reef it's been up for 7 months and doing good, my question is... Is it okay to run a U/V sterilizer in the tank to keep out pathogens in the water? Or should I just run it on occasion

 

[Peace River]

Welcome to R2R!!! There is a lot that goes into UV sterilizer including wattage, dwell time, flow rate, and intended purpose (clarification, treatment, prevention, etc.). Can you provide additional information and context?

 

[Auquanut]

Welcome to R2R. I don't know about sterilizers. Never used one, but I'm sure you'll find the info you're after.

 

[KJ]

Welcome to R2R!!!

 

[crusso1993]

Welcome to R2R!

 

[Emarley]

Welcome to R2R!!!

 

[Retro Reefer]

Welcome to R2R! I just run UV when needed..

 

[Old Fritz]

Welcome. The uv sterilizer argument is a strongly opinionated one however it does help control algae. Keyword is control not eliminate. Some people don't like it because it isn't natural despite the fact that aquariums aren't natural and kill off plankton and other microorganisms (it doesn't impact plankton population). There are people who think it kills diseases like ich (it doesn't kill it effectively if at all). Like I said its more for algae control and making the water a bit more pure.

 

[SPR1968]

Welcome to R2R!!

I run a UV-C 24/7 and there certainly popular in Europe.

It’s all about power and flow time to kill the relevant nasties in the water and you can read up on this a little.

 

[Antics]

Welcome to R2R!

 

[Fishfeet62]

Welcome to R2R!!! There is a lot that goes into UV sterilizer including wattage, dwell time, flow rate, and intended purpose (clarification, treatment, prevention, etc.). Can you provide additional information and context?

I'm using the sterilizer to purify the water from pathogens and help clear the water, also it helps with general water quality...this is not a big U/V Wattage it's a green killing machine rated for a 40 to 50 gallon aquarium. I

Welcome to R2R!!

I run a UV-C 24/7 and there certainly popular in Europe.

It’s all about power and flow time to kill the relevant nasties in the water and you can read up on this a little.

I'm have been using u/v in my freshwater tanks for years... I was just wondering about the effects of using it in saltwater aquarium

 

[SPR1968]

I'm using the sterilizer to purify the water from pathogens and help clear the water, also it helps with general water quality...this is not a big U/V Wattage it's a green killing machine rated for a 40 to 50 gallon aquarium. I

I'm have been using u/v in my freshwater tanks for years... I was just wondering about the effects of using it in saltwater aquarium

From what I’ve studied it’s all about contact time and if you want to kill of certain parasites, like for example ich, you have to achieve 72000 micro watts/sec and there is a calculation you can do based on the UVC power and the flow rate to achieve this.

The UVC only kills things that pass through it, so of course it’s not 100% effective but it certainly helps, and in reality I can’t see any down side to using one other than changing the bulb every 12 months.

The following is a quote from DD (David Saxby’s company) which I found helpful when researching:

‘’For water clarity we suggest a U.V intensity of 30,000 microwatt's/sec/sq.cm and our U.V sterilisers are designed to deliver this at the quoted flow/contact rate through the unit.
The mistake that many hobbyists make with our and other manufacturers U.V systems is not getting the flow rate right through the UV and connecting any old pump to it.If flow is increased the bacteria/algae or parasites do not get the correct U.V exposure and many happily pass right through the unit.

This is of some interest when trying to kill the white spot parasite as a greater U.V intensity of 72,000 microwatt's/sec/sq.cm is required to kill it. So with this in mind we have to take the standard flow rate of the unit for 30,000 microwatts and divide it by 2.4 to give you a flow rate for 72,000 microwatts exposure time.

So you will need to divide the suggest 500l/hr flow rate by 2.4 giving a new flow rate through the unit of 208 l/hr to kill the white spot. This will give a 0.6 times turn over for a 350l aquarium so it maybe worth going for the 20 watt unit and running it at 416 l/hr giving you over 1x tank turn over an hour but giving the correct kill intensity for white spot.’’

 

[Bob Weigant]

 

[lapin]

Howdy

 

[Dimmy007]

Welcome to R2R!!! I run a UV 24/7

 

[Peace River]

From what I’ve studied it’s all about contact time and if you want to kill of certain parasites, like for example ich, you have to achieve 72000 micro watts/sec and there is a calculation you can do based on the UVC power and the flow rate to achieve this.

The UVC only kills things that pass through it, so of course it’s not 100% effective but it certainly helps, and in reality I can’t see any down side to using one other than changing the bulb every 12 months.

The following is a quote from DD (David Saxby’s company) which I found helpful when researching:

‘’For water clarity we suggest a U.V intensity of 30,000 microwatt's/sec/sq.cm and our U.V sterilisers are designed to deliver this at the quoted flow/contact rate through the unit.
The mistake that many hobbyists make with our and other manufacturers U.V systems is not getting the flow rate right through the UV and connecting any old pump to it.If flow is increased the bacteria/algae or parasites do not get the correct U.V exposure and many happily pass right through the unit.

This is of some interest when trying to kill the white spot parasite as a greater U.V intensity of 72,000 microwatt's/sec/sq.cm is required to kill it. So with this in mind we have to take the standard flow rate of the unit for 30,000 microwatts and divide it by 2.4 to give you a flow rate for 72,000 microwatts exposure time.

So you will need to divide the suggest 500l/hr flow rate by 2.4 giving a new flow rate through the unit of 208 l/hr to kill the white spot. This will give a 0.6 times turn over for a 350l aquarium so it maybe worth going for the 20 watt unit and running it at 416 l/hr giving you over 1x tank turn over an hour but giving the correct kill intensity for white spot.’’

Ok, I think I've got it, but do I carry the one when I'm calculating for the derivative? Wouldn't it just be easier to use non-euclidian geometry or fuzzy set theory? jk.

@SPR1968 - I agree with your point about dwell time and thank you for the detailed explanation.

 

[Billldg]

Welcome to R2R!!!

 

[dbl]

Welcome to R2R and your new reefing.

 

[Fishfeet62]

Welcome to R2R and your new reefing.

Yes.. I've been keeping freshwater for decades but finally took the plunge to salt

 

[ScottR]

Welcome. The uv sterilizer argument is a strongly opinionated one however it does help control algae. Keyword is control not eliminate. Some people don't like it because it isn't natural despite the fact that aquariums aren't natural and kill off plankton and other microorganisms (it doesn't impact plankton population). There are people who think it kills diseases like ich (it doesn't kill it effectively if at all). Like I said its more for algae control and making the water a bit more pure.

+1 great advice