Need help with finding a compact UV light

Steve1500 · Apr 14, 2018

I am having some algae issues and I am looking at purchasing a UV light. Unfortunately, my 30G sump area is very limited on space and I don't want to put the UV light outside of the sump (eg hang on DT). Are there any QUALITY compact (less than 15") UV lights out there for a 75G DT/30G sump? Any other options to help control parasites, bacteria and algae?

Thanks!

Scurvy · Apr 14, 2018

AquaUV has at least one option that would fit your space requirement. I have an 8 Watt. You may want to upsize to the 15w.

http://www.aquaultraviolet.com/products/uvsterilizers/advantage

Flexin · Apr 14, 2018

I have this one, AA Aquarium Green Killing Machine. For the 24w, it's 16 inches long, but I rotated the pump and put on a zip tie so it's shorter than that. I have it in my corner flow's overflow section with a heater. Since you can rotate the pump, you can even do 90 degrees like an L instead of completely folding it like I did.

josavvyy · Apr 14, 2018

I will second the green killing machine. I was having a problem with cloudiness from bacteria and algae and I was about to tear it all down. I dropped the green killing machine in my 120 and water was crystal clear in 2 days. My tank has never looked better.

Gareth elliott · Apr 14, 2018

Parasite control might be difficult with a compact unit. Their life cycle is complex with only a portion being free swimming at any given time.

What you want to look at is contact time in relation to the total 105g volume to flow rate of the unit.

Where the 180-210 gph over may sufficiently kill simple free floating algae or bacteria it might not be enough for say crypto.

I dont have ich in my reef. I can say i have seen no effect on Ichthyophthirius using a 9w uv, leading me to believe it would not be effective on marine ich either.

That said i like the inline units more than submersible units. The easily mount to the back of a stand with screws, and plumb with black flex tubing. Corallife twist are small and have a unique design to increase contact time. Larger the unit higher the flow you can use. Ie Have a 55w attached to mag 7.