Optimizing UV for Algae control, parasite control.

[Zionas]

Hi all I will be getting a 100 Watt UV sterilizer for my tank, not sure if it’s powerful for the size of my tank which is a 6 foot long 2.3 foot wide and 1.8 foot tall, giving a total water volume of 183.07 gallons.

For now I will only have 1 UV sterilizer, which will be optimized for controlling parasites and pathogens. However, I may choose to add a second one down the line for controlling algae blooms.

I would like to know how to optimize a UV sterilizer for either scenario, I’ll most likely be having two of the same type.

1. Flow rate?

2. Contact time?

3. Intensity?

4. Anything else?


Also, regarding the water flow from my pumps / wavemakers, a book I picked up by a guy called Zechariah Blanchard says a rule of thumb is number of gallons x 30 to achieve enough flow for the tank. However, he does not specify whether it’s the amount of water being pumped (in gallons) every hour from EACH wavemaker, or from both wavemakers.

Would love to hear from you guys. Thanks.

 

[Vette67]

In my opinion, it is strong enough. I have a 180 gallon tank, and I have 2 - 40W UV sterilizers on my tank. My return pump has 2 branches on it, one that feeds my 180 and one that feeds my 75. So I put one sterilizer on each branch, which makes it convenient for me to plumb. If you have a single return pump, and that sterilizer can handle the flow, I would plumb it in line with your return pump. That way all of you water that is filtered is also sterilized. How were you planning on plumbing the sterilizer?

As far as flow in your tank, they can all be added together. If you have 3 - 2,000 GPH power heads, then you have 6,000 GPH of flow in your tank, plus whatever your return pump flows.

 

[Zionas]

Forgive me but I’m not entirely sure how the plumbing works, because I’m currently unable to go home (borders closed) and I’ve been discussing all of this with my LFS over the Internet. Each of these sterilizers will be 100 watts and my LFS told me they’re pretty good quality, a Western brand. Are you saying I have to drill any holes into the wall? I’ll be having my tank in an apartment so drilling anything into the wall won’t be an option for me, unfortunately, and my DIY skills are about.... zero.

Is there an optimal contact time, strength, flow or any other setting needed to achieve the best results for controlling pathogens and damaging their DNA, and controlling invasive algae?

I also checked how much water my pumps can put out every hour. They’re two Jebao SW20 pumps and from my research it says one pump can pump up to 20,000 liters (5283 US gallons) of water every hour. I guess for flow I’m set.