Question on uv
- Thread starter noahclay82
- Start date
- Tagged users None
Ummm yes too much. Your not going to really get an added benefit of having multiple. Sure some, but enough to justify my vote would be no, not worth the expense and hassle.
Sean Clark
7500 Club Member
Size matters. Three smaller uv may not equal one properly sized uv. Three giant uv may be unnecessary. Dwell/contact time is also a large factor. There is not enough information to answer the question.
noahclay82
Community Member
Right now I have 2 28 watts one is a closed loop and the other is getting the water from my sump back to the main tank. I was thinking putting other uv on the opposite side of the tank
Sean Clark
7500 Club Member
So based on the 25w pentair info (since they actually provide flow rates for dwell time to treat Protozoa) you want to be between 79GPH/131GPH throughput. This will need to be the same for both of your uv. Increasing the flow will only diminish the contact time and lessen your results. Lowering the flow will only lower the amount of water treated and possibly take a longer duration to effectively treat.
If you already have Ich then do not expect a miracle cure. If you do not have Ich do not expect an Ich free tank. This is a low and slow solution.
Lbrdsoxfan
5000 Club Member
I'd just buy one larger uv, but that's just me. This sounds like a future plumbing disaster.
noahclay82
Community Member
I have ich right now I know I have it I’m just trying to manage it in the best way possible and all the medicine I try seem not to work so I just went to managing it with good food uv and vitamins for the fish
Why not setup a proper QT using copper and a fallow period if you know you have it and wish to eradicate it?
Otherwise your just managing it.
rhostam
Well-Known Member
You should get a UV that is sized to your tank. Reputable vendors will recommend a unit based in size and then there are also flow rates recommendations for application. Algae control and parasitic sterilization require different flow rates, for instance.
I used a smaller UV solution to address an immediate need when more permanent larger solutions were not available to me. That’s fine and it did work, though being inexpensive and smaller it just didn’t last. It’s better to plan our a properly rated unit if you can.
How large is your tank and why do you think adding a third on the other side will help?
Ich has a life cycle. So whatever you do now won’t realize quick gains. Best thing is make sure your water parameters are stable and that your fish eat well and are as stress free as they can be if you can’t QT them.
I used a smaller UV solution to address an immediate need when more permanent larger solutions were not available to me. That’s fine and it did work, though being inexpensive and smaller it just didn’t last. It’s better to plan our a properly rated unit if you can.
How large is your tank and why do you think adding a third on the other side will help?
Ich has a life cycle. So whatever you do now won’t realize quick gains. Best thing is make sure your water parameters are stable and that your fish eat well and are as stress free as they can be if you can’t QT them.
Lbrdsoxfan
5000 Club Member
More than likely your flow rates for fighting protozoa are too high. In the end display treatments are just shy of fallacy. I run a ich management tank, but I now use one of the largest UV setups I can squeeze in the space and run it as slow as possible. All of my return water is currently going through it.
noahclay82
Community Member
Tank is 75 gallon water and everything is good and all fish are eating I know my one trigger has the ich spots on him but none of the other fish have any spots
noahclay82
Community Member
My flow rate is 90 gallon a hour
noahclay82
Community Member
That’s the point to manage it I don’t have room for a whole new tank
In that case do you know your flow rates through your current UV?
As previously mentioned you need those dialed in. 3 UVs on a tank that aren't dialed in properly aren't going to be as effective as 1 that's dialed in and tuned properly.
Lbrdsoxfan
5000 Club Member
Is that with a flow meter or is it what you think it is based on the pumps gph rating.
I'm curious, who makes a 28w uv, I admit I ain't never seen one.
noahclay82
Community Member
Correction it’s 27w but that’s what the pump controller is set too
noahclay82
Community Member
Yes 90 gallons a hour
noahclay82
Community Member
Good to know but I can insure you the flow rate is very light and slow enough to sterilize ich
rhostam
Well-Known Member
Personally, I would just make sure he is eating and not being stressed by others.
If you can’t QT and treat, then ensuring he is as healthy as he can be increases his recovery odds.
Take your time planning for a longer term properly rated unit. Adding a new UV now at whatever size isn’t going to “cure” the fish impacted only disrupt the ich life cycle and help mitigate future outbreaks.
