UV sterilizer without mechanical filtration?

[rennjidk]

Is there any reason that you couldn't run a uv sterilizer without mechanical filtration? My aio makes me give up one of the 2 overflows for a uv sterilizer. The included sponge filter on top of it clogs within days. It's all particulate matter, nothing that would impede the flow of the sterilizer itself. Any reason I couldn't run it without the sponge, and rely on my sock in the other overflow chamber for mechanical filtration?

 

[rennjidk]

Oh boy, here I go experimenting again!

 

[CasperOe]

On my sump tank, have no mechanical filtration apart from a skimmer- and I run a UV with good results :upside-down-face:

I do have a large refugium though that captures a lot of the particles- and the skimmer takes care of some as well. The UV is fed after the fuge and skimmer on the right hand side here.

 

[rennjidk]

On my sump tank, have no mechanical filtration apart from a skimmer- and I run a UV with good results :upside-down-face:

See, my rear chamber looks like this

I've thought about either running it without the sponge, or just dropping the uv bulb of the sterilizer in the second chamber, without it's plastic shroud. I could only find one other post, which advised against this, but not with a real reason for concern. I can't see how running in an overflow chamber, with what amounts to a plastic funnel, would be any different than just dropping the light in one of the second chambers.

My concern is build up or damage to the quartz shield on the light itself.