Uv Sterilizer and Skimmer?

[joeyhatch11]

Is it normal for the skimmer to go into "over drive" after installing a UV system? Using a SCA-301 with the dial normally set to 3, I've found that after installing the UV sterilizer that it was making the cup almost overflow and I needed to turn it down quite a bit. I assume Im hitting some new break in process with the UV and its just reacting funny with the skimmer? They are in the same chamber of the sump. Thoughts? Thanks guys, Joe

 

[twilliard]

Understanding what UV does to organisms will answer this question.

 

[joeyhatch11]

So instead of helping me to understand a bit, you just post up a stupid response like that? You would have been better off not posting at all. Thanks for nothing I guess.

 

[luke33]

I have not seen any relationship between the two but if you have been running a tank for a while, then hook up a UV its possible the skimmer could go into overdrive until it can catch up with organics being created by the UV.

BUT

The other possibility and this is what I would go with is the new uv and pump being used has some oils on it and the skimmer is having a small break in process. This happens if you add new equipment sometimes.

 

[McMullen]

That was an interesting response. UV may kill some single cell organisms and keep others from multiplying but doesn't increase the bio load or organics. It seems the skimmer would be sucking up the same amount of stuff whether dead or not. I'm also interested in an answer. I don't think it's as intuitive as "twilliard" suggests.

 

[McMullen]

@luke33, your second guess makes since to me. I didn't think of that

 

[143MPCo]

UV sterilizers work on the principle that special fluorescent UV lamps can effectively irradiate (render sterile) microorganisms in aquarium water when they are exposed to this light. UV light, at a peak wavelength of approximately 254 nanometers, alters the genetic material in the organism's nucleus and shortens its normal life cycle. Theoretically, UV sterilizers can incapacitate viruses, bacteria, algae, and protozoa with no residual effects. However, the organisms must be free-floating and travel through the UV sterilizer unit for the sterilizer to work. It has no effect on organisms attached to fish or rocks because they do not flow through the unit and cannot be exposed to the UV light.

Additionally depending how the UV light was installed (PVC type, chemicals, oils, etc.) can play a part if you introduced solvents into the water and they can act as a slight carbon source for microorganisms to feed on.

The skimmer I suspect is reacting to one or both changes in correlation to it being added to your system.

 

[McMullen]

The same fee floating organisms that enter the UV must also be free floating to enter the skimmer (unless plumbed into skimmer). It seems that there are not any extra organics produced purely from UV use. Seems more likely the solvents?

 

[luke33]

@luke33, your second guess makes since to me. I didn't think of that

Yep, I would think a UV wouldn't add much to a tank unless your having a major algae bloom and again, your skimmer should already be working overdrive. My money is on oils in the new equipment as that happens often.

I would imagine the skimmer will be fine in a few days. I've seen this a lot in the past.

 

[twilliard]

Ok I guess I have to explain this and thank you for for your reply.
Here we go..
Lets take cyanobacteria for example
Now we all know that in mass population it forms "mats" they hold on together and live life creating o2.
Now lets say you disturb their natural bond. (Turkey baster for example)
Now these bacterial cells pass through your UV equipment destroying or altering the cell.
It can no longer bond. Now it becomes free floating.
So with the surface tension the skimmer produces this cell that can no longer bond with their friends get caught up and pulled into your collection cup.



Todd

 

[143MPCo]

Seems more likely the solvents?

Plausible but no way of really knowing, just hard to say without additional information from the OP on steps taken to install the unit.

 

[joeyhatch11]

Thank you all for posting. Its been almost 5 hours since the install and it does seem that the skimmer is "calming down". Looks like its be back to normal today perhaps. But yes that makes sense in regards to the plastic and solvents added in the water column making the skimmer act this way. Again thank you to those of you that shed some light on this quickly for me.

