UV Sterilizer Pump?

[Kasey Grohowski]

Right now I have a 400 gph pump on my 55 watt UV sterilizer (sterilizer itself is 18 inches long). I feel like the water is going through too fast. I want to get an 80 gph pump to maximize contact time. People often say UV sterilizers can kill beneficial bacteria, but that doesn't make any sense as bacteria shouldn't be in the water column, it should be rock/sand. Anyone think it would be better/worse to do this? Thank you.

 

[theMeat]

If you’re trying to kill algae you could probably go up to 700 gph with 55watt bulb.
If you’re trying to kill parasites than you should be closer to 300 imo

 

[Kasey Grohowski]

If you’re trying to kill algae you could probably go up to 700 gph with 55watt bulb.
If you’re trying to kill parasites than you should be closer to 300 imo

Both!

 

[Kasey Grohowski]

If you’re trying to kill algae you could probably go up to 700 gph with 55watt bulb.
If you’re trying to kill parasites than you should be closer to 300 imo

That doesn't apply to brown diatoms, still them in my tank.

 

[theMeat]

That doesn't apply to brown diatoms, still them in my tank.

Yes. Although only those that pass through the uv.
Let me back up and say that 400gph going through 55 w is definitely doing damage to parasite populations as well. Again only those that pass through and are exposed.
Let’s also add that pumps almost always produce less gph then their manufactures claim, so you’re likely not doing 400.
Uv will kill algae that is exposed to it. But with parasites it doesn’t kill them, instead sterilizes them leaving them unable to reproduce

 

[Kasey Grohowski]

Yes. Although only those that pass through the uv.
Let me back up and say that 400gph going through 55 w is definitely doing damage to parasite populations as well. Again only those that pass through and are exposed.
Let’s also add that pumps almost always produce less gph then their manufactures claim, so you’re likely not doing 400.
Uv will kill algae that is exposed to it. But with parasites it doesn’t kill them, instead sterilizes them leaving them unable to reproduce

But wouldn't you think more contact time is better?

 

[theMeat]

Not necessarily. If algae is dead it’s dead. If parasites are sterile, they’re sterile. More gph means more get dead or sterilize.
What size tank?

 

[Kasey Grohowski]

Not necessarily. If algae is dead it’s dead. If parasites are sterile, they’re sterile. More gph means more get dead or sterilize.
What size tank?

220

 

[Hermie]

Uv will kill algae that is exposed to it. But with parasites it doesn’t kill them, instead sterilizes them leaving them unable to reproduce

Can you provide any evidence on this? I have never, ever heard it before and have done a lot of reading on UV research.

 

[Kasey Grohowski]

Can you provide any evidence on this? I have never, ever heard it before and have done a lot of reading on UV research.

Does your research show that it does in fact kill them, or does nothing to them?

 

[Hermie]

Does your research show that it does in fact kill them, or does nothing to them?

to put it simply, kills them or kills their "young" suspended in the water

http://prolight.info/pdf_specs/Philips_UV_tech_brochure.pdf

 

[Kasey Grohowski]

to put it simply, kills them or kills their "young" suspended in the water

http://prolight.info/pdf_specs/Philips_UV_tech_brochure.pdf

So basically a if a fish were to get some sort of parasite, it wouldn't have the opportunity to reproduce or worsen in the fish due to the UV?

 

[Hermie]

honestly I think having a too powerful UV pump can reduce your copepod population because it will kill free swimming nauplii, that's what I think happened to me anyway, but I don't have research on that.

I could look some up... if someone is interested... but my theory is that UV blinds the copepods (their eyespots) so they effectively become blind in their environment.

 

[ReeferMaddness843]

Quick snippet of something I’ve read multiple times. It actually alters the DNA preventing reproduction rather than killing immediately. That’s always been my understanding anyway.

 

[Hermie]

So basically a if a fish were to get some sort of parasite, it wouldn't have the opportunity to reproduce or worsen in the fish due to the UV?

What UV does is it interrupts the lifecycle of the parasite, depending on the species... many parasites only exist on the fish for a specific period and then fall off the fish to "reproduce" itself. During that time (floating in the water) it becomes vulnerable to the UV, so once all the parasites on the fish "fall off" over time, the UV will be there killing them before they can multiply. But it doesn't have anything to do with "being sterile" per se, like not being able to sexually reproduce.

 

[Kasey Grohowski]

honestly I think having a too powerful UV pump can reduce your copepod population because it will kill free swimming nauplii, that's what I think happened to me anyway, but I don't have research on that.

I could look some up... if someone is interested... but my theory is that UV blinds the copepods (their eyespots) so they effectively become blind in their environment.

Well I don't have copepods so that wouldn't matter to me. For me personally there aren't any negatives besides slightly raising temperature in the water.

 

[Hermie]

 

[theMeat]

honestly I think having a too powerful UV pump can reduce your copepod population because it will kill free swimming nauplii, that's what I think happened to me anyway, but I don't have research on that.

I could look some up... if someone is interested... but my theory is that UV blinds the copepods (their eyespots) so they effectively become blind in their environment.

The smaller and/or less protected from uv exposure microorganisms are, the more their dna and cell structure is damaged. In simple terms they may be so damaged that they die. They are likely only damaged enough to be sterile. Copepods would be on the larger side of things and as a result would be less damaged. Interesting idea on the blinding. Altho would think many don’t need sight to survive

 

[ReeferMaddness843]

Great results in Dino removal for me as well. Infestation completely destroyed after 48 hours. I run an mj1200 on mine and shuttle the flow back to a very slow rate. No pod issues here, the uv is in the sump. Wrasse is always picking them off the rocks and population seems to maintain well.

 

[Hermie]

Great results in Dino removal for me as well. Infestation completely destroyed after 48 hours. I run an mj1200 on mine and shuttle the flow back to a very slow rate. No pod issues here, the uv is in the sump. Wrasse is always picking them off the rocks and population seems to maintain well.

I mean I am not trying to argue, but just because you have a "sufficient copepod population" doesn't mean UV is not actually killing off a measurable number of them. I am interested in this topic which is why I'm responding, not to argue, so I hope you don't take it this way.