UV Sterilization?

[Aspect]

Hello all, I have a 120 watt Lifegard Aquatics UV sterilizer and was hoping someone would know what flow rate I would need for viral/parasitic sterilization? I currently have an 800gph pump hooked up to it. It is also 3' long. My system has ~400 gallons of total water. Thanks for any help.

 

[blaxsun]

Do you know what brand? An AquaUltraviolet 80-watt sterilizer needs 1,226Gph for 90,000 µw/cm2 - so I imagine with an 800Gph pump you're probably achieving (best guess) somewhere in the 180,000 µw/cm2 range - which is also fine for sterilization.

 

[Aspect]

Do you know what brand? An AquaUltraviolet 80-watt sterilizer needs 1,226Gph for 90,000 µw/cm2 - so I imagine with an 800Gph pump you're probably achieving (best guess) somewhere in the 180,000 µw/cm2 range - which is also fine for sterilization.

Lifegard aquatics is the brand. From what I've read one of the best.

 

[blaxsun]

Lifegard aquatics is the brand. From what I've read one of the best.

It looks like it's rated for up to 3,000 Gph. I found the manual but it doesn't indicate what x flow rate you need for y sterilization. Your best bet is to probably contact Lifegard directly.

http://www.lifegardaquatics.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Ultraviolet_Sterilizers_Instructions.pdf

 

[vetteguy53081]

Hello all, I have a 120 watt Lifegard Aquatics UV sterilizer and was hoping someone would know what flow rate I would need for viral/parasitic sterilization? I currently have an 800gph pump hooked up to it. It is also 3' long. My system has ~400 gallons of total water. Thanks for any help.

I have this unit and have it on second notch of sicce 3.0 pump (abouut 300gph) which is a moderate rate. You want organisms to pass through tube chaneel somewhat slow to expose them to UV

 

[blaxsun]

I have this unit and have it on second notch of sicce 3.0 pump (abouut 300gph) which is a moderate rate. You want organisms to pass through tube chaneel somewhat slow to expose them to UV

Wow - I'm running 633-753 Gph through my 57-watt, which is about half the rated flow for 90,000μ.

 

[Aspect]

I have this unit and have it on second notch of sicce 3.0 pump (abouut 300gph) which is a moderate rate. You want organisms to pass through tube chaneel somewhat slow to expose them to UV

According to this chart from Live Aquaria, running 800gph through a 120 watt will achieve parasite sterilization.

 

[Aspect]

Plus, the flow rate will actually be a bit slower when accounting for approximately 3' of head before reaching the sterilizer from the pump.

 

[vetteguy53081]

According to this chart from Live Aquaria, running 800gph through a 120 watt will achieve parasite sterilization.

I run 300 or a little more to address both alage and parasitical

 

[vetteguy53081]

Plus, the flow rate will actually be a bit slower when accounting for approximately 3' of head before reaching the sterilizer from the pump.

Agreed

 

[Aspect]

I run 300 or a little more to address both alage and parasitical

300 is crazy exposure time, I'd be afraid there wouldn't be enough water to cover the light in the housing. Do you have the 3" or 5" model? Also, have you had any parasitical or bacterial outbreaks?

 

[vetteguy53081]

300 is crazy exposure time, I'd be afraid there wouldn't be enough water to cover the light in the housing. Do you have the 3" or 5" model? Also, have you had any parasitical or bacterial outbreaks?

5" and no parasites well over 2-3 years