UV Sterilizer Strength Question

[Bender]

Good afternoon all!

I was wondering for those who run their UV Sterilizers 24/7, what µw/cm2 do you aim for?

Protozon killing levels of 180,000+?
Algae/Bacteria levels of 30,000+?

 

[Flippers4pups]

Good afternoon all!

I was wondering for those who run their UV Sterilizers 24/7, what µw/cm2 do you aim for?

Protozon killing levels of 180,000+?
Algae/Bacteria levels of 30,000+?

I can't help you there. I just run mine for water clarity.

Let's see what others say.

 

[Bender]

I can't help you there. I just run mine for water clarity.

Let's see what others say.

What model, watts and GPH do you run yours ?

 

[Flippers4pups]

What model, watts and GPH do you run yours ?

Aqua UV advantage, 9watt. Around 250 GPH. Like I said, just for water clarity.

 

[wadesims2000]

Problem with this question is that you have to consider the size of the tank the size of the sterilizer in the speed at which it flows through the pump and all combinations for example my overall system is nearly 700 gallons that I am working on and I’m putting in a 200 W sterilizer which is oversized but will allow a higher throughput to hopefully maintain parasitic levels of sterilization

 

[WVNed]

I am running 80 w on 400 gallons at 1000 gph with an Aqua UV classic which is supposed to be 90,000

 

[piranhaman00]

Turn over rate is also very important to this equation.
I run two 40watts at 180,000+ turning the tank over about 5 times an hour, this is enough turnover for water clarity (I have found) and enough power for Protozoa.

 

[ichthyoid]

I go by the recommendations from Aqua UV (what I use) & pay attention to the notes below the saltwater table. Specifically for reefs & FO tanks: FO @ 90,000 uW/cm^2 & Reefs @ 45,000 uW/cm^2 max, at recommended flow rates. (See link below)

Fwiw,
I do not run a UV 24x 7 on reef tanks. I prefer to have them on timer or controller & run during daytime only. At night is when most pods/plankton come out & don’t want to fry them.

https://aquaultraviolet.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/UV-Charts-Salt-and-Fresh-Water-Web.pdf

 

[Bender]

I started running an aqua uv 57 watt on my 625xl (160ish gallons). I'm running at apx 530 gph. This gives me 180,000 uW/cm^2 @ a 3.5x turnover rate. I run 24/7 - combating dinos atm.

 

[piranhaman00]

I started running an aqua uv 57 watt on my 625xl (160ish gallons). I'm running at apx 530 gph. This gives me 180,000 uW/cm^2 @ a 3.5x turnover rate. I run 24/7 - combating dinos atm.

Crank that turnover up, don’t need as much energy for dinos and blow off rocks, works very well!

 

[wadesims2000]

Crank that turnover up, don’t need as much energy for dinos and blow off rocks, works very well!

Agree with this Dino’s should die fast and they reproduce so fast you ha e to turn up the flow to get them

 

[Steve Justis]

I am running 114 watt aqua ultraviolet at 1300 gph on a Red Sea peninsula 105 gallon.