UV Sterilizer too big

[Keith Russell]

Is a 35w uv Sterilizer rated for a 200 gallon tank to much for my 75 gallon reef?

 

[Bossman]

I don't think you can go too big within reason.

I use a 25W Pentair for my 88 gallon. I actually used the same UV unit on my 33 gallon RS 170 when I was having problems with dino's. Cleared it up pretty quickly.

 

[14 foot reef]

This is very conservative from Aqua UV...... Emperor aquatics(Penair) says 3 to 4 times this
http://www.aquaultraviolet.com/drupal/sites/default/files/brochures/UV Charts Salt and Fresh Water.pdf
https://pentairaes.com/media/docs/SMARTUV-manual.pdf
Plus its really al about dwell time. GPH passing through bulb area.

 

[roberthu526]

35W for 200G is probably for algae control only. For protozoa it’s way under sized.

It should be enough for 75G though.

 

[stacksoner]

What kind of UV sterilizer? The ineffective ones don't provide any performance specs and just list the wattage. (Turbo twist, green machine)

The one you want to buy will advertise max flow rates for efficacy against algae, protozoa, etc. (Pentair).

This is one item that you wont be happy with unless you buy the one made for the job. I've had several turbo twists and they all ended up in the trash can.

 

[Jon Fishman]

I'm looking at the 80W Pentair for my 106g so I wouldn't say you're going "too big"

 

[Hermie]

different brand bulbs also output different "percent" of their power as effective UV, so even if you buy a cheap brand high wattage unit, the bulb itself may not be outputting much UV power

 

[Keith Russell]

What kind of UV sterilizer? The ineffective ones don't provide any performance specs and just list the wattage. (Turbo twist, green machine)

The one you want to buy will advertise max flow rates for efficacy against algae, protozoa, etc. (Pentair).

This is one item that you wont be happy with unless you buy the one made for the job. I've had several turbo twists and they all ended up in the trash can.

I have ordered a Sunsun 36watt 600 gph unit. It is rated for a 200 gallon tank. What do you think

 

[Hitman]

I have ordered a Sunsun 36watt 600 gph unit. It is rated for a 200 gallon tank. What do you think

Way to small even for algae/ bacteria. To be useful you could only run 50 gph through it and they have a life of maybe 6 months. A UV light is not a area to go cheap period. I run a 120 watt pentair on my tank, yes it’s expensive but when you are intentionally putting a electrical current/light bulb submerged in water do you want to chance killing your livestock, possibly yourself, or catching your home on fire when it shorts out?
For a 200 gallon tank nothing under 50 watts for a UV will be of any benefit sorry just being honest. BRS even recommended on their videos to go 2 to 3 times bigger on a UV.
With my 120 watt I’m only pushing 550 gph as the recommended flow is 10 gph per hour for 180,000 uWs

 

[Hitman]

Here you go factory direct with the best prices.

 

[Hermie]

Way to small even for algae/ bacteria. To be useful you could only run 50 gph through it and they have a life of maybe 6 months. A UV light is not a area to go cheap period. I run a 120 watt pentair on my tank, yes it’s expensive but when you are intentionally putting a electrical current/light bulb submerged in water do you want to chance killing your livestock, possibly yourself, or catching your home on fire when it shorts out?
For a 200 gallon tank nothing under 50 watts for a UV will be of any benefit sorry just being honest. BRS even recommended on their videos to go 2 to 3 times bigger on a UV.
With my 120 watt I’m only pushing 550 gph as the recommended flow is 10 gph per hour for 180,000 uWs

true, but, arguably, the housing isn't going to break, and only the pump(if there is one), bulb and ballast are going to be "low quality" with any off brand unