Running UV without the housing?

[JoJosReef]

I was not insulting your intelligence or education, I was only concerned for your safety.

I know, and it's appreciated! I was just adding some context, since I initially gave almost none ;-)

 

[Fish Fan]

True, but it does say 254-nm wavelength for the bulb....which puts it into UV wavelength.....
regardless, its all dangerous.

Gotcha, I didn't see that. That seems very dangerous to me, I'm surprised it's available for sale, honestly.

I know, and it's appreciated! I was just adding some context, since I initially gave almost none ;-)

No problem! Just a humble BS in Bio, chem minor, and 2 year engineering tech degree trying to help ;-)

 

[JoJosReef]

The plastic yes, unless its coated/protected from UV. The glass....no.

As long as you have the lid for that, you should be ok....but it shouldn't be a permanent fix.

Just my 2 cents

Agreed! I wouldn't want to keep using it like this. I don't run UV permanently. Longest I've ever run it is a week, which was more than I needed to run it. I haven't ID'd these dinos, but I usually clear ostreopsis within a day or two with UV and some TLC in the tank. Prorocentrum has been a bit more challenging, but UV + more TLC has worked on a week's timeline. Haven't had a major amphidinium outbreak yet, and I hope these aren't that type. I've been running the UV in the chamber today, blowing off the rocks/macros and scraping the glass to let everything go through the overflow, and, whilst the stringy dinos have been reappearing, they are noticeably not as quickly resetting.

 

[FUNGI]

"Gotcha, I didn't see that. That seems very dangerous to me, I'm surprised it's available for sale, honestly."....

Yea....me too....but its Amazon....no matter what they try, they can't regulate...take 5 down, 20 more appear.....

 

[FUNGI]

Agreed! I wouldn't want to keep using it like this. I don't run UV permanently. Longest I've ever run it is a week, which was more than I needed to run it. I haven't ID'd these dinos, but I usually clear ostreopsis within a day or two with UV and some TLC in the tank. Prorocentrum has been a bit more challenging, but UV + more TLC has worked on a week's timeline. Haven't had a major amphidinium outbreak yet, and I hope these aren't that type. I've been running the UV in the chamber today, blowing off the rocks/macros and scraping the glass to let everything go through the overflow, and, whilst the stringy dinos have been reappearing, they are noticeably not as quickly resetting.

I didnt see you are in OC.....I have the large Green Killing Machine you can borrow if needed....its less then 40 hours use...so lots of life....I'm in Compton.....

 

[JoJosReef]

"Gotcha, I didn't see that. That seems very dangerous to me, I'm surprised it's available for sale, honestly."....

Yea....me too....but its Amazon....no matter what they try, they can't regulate...take 5 down, 20 more appear.....

I've seen that too and thought it was a bad idea. Now here I am using a bad idea... Turning this monster off and seeing if I can find a new or used UV unit. Hate dropping $100 on something I'll use once a year or so.

 

[JoJosReef]

I didnt see you are in OC.....I have the large Green Killing Machine you can borrow if needed....its less then 40 hours use...so lots of life....I'm in Compton.....

Haha, thanks! In one of life's weird twists, I sold a 24w green killing machine just a few months ago on Socali forum. Didn't think I'd ever need it again

 

[JoJosReef]

I didnt see you are in OC.....I have the large Green Killing Machine you can borrow if needed....its less then 40 hours use...so lots of life....I'm in Compton.....

I'll put the shield back on this unit and try to plumb my smallest pump into the bottom at minimum speed and see if that does the trick next week. If not, might brave the 405

 

[FUNGI]

Haha, thanks! In one of life's weird twists, I sold a 24w green killing machine just a few months ago on Socali forum. Didn't think I'd ever need it again

LOl yeah.......It took care of my issues within the week and now lives its life in my storage....just let me know if you want to borrow.....

 

[FUNGI]

I've seen that too and thought it was a bad idea. Now here I am using a bad idea... Turning this monster off and seeing if I can find a new or used UV unit. Hate dropping $100 on something I'll use once a year or so.

Walmart: $17.98

Fish Tank UV Sterilization Lamp Aquarium Ultraviolet Submersible Algae Remova х~ M0D0​

 

[Fish Fan]

Walmart: $17.98

Fish Tank UV Sterilization Lamp Aquarium Ultraviolet Submersible Algae Remova х~ M0D0​

Robot or human?

www.walmart.com

This seems so unsafe to me. Where's that head scratching emoji.....

 

[FUNGI]

Robot or human?

www.walmart.com

This seems so unsafe to me. Where's that head scratching emoji.....

But comes with cover...LOL

 

[MnFish1]

Yes, agreed. The housing itself appears to be an opaque plastic tube. I don't see the tube worn away on the inside or anything. If you think about it, the overflow chamber of the 10g AIO is also basically an opaque plastic tube on two sides and blacked out glass on the other two sides.

