UV Sterilizers and setup

[Salt Creep]

Hello,

I have been battling dinos for a bit now. It got really bad when I went on vacation over the summer and since I have been blowing the rocks off, trying to increase biodiversity, raising nutrient levels (phos and nitrate were undetectable), dosing phyto, and siphoning the sand and water into a filter sock in the sump to filter some out but not change the water and lower nutrients.

I have positively identified it as dino with a microscope and it is one of the strains that goes into the water at night.

I have never had a UV sterilizer on any tanks before and considering getting one but have a couple questions...

Does anyone have experience with the Green Killing Machine? I like the idea of the pump being attached in a smaller form factor that can be removed easily and put back in if needed so I wouldn't have to run it 24/7. I have read mixed reviews on this and hoping someone has experience if it is a good one or not. My other option if the GKM would be a waste of money is the Aqua Ultraviolet 25 Watt. If I get the AU I would probably just permanently keep it mounted to the side of my cabinet.

Also, I have an unused valve off a manifold from my return that I could use. This would be preferred to not have an extra pump. I have heard differing opinions about this too... that the pump should be in the display. Putting a pump in the display is something I would be temporarily willing to do but does it make a HUGE difference whether the pump is in the display or if it's plumbed off the return?

Tank specs:
75 gallon with about 10 gallons of water in the sump

8.5 dKh
450 calcium
1400 mag
0.8 phos
10-15 nitrate

 

[Snowxcross]

Hello,

I have been battling dinos for a bit now. It got really bad when I went on vacation over the summer and since I have been blowing the rocks off, trying to increase biodiversity, raising nutrient levels (phos and nitrate were undetectable), dosing phyto, and siphoning the sand and water into a filter sock in the sump to filter some out but not change the water and lower nutrients.

I have positively identified it as dino with a microscope and it is one of the strains that goes into the water at night.

I have never had a UV sterilizer on any tanks before and considering getting one but have a couple questions...

Does anyone have experience with the Green Killing Machine? I like the idea of the pump being attached in a smaller form factor that can be removed easily and put back in if needed so I wouldn't have to run it 24/7. I have read mixed reviews on this and hoping someone has experience if it is a good one or not. My other option if the GKM would be a waste of money is the Aqua Ultraviolet 25 Watt. If I get the AU I would probably just permanently keep it mounted to the side of my cabinet.

Also, I have an unused valve off a manifold from my return that I could use. This would be preferred to not have an extra pump. I have heard differing opinions about this too... that the pump should be in the display. Putting a pump in the display is something I would be temporarily willing to do but does it make a HUGE difference whether the pump is in the display or if it's plumbed off the return?

Tank specs:
75 gallon with about 10 gallons of water in the sump

8.5 dKh
450 calcium
1400 mag
0.8 phos
10-15 nitrate

Just my opinion here, others will have their own. I've never delt with dinos. Yes, dont bottom out your nutrients, but i've ran a UV off the manifold on all my systems when starting new and i continue to run them 24/7. You want a slower flow rate as a preventative measure. Adding a good source of healthy bacteria is a good idea, again people will chime in, but i've had great success with tropic marins nitribiotics.

 

[FUNGI]

Hello,

I have been battling dinos for a bit now. It got really bad when I went on vacation over the summer and since I have been blowing the rocks off, trying to increase biodiversity, raising nutrient levels (phos and nitrate were undetectable), dosing phyto, and siphoning the sand and water into a filter sock in the sump to filter some out but not change the water and lower nutrients.

I have positively identified it as dino with a microscope and it is one of the strains that goes into the water at night.

I have never had a UV sterilizer on any tanks before and considering getting one but have a couple questions...

Does anyone have experience with the Green Killing Machine? I like the idea of the pump being attached in a smaller form factor that can be removed easily and put back in if needed so I wouldn't have to run it 24/7. I have read mixed reviews on this and hoping someone has experience if it is a good one or not. My other option if the GKM would be a waste of money is the Aqua Ultraviolet 25 Watt. If I get the AU I would probably just permanently keep it mounted to the side of my cabinet.

Also, I have an unused valve off a manifold from my return that I could use. This would be preferred to not have an extra pump. I have heard differing opinions about this too... that the pump should be in the display. Putting a pump in the display is something I would be temporarily willing to do but does it make a HUGE difference whether the pump is in the display or if it's plumbed off the return?

Tank specs:
75 gallon with about 10 gallons of water in the sump

8.5 dKh
450 calcium
1400 mag
0.8 phos
10-15 nitrate

GKM is awesome at what it does. i have the large one (24W). Took care of my dino issue within a week or so. (125G Tank).
However,
- Pump is loud

- Sucker pad on the UV light is no good....


Just my 2 cents

 

[BryanM]

No experience with green killing machine.... But I have had, and have right now, dinos, and I can say that UV absolutely helps with the dinos that go in to the water column at night.

I had to use a slower flow rate than was advertised, but after that it worked quite well in helping me get past them.

 

[Salt Creep]

Thank you all! I went on FB marketplace and found an Aqua Ultraviolet 25w and the tank is looking much better after a couple days. Going to leave it going for another week or two and then plan to put it in the sump area

 

[AcanSweeper]

@Salt Creep how did you plumb the Aqua UV? I'm contemplating between pump in display hang on the side style or plumbing it semi permanent in the sump.

 

[Salt Creep]

@Salt Creep how did you plumb the Aqua UV? I'm contemplating between pump in display hang on the side style or plumbing it semi permanent in the sump.

At the advice of another local reefer I connected it to a pump that I put in my display tank to really attack the dinos. I did lose a little sleep the first night just worried about a hose coming loose and the pump draining my display tank water onto the floor and didn't like the idea but I did.

I secured the hoses really well and am confident it wont come apart now but once the dinos are gone I'm going to plumb it into my manifold in the sump area. I know it isn't as effective there but I don't want a pump and tubing in my display.