Green Killing Machine UV

paul.brandon83 · Jul 18, 2020

Has anyone ever used one of these UV sterilize? or would I be better off getting a different one and running it off of a pump?
Thanks!

scabbedwings616 · Jul 18, 2020

I have one on my 29g in my sump area. It sets a little clogged at times but hasn’t failed me yet. I also have a tank that has it running off a pump as well and I adjust it accordingly to what I’m trying to achieve in my tank. Right now it’s higher flow due to a little hair algae in the tanks. When I add new fish I slow it right down for parasites.

vetteguy53081 · Jul 18, 2020

I had one and expected more. The person I gave it to absolutely loves it and says the tank is SO clear

mav3rick478 · Jul 19, 2020

Worked great for my 26 gallon when I had bacteria bloom.

DaddyFish · Jul 19, 2020

You will be replacing bulbs every 12-18 months on any UV unit.

The cost of replacement bulbs for that 24w unit is what turned me away from it. 9w, 18w, 36w bulbs are common and readily available from multiple sources. I highly recommend you research the cost of bulbs before purchasing any particular unit. What I found on the Green-Killing 24w is the bulb costs $36-40, half the cost of that unit!

Calm Blue Ocean · Jul 19, 2020

I used the 9w on my 46 gallon to clear up a bacterial bloom. Worked like a charm!

Clownfishy · Jul 19, 2020

Used it in my 200 litre during Dino outbreak and it made little difference. It broke after 3 months so replaced it with an Eheim UV 800 and could not be more happier. I found the quality to be poor and I am sure I read that the bulb cannot be replaced so you end up buying a whole new unit.

Waters · Jul 19, 2020

They work great for smaller freshwater tanks experiencing green water or bacterial blooms (I own and have used one for years). The design is terribly under sized for anything but the smallest reef tank unfortunately. For UV to be effective it is based on contact time with the water to the bulb, strength of the bulb, and clarity of the tube. For this unit to work, you would have to slow the water flow WAY down....which would make it totally ineffective for anything but bacteria in a small tank.

hart24601 · Jul 19, 2020

I used one to control my dinos and it worked well. I rather like that when you replace the bulb you replace the whole lower unit. UV breaks down plastic and I think it was a solid design choice as my other UV started leaking black plastic when I cleaned it. Better off replacing the housing too like these do. I used the largest size green machine on my ~160g size reef. It doesn’t take much UV to kill dinos or at least the dinos I have had.

piranhaman00 · Jul 19, 2020

They are clarifiers not sterilizers. The difference being it will clear water if bacteria, giving clear water. It will not sterilize, meaning kill Protozoa.

SMSREEF · Jul 19, 2020

I used one for Dino’s. It worked great...BUT...

If you plan on only using it for a short time, I think it’s a good deal.

My impeller rod rusted after only 2 months and I now have metal on my iCP test.
Others that have used for longer period had a high antimony level on ICP. (Search fro high antimony on R2R for the threads).

They sent me a new pump, but I’m actually afraid to use the green killing machine again and just threw the whole thing away. I don’t think these are really made for saltwater.

Cwentz758 · Jul 19, 2020

I had a completely green tank once and it cleared it within two days. Never really used it for much else, ended up letting it sit dry for a few years and the pump stopped working.

Clownfishy · Jul 19, 2020

piranhaman00 said:
They are clarifiers not sterilizers. The difference being it will clear water if bacteria, giving clear water. It will not sterilize, meaning kill Protozoa.

What is the difference in the bulb they use? Surely it is flow rate?