Big sterilizer for small tank

Trailermann · Aug 5, 2020

I want to use my old Aquanetics 15 watt sterilizer for my 20 gallon coral quarantine tank. Can this work and at what flow rate for general and continual use?

fishguy242 · Aug 6, 2020

hi ,is an oldie but a goodie ,i'd say check gaskets/seals first,cannot find flow rate ,my old 25's were 900gph many years ago,just used mag 9.5 no problems,i'm guessing flow at 650-700 gph for 15 inline ,i am old school cannot over uv a tank,BUT..have never run a tank under 75 gal,hopefully others will chime in

vetteguy53081 · Aug 6, 2020

Higher watts is better than not enough. Just run water through unit at a slow rate

TMC1313 · Aug 6, 2020

Shouldn't be a problem at all. I'll be running my 22 gallon with a 15 watt aqua uv. Just watch the water temperature, but you should be fine. I'm also currently running a 50 watt on a 65 gallon for a couple years now with no issues.

45bravo · Aug 6, 2020

Remember that it depends how much larger its actually rated for. The bulb actually heats the water over time so there is such a thing as to big in this instance. If they are correct about the 900GPH though the sterilizer that's 45 times the turn over every hour, you should have the clearest water you have ever seen just as long as it doesn't over heat the tank. I'd really try and find the suggested flow and use the lowest flow recommended because you need more contact time to kill parasites and less for water clarity issues. Just hook it up and run it for a week and see what happens with the temp, if it's good I wouldn't worry about it and it will be fine.