UV Sterilizer bulb usage

[DaddyFish]

FWIW -

AquaUV kinda dodged the question but said "we designed the unit to run 24/7 and that is our recommendation".

I don't really see any issues running it 12/hrs per day and your probably get 2x the life from the bulb....

One of the problems with cycling UV on/off is thermal expansion and contraction of the air surrounding the lamp. I have multiple tanks, all running UV, some run 12/24 some 24/24. The units that cycle off for 12-hours tend to draw in much more moisture/water around the quartz sleeve seal and into the lamp chamber.
That may not be an issue for AquaUV or other brands of choice, but so far it has been a real factor in longevity of my units.

 

[Malcontent]

 

[zalick]

Wow, up to 6hrs lost life per on/off cycle is significant.

 

[DaddyFish]

I must turn the UV off during the daytime on one of my tanks. The only alternatives would be to use a smaller UV in a diverted and slower flow circuit or invest in both the cost and space requirement of a chiller, neither of which I want to do. The 36-watt unit I'm currently running on that tank will heat the tank to 83F with a 75F ambient room temperature. It would take a lot of 6-month UV bulb replacements to offset the cost of a chiller!

 

[StlSalt]

Interesting. Thanks for the answer to my question.

 

[canadianeh]

I didn’t know that the sleeve needs to be clean periodically! How to clean the sleeve?

 

[zalick]

I didn’t know that the sleeve needs to be clean periodically! How to clean the sleeve?

I take mine out and soak in vinegar or citric acid. Then clean any deposits with a soft cloth. Don’t want to scratch it up. I think they need to be replaced periodically too if the get cloudy.

 

[OnPointCorals Verified Sponsor]

I had been cleaning my quartz every 6 months. It always at that time had full precipitate build. I started checking at the 3 month mark. Same thing. I recommend cleaning every 3 months. It’s seems there’s been many months I have run the UV with it doing nothing because this full coverage build up.

I soak in either citric acid or vinegar for an hour then the buildup easily is removed.

 

[canadianeh]

I take mine out and soak in vinegar or citric acid. Then clean any deposits with a soft cloth. Don’t want to scratch it up. I think they need to be replaced periodically too if the get cloudy.

I had been cleaning my quartz every 6 months. It always at that time had full precipitate build. I started checking at the 3 month mark. Same thing. I recommend cleaning every 3 months. It’s seems there’s been many months I have run the UV with it doing nothing because this full coverage build up.

I soak in either citric acid or vinegar for an hour then the buildup easily is removed.

and you guys run your UV 24/7 like I do? If you do, when do you change your bulb?

 

[StlSalt]

and you guys run your UV 24/7 like I do? If you do, when do you change your bulb?

I run mine 24/7 and it seems like the accepted industry standard is to replace it once a year. I do replace the UV bulbs in both my tanks every year. This year I tried the cheaper bulbs you can find on Amazon and haven't noticed any differences as far as my tanks go.

 

[canadianeh]

I run mine 24/7 and it seems like the accepted industry standard is to replace it once a year. I do replace the UV bulbs in both my tanks every year. This year I tried the cheaper bulbs you can find on Amazon and haven't noticed any differences as far as my tanks go.

Can you share the link to Amazon?

 

[StlSalt]

Can you share the link to Amazon?

Depends on what kind of UV Sterilizer you're using. Search using the model of your skimmer.

Amazon product ASIN B078SYFTVK
Vs.

Amazon product ASIN B005BSU9QQ

 

[Aqua Ultraviolet]

If you’re running the UV continuously, I’d replace the bulb based on hours of actual use, not whether it still lights up. UV-C output gradually drops with age, even though the bulb can still look perfectly normal. Around 8,000 to 9,000 hours, or roughly one year of continuous use, is a common replacement interval, but the exact recommendation should follow the manufacturer of your unit.

 

[Freenow54]

Yeah, that's probably true. I used a pondmaster UV for a while and the ballast would blow if you looked at it wrong.

Possibly Hydro Spikes . My led pot light transformer popped quite regular 4-5 months . I put in a dedicated surge protector that will not power up for 5 minutes after checking the power source

 

[BryanM]

I have been running a 57 watt Aqua UV for years. I religiously replace the bulb once a year.

This past year using my Apex I have run the sterilizer only 12 hours a day. Does this allow me to skip replacing the bulb this year?

Thx.

my pentair has something like a 9000 hour/13 month range, so I would assume yes, skip.

fwiw, I did read that the quartz sleeve should probably be cleaned every so often.... We'll see, since I just ordered a new bulb and gasket kit, and I've never cleaned the sleeve.