Aqua UV question..

gideon2086 · Mar 28, 2020

Hello there,

I'm hoping a user of the Aqua UV sterilizer can help clear up some confusion I have in regards to flow rate. I have a 91g setup and I'm looking at the 25 watt unit. BRS and MarineDepot both recommend a flow rate of 400 gph, however, Aqua UV recommends a flow rate of 800-1200.. a significant difference.

Can anyone that has experience with this equipment chime in?

Hydrored · Mar 28, 2020

I have an aqua uv on my 120, I’m running about 500 GPH through mine and it works great. I have one core 20 feeding the UV and left return at 35%. Another core 20 feeds my right return and manifold

gideon2086 · Mar 28, 2020

Hydrored said:
I have an aqua uv on my 120, im running about 500 GPH through mine and it work great

It appears Aqua UV's concern with a low flow rate is that it will kill off phytoplankton and starve the reef. I assume you're running a reef tank?

gideon2086 · Mar 28, 2020

Recommended Flow Rate for UV Dosages	at 30,000 µw/cm2 (EOL) GPH: 1,200 (Max Flow Rate) at 45,000 µw/cm2 (EOL) GPH: 800 at 60,000 µw/cm2 (EOL) GPH: 600 at 75,000 µw/cm2 (EOL) GPH: 480 at 90,000 µw/cm2 (EOL) GPH: 400 (Min Flow Rate)
Information for Reef Tanks	A UV rated in the 30,000 or 45,000 µw/cm2 (EOL) is ideal for the reef environment. UV’s used at higher kill rates will destroy the planktonic food supply for the reef.

Hydrored · Mar 28, 2020

duplicate

Hydrored · Mar 28, 2020

Correct, no issues as its been running for 8 months and coral is happy. I edited my original post with pump info. I also dose phyto and use ROE and Oyster feast

gideon2086 · Mar 28, 2020

Hydrored said:
Correct, no issues as its been running for 8 months and coral is happy. I edited my original post with pump info.

Nice, I'll be running this one standalone and was concerned about adding an enormous pump to my sump JUST for the UV.

ca1ore · Mar 28, 2020

gideon2086 said:
It appears Aqua UV's concern with a low flow rate is that it will kill off phytoplankton and starve the reef.

Which makes absolutely no sense by the way. Slower flow for sterilization; faster rates for clarification.

DS204 · Apr 2, 2020

We have the 25watt unit on order and hope to install it in the coming weeks, once it arrives. We plan to run it at approx 400gph for parasite control.

Our LFS recommended that we operate the UV on a timer for 12 on and 12 off so that we don't kill off the planktonic food supply. Perhaps that might be an option for you as well?

gideon2086 · Apr 15, 2020

Follow-up question: what pumps are you folks using with your UV units?

DS204 · Apr 16, 2020

gideon2086 said:
Follow-up question: what pumps are you folks using with your UV units?

Paired up an AquaUV 25watt with a Sicce 2.0 to try and get as close to 400gph as I could. The UV is on order and hasn't arrived yet. I special ordered black instead of white, and it shipped from CA but I'm in Canada so there's some delays with customs right now. Hoping to receive it in a week or two.

Malcontent · Apr 16, 2020

OCDean said:
Our LFS recommended that we operate the UV on a timer for 12 on and 12 off so that we don't kill off the planktonic food supply. Perhaps that might be an option for you as well?

Great way to kill your bulb, too.

gideon2086 · Apr 16, 2020

Malcontent said:
Great way to kill your bulb, too.

Running it 24/7 or the daily on/off cycle?

Malcontent · Apr 16, 2020

gideon2086 said:
Running it 24/7 or the daily on/off cycle?

On/off.

DS204 · Apr 16, 2020

Malcontent said:
Great way to kill your bulb, too.

Oh I had no idea. That's interesting to know. I sure don't presume to know EVERYTHING, so was merely sharing an idea that my LFS shared with me. This is a forum for sharing ideas, afterall.

So I'm actually curious, because obviously I don't want to shorten the lifecycle of my bulb - why does switching it on/off kill the lifecycle of the bulb? Is there some science behind that? In any event, a bulb is like $50 so that's probably the least of my worries. I've lost fish more expensive than that for no reason whatsoever.

Keen4 · Jul 22, 2020

I’m researching on this UV because I have a 91 total System also. Redsea reefer v2 sump. Not sure how I want to place it. Acrylic pipe or just tube it in. How are you doing yours?

gideon2086 · Jul 22, 2020

i just barely squeezed it onto the back wall of the inside of the cabinet above the sump. i set it up on it's own pump.

Keen4 · Jul 22, 2020

What pump did you go with? And do you have any pics? I’m guessing the siphoned part is a tubing that lays in the return chamber? Or is it coming from your return to the UV then the DT? Sorry for all the questions I’m trying to learn about this.

gideon2086 · Jul 22, 2020

I can get one tomorrow. I went with a Sicce. I have the intake in the skimmer chamber and the output in the return chamber. My DT is clean, no tubes or wires.

Bret · Jul 22, 2020

Take a look at this article:
https://www.americanaquariumproducts.com/AquariumUVSterilization.html

Long read, but very good info.
I have the same UV and was hung up on the flow rates too. After reading the article, i'm satisfied running 500gph through mine.