 

[Oceansize]

I run both. Things should settle down. I'm not sure I accept Twilliard's explanation, IME excess organics do not create those big bubbles that cause your skimmer to overflow, they simply create more skimmate which, while it will increase the frequency that you empty the cup, it doesn't create those big bubbles that make your skimmer go from fine to a volcano and make you wonder what is up with your skimmer. Those big bubbles that cause your skimmer to overflow from out of nowhere: IME that happens with new equipment.

Regardless of who is right, either way it should settle down in time.

 

[slief]

I run both a 114 watt AquaUV and a high end skimmer. I change my bulbs about once a year and by the time I change them, the bulbs are pretty well toast. When the new bulbs go in, I never see a difference in my skimmers output. Nor have I seen a difference in the skimmer even when the UV was left off for months at time. My guess is that what you are seeing may be the result of either stuff from inside the UV that wasn't cleaned out before you put it on line or that you had a lot of bacteria or organics in your water which the UV is doing it's job on and your skimmer is exporting the results. Either way, it will subside in a short amount of time so let your skimmer & Uv filter do their thing.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

The same fee floating organisms that enter the UV must also be free floating to enter the skimmer (unless plumbed into skimmer). It seems that there are not any extra organics produced purely from UV use. Seems more likely the solvents?

A dead bacteria may spill its guts, with loads of skimmable stuff being released.

So I have no information on whether this is a general thing, or might be, as folks stated, from contaminants on the UV when new, but it is not unreasonable that a UV may boost the organics and impact skimming, especially when first added.

That said, if folks do not generally see this, perhaps the killing of the bacteria is slow enough or in low enough quantity to other skimmable organics to not notice.

 

[joeyhatch11]

After running now for about 8hrs, I was able to re-adjust my skimmer back to its normal working level. I do believe it was just some solvents that were on/inside the plastics from start up. It just got me nervous at first because it was going crazy with tons of large bubbles inside the skimmer body and it wasn't calming down. LOL

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I run both. Things should settle down. I'm not sure I accept Twilliard's explanation, IME excess organics do not create those big bubbles that cause your skimmer to overflow, they simply create more skimmate which, while it will increase the frequency that you empty the cup, it doesn't create those big bubbles that make your skimmer go from fine to a volcano and make you wonder what is up with your skimmer. Those big bubbles that cause your skimmer to overflow from out of nowhere: IME that happens with new equipment.

Regardless of who is right, either way it should settle down in time.

Again, I'm not claiming bacteria are the cause of this overflow, but just trying to clarify the science. Surfactants, regardless of source, can cause skimmers to overflow. Those might be on new equipment, or they can be of biological origin.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

After running now for about 8hrs, I was able to re-adjust my skimmer back to its normal working level. I do believe it was just some solvents that were on/inside the plastics from start up. It just got me nervous at first because it was going crazy with tons of large bubbles inside the skimmer body and it wasn't calming down. LOL

Again to clarify, solvents are not the issue,. Surfactants are. Those are different beasts.

If anything, normal solvents like acetone will break the bubbles in a skimmer.

 

[Oceansize]

Again, I'm not claiming bacteria are the cause of this overflow, but just trying to clarify the science. Surfactants, regardless of source, can cause skimmers to overflow. Those might be on new equipment, or they can be of biological origin.

Yes. Although I do not have nearly the command of the science as you, I do have direct experience with the same issue as the OP. IME, there is a noticeable difference between the big bubbles caused by surfactants and the extra skimmate caused by an influx of more proteins/organics than normal, and based on the description in the OP, it sounds like he's dealing with the former, not the latter. I absolutely agree that it makes sense to clarify the difference between surfactants and solvents. Solvents seem to break down all the bubbles, leaving the skimmer unable to produce any skimmate for a few hours, which is not the problem the OP is having.

 

[shwareefer]

Before anyone says, "you know this thread is from 2016 right?" Ya, I know and I've never understood why that's even remotely relevant.

I installed a UV sterilizer about 20 hours ago and my skimmer has skimmed a week's worth in that time. I'm voting yes it has an effect on skimming - at least while whatever is being converted to a suddenly skimmable state exists.