I'm just wondering if anyone knows if the UV bulb itself will damage the AIO plastic/glass. I don't think so, but I'd feel better if someone with knowledge/experience weighed in.

 

[MnFish1]

No, this is an office tank. Everyone is leaving the office in about an hour. And no one comes into my office in any case. If I knew the materials in the AIO chamber were at negligible risk of degrading over a weekend, I'd just leave it on. Looks like I will probably be leaving it off and looking for a replacement--awesome.

Honestly it just seems like you want to do it. It will not be effective whether harmful or not. The purpose of the housing is to bring the water in close proximity to the bulb/light. That’s how it works. Putting it in the overflow may cause damage. I think those are your answers ? This might be something to ask the company?

 

[VintageReefer]

L

Right, I suppose I'm being too aloof. Let's assume I have a PhD level understanding of biology, including effects of UV on cells--not effects of UV on plastics or glass.

1. NOT looking AT the light, it's very clear the light is not spilling out of the AIO chamber:

2. If I remove the cover with my hand and use my phone to snap a photo inside the chamber, the light is running:

3. I suppose there is also silicone degradation to worry about. Question in my mind still remains: is a 9W UV bulb going to degrade plastic/glass/silicone notably over a period of hours, days, weeks?

Looks like there's a lot of reading to do. Was hoping someone knew, but I see that I haven't been very specific with my questions.

Apologies

My eyes! You didn’t warn us you were going to post a picture of UV! I’m getting dizzy. I’m seeing spots. Oh man why didn’t you warn us! How reckless can you be!

 

[JoJosReef]

Honestly it just seems like you want to do it. It will not be effective whether harmful or not. The purpose of the housing is to bring the water in close proximity to the bulb/light. That’s how it works. Putting it in the overflow may cause damage. I think those are your answers ? This might be something to ask the company?

Naturally, I want to do it. I have dinos I'd like to get rid of. Whether efficacy drops to nil without the housing and pump, I don't know. If the downsides of running the bulb in the chamber are very low compared to the upside of it having some effect, I would just leave it on over the weekend. However, if the downsides include any notable damage to the AIO chamber, I'd say that's a No-Go. I still don't think we have a material answer to that question.

I don't think we can make a blanket statement about the efficacy of the unit outside of the housing. Sure, it brings the water and microbes closer to the bulb. It pumps the water through slower than the overflow passes the water so that it has longer contact. But that proximity MAY not be necessary. I run UV lights in my laminar flow hoods for sterilization:

This is, of course different. The matrix is air and not saltwater. The microbes are constantly exposed instead of briefly and repeatedly. But they certainly aren't very close to the bulb.

I've been running the bulb free of the housing for about 4 hours today. The tank has gone from something like this (earlier picture, it was covering all parts of the glass today):

to this currently:

I don't know if this is a temporary effect from blowing off the rocks/scaping the glass, or if the UV is having an effect. The last time I blew off the dinos, it reformed and settled again rapidly. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Is it wise to do this? No, probably not wise to stray from manufacturer's instructions. Is it reckless? That, I don't know and was hoping to be informed.

I think this discussion has led me to turn it off over the weekend just to be safe. So this is not a "validate my position // do it anyway" post. I appreciate everyone's input and offers for help!

 

[Spare time]

Right, I suppose I'm being too aloof. Let's assume I have a PhD level understanding of biology, including effects of UV on cells--not effects of UV on plastics or glass.

1. NOT looking AT the light, it's very clear the light is not spilling out of the AIO chamber:

2. If I remove the cover with my hand and use my phone to snap a photo inside the chamber, the light is running:

3. I suppose there is also silicone degradation to worry about. Question in my mind still remains: is a 9W UV bulb going to degrade plastic/glass/silicone notably over a period of hours, days, weeks?

Looks like there's a lot of reading to do. Was hoping someone knew, but I see that I haven't been very specific with my questions.

Apologies!

What is a PhD level understanding of biology mean lol

 

[Spare time]

I've done this for a day in an emergency in an IM tank but wouldn't do it any other time.

 

[JoJosReef]

What is a PhD level understanding of biology mean lol

Man, you guys are killing me today! Lesson learned: choose your words carefully. Lets just go with: I know the UV light emitted from this bulb is bad for my eyes, skin and any other cell in my body, but I don't know how bad it is for the plastic in my IM AIO chamber or the skinned glass on the external sides of the chamber.

;-)

 

[JoJosReef]

I've done this for a day in an emergency in an IM tank but wouldn't do it any other time.

Yeah, I figured the dinos were getting ahead of me and when the UV pump failed I wanted a solution before I leave for the weekend. I think the 4 hr or so in the overflow chamber helped enough--we'll see what it looks like when I get back on Monday!