Innovative Marine Aqua Shield 11W

[Hallowhead]

Howdy,

I am trying to figure out if my UV sterilizer is efficiently working in my IM 30 AIO tank. My initial purchase was to combat Dino's and I feel like it didn't have much of an impact. I am starting to think that I will do better with an additional piece of filter floss.

Does anyone have an input? It's been running for roughly a year, maybe a new bulb is needed? Should I ditch it? Get a better one?

 

[JumboShrimp]

I got one for my IM AIO 20 gallon; can’t recall whether it is 9 or 11W. I’m like you, I’m having a hard time deciding whether it’s doing anything. My tank still has the uglies. Maybe even worse. And it makes me reluctant to dose with bottled bacteria, which would probably be helpful, but I don’t want the sterilizer to just ‘zap it’ and make it useless.

I have a Pentair 40W sterilizer in my 150 gallon tank, and I do think that is beneficial. But this thing?... more of a toy, I think. It reminds me of the old “Betty Crocker Eazy Bake Oven” with it’s lightbulb— compared to the real oven in my mom’s kitchen. Lol. :)

 

[Hallowhead]

I got one for my IM AIO 20 gallon; can’t recall whether it is 9 or 11W. I’m like you, I’m having a hard time deciding whether it’s doing anything. My tank still has the uglies. Maybe even worse. And it makes me reluctant to dose with bottled bacteria, which would probably be helpful, but I don’t want the sterilizer to just ‘zap it’ and make it useless.

I have a Pentair 40W sterilizer in my 150 gallon tank, and I do think that is beneficial. But this thing?... more of a toy, I think. It reminds me of the old “Betty Crocker Eazy Bake Oven” with it’s lightbulb— compared to the real oven in my mom’s kitchen. Lol. :)

I just installed my back up and tossed the old one.. I'll be following up in this thread with any findings. If nothing I'm the next week or two I'll sell it and just add back second tray and maybe carbon reactor

 

[old salt reefer]

I have a IM10,IM20p and a IM50 lagoon, I have IMs UV sterilizers for all 3(so 2 sterilizers as the same one fits in the 10 and 20). I bought the first one when I had dinos in the 20. It worked and killed the dinos. Now all they do is sit in the box just in case I need them.
To me they're like a gun-better to have it and not need it, than need it and not have it.

 

[Hallowhead]

Anyone else feel this way? Or ditched the uv? Debating it again. Doesn't appear to even make water quality cleaner