Can you use 2 uv sterilizers?

LoganF · Mar 14, 2021

I'm currently working on getting a 165 gallon tank set up and am trying to do as much as I can to get it running smoothly now, rather than trying to catch up later. I'm not extremely familiar with UV sterilizers but I've yet to find anything about using 2 different ones to cover the microorganisms and to polish the water. If anyone has any ideas or if I'm just being ridiculous please let me know!

SPR1968 · Mar 14, 2021

If you get the most powerful you can fit it, just run it at a slowish flow for maximum killing power, and it will do both

Yes you can have 2 if you want and do as you say, its your tank, but there’s really no need.

And Welcome to R2R!!!

Tcook · Mar 14, 2021

I have one correctly sized for my tank running slowly for pests and my water stays crystal clear. No need for 2.

Micro-Reefs Aquarium · Mar 14, 2021

Since returning back into the hobby, I have been watching a lot of BRS TV.

Bryan mentioned on an episode of things I would not buy again on a reboot.

Two UV are what he was against. Run one to deal with parasites, then open the valve for greater flow for nuisance algae. So one can do both with the use of a flow meter control.

I have a small 12 gallon and use just fast flow to rid of some water algae that can get the upper hand.

Udest · Mar 14, 2021

Yeah like others said it's mostly just exposure time for the sterilization , though having the second one on hand is always nice just in case you need to set up a hospital tank or something.

zalick · Mar 14, 2021

There is a big misconception about how UV works. UV kills by exposure. If you had a 50,000w UV you could run it at 57,000gph (made up numbers by me) and it would kill algae and parasites. 57,000gph would be high flow for an 8w and result in almost no UV exposure.

So saying slow flow or high flow without also considering the wattage is pointless.

As @SPR1968 mentioned, getting the most powerful you can fit is generally the best idea because you maximize it's potential. A large UV will give you more UV exposure at more GPH than a smaller UV run at lower GPH.

You absolutely can have a single unit that kills algae and parasites if it's sized appropriately. You might be limited by space and cost though.

I always recommend looking at each unit, look at the exposure levels at various flows, and make the decision.

AquaUV has great charts for their units that show the UV exposure levels for each unit.