UV Sterilizer Sizing for Water Clarification

[naterealbig]

Hi R2R Team, looking for some advice. I am going to run a UV sterilizer for water clarification. The display will be about 120g with 80g sump.

Can I get away with a 15 watt Aqua UV unit for this, or do I need to go larger?. Again, this will not be for parasite management, only water clarification.

Thank you in advance for feedback and guidance!

Nathan

 

[Retro Reefer]

Your probably going to need between 30 and 40 watts on a 200 gallon system.. I run a 5w on a 14 gallon and it works very well, have a 9w on 60 gallons and it’s barely enough.

 

[redpine42]

I'm using a 13 watt on 140 gallon and it cleared out my DT hair algae and cyano.

 

[coral-boss]

I run an 18w on my 120g with a 20g frag tank tied in. does a really good job on water clarity.

 

[naterealbig]

Thank you to everyone who had responded so far, this is very helpful!

Your probably going to need between 30 and 40 watts on a 200 gallon system.. I run a 5w on a 14 gallon and it works very well, have a 9w on 60 gallons and it’s barely enough.

What is the indication you use for the 9w sterilizer on the 60g that makes you say it is barely enough?

 

[Retro Reefer]

Thank you to everyone who had responded so far, this is very helpful!




What is the indication you use for the 9w sterilizer on the 60g that makes you say it is barely enough?

Just the length of time to clear and maintain clarity.. I just use them temporarily for bacterial blooms and in my QT tank when needed but it takes the 9w about a week to clear 60 gallons but the 5w will clear 14 gallons in 24 hours... I would recommend deciding on a manufacturer and see what their recommendations are for your volume of water.

 

[MSB123]

I Use 240 watts on a 200 gallon system- It cleared the entire system of an adage bloom I was having in 5 hours. I have never had an ice, algae, velvet, etc.. problem since.

 

[CMO]

I started with a 25 watt aqua ultraviolet unit on my 200g total system but recently added another 25 watt unit for 50 watts total. While I added the extra 25 watts to fight dinos, the unexpected result was far greater water clarity. From what I read the 25 watts should have provided max clarity but I saw a huge improvement when going to 50 watts. The water was pretty darn clear before but now it's to a level of clarity I didn't know was possible.

I'm running about 300 gph through the 2 units connected together. I didn't have room for the long 57 watt unit so stacking 2 25's was a good alternative

 

[wesman42]

I believe the standard rule of thumb for all applications of a UV sterilizer are 0.5w/ gallon

 

[MSB123]

I started with a 25 watt aqua ultraviolet unit on my 200g total system but recently added another 25 watt unit for 50 watts total. While I added the extra 25 watts to fight dinos, the unexpected result was far greater water clarity. From what I read the 25 watts should have provided max clarity but I saw a huge improvement when going to 50 watts. The water was pretty darn clear before but now it's to a level of clarity I didn't know was possible.

I'm running about 300 gph through the 2 units connected together. I didn't have room for the long 57 watt unit so stacking 2 25's was a good alternative

Same here- now my water is the clearest tank I have ever seen!

 

[Skep18]

I would say you don't need much of you just want water clarification. I have the Pentair 40W for my 225gal. I could probably run it a couple hours a day at 300gph and get clarity results.

 

[Denisk]

I run a aqua UV 57 watt on my Reefer 350. Oversized but it’s weirdly smaller in foot print than the 40 watt aqua uv.

 

[naterealbig]

Just the length of time to clear and maintain clarity.. I just use them temporarily for bacterial blooms and in my QT tank when needed but it takes the 9w about a week to clear 60 gallons but the 5w will clear 14 gallons in 24 hours... I would recommend deciding on a manufacturer and see what their recommendations are for your volume of water.

This makes sense. I have reviewed AquaUV and Pentair brands for sizing recommendations. The recommendations are for sterilization (90,000 uC) for saltwater. Pentair also gives ratings for the use of their sterilizers as "clarifiers " for fresh water. The 15w unit is rated to 500 gallons in this instance. I cannot find rated saltwater use as a clarifier however, which is all I want it for.

Bottom line, I want to maintain crystal clear water, between the use of GAC and UV. I have no interest in controlling parasites or algae (other than those that cause green water).

For a low watt unit, I would be fine with running it 24-7.

 

[naterealbig]

I Use 240 watts on a 200 gallon system- It cleared the entire system of an adage bloom I was having in 5 hours. I have never had an ice, algae, velvet, etc.. problem since.

Holy smokes that's some serious wattage! The unit must be massive? Just the 40 Watt is almost 4 feet long!

I'm looking at long-term use, and do not need for parasite or algae control

 

[MSB123]

Holy smokes that's some serious wattage! The unit must be massive? Just the 40 Watt is almost 4 feet long!

I'm looking at long-term use, and do not need for parasite or algae control

It is about 6 feet tall, It stands up on a base. 16” diameter

 

[naterealbig]

I started with a 25 watt aqua ultraviolet unit on my 200g total system but recently added another 25 watt unit for 50 watts total. While I added the extra 25 watts to fight dinos, the unexpected result was far greater water clarity. From what I read the 25 watts should have provided max clarity but I saw a huge improvement when going to 50 watts. The water was pretty darn clear before but now it's to a level of clarity I didn't know was possible.

I'm running about 300 gph through the 2 units connected together. I didn't have room for the long 57 watt unit so stacking 2 25's was a good alternative

"level of clarity I didn't know was possible" is exactly what I am looking for. AquaUV sells a 57 watt model that is only 20" long..... $450 vs the $750 50W Pentair model.

 

[naterealbig]

I would say you don't need much of you just want water clarification. I have the Pentair 40W for my 225gal. I could probably run it a couple hours a day at 300gph and get clarity results.

Thank you for the input!

 

[naterealbig]

I run a aqua UV 57 watt on my Reefer 350. Oversized but it’s weirdly smaller in foot print than the 40 watt aqua uv.

Thank you @Denisk - just was looking at the 57W model AquaUV on Aquacave.

 

[naterealbig]

It is about 6 feet tall, It stands up on a base. 16” diameter

;Wideyed

 

[naterealbig]

I started with a 25 watt aqua ultraviolet unit on my 200g total system but recently added another 25 watt unit for 50 watts total. While I added the extra 25 watts to fight dinos, the unexpected result was far greater water clarity. From what I read the 25 watts should have provided max clarity but I saw a huge improvement when going to 50 watts. The water was pretty darn clear before but now it's to a level of clarity I didn't know was possible.

I'm running about 300 gph through the 2 units connected together. I didn't have room for the long 57 watt unit so stacking 2 25's was a good alternative

Question - Did you run the first 25W unit 24-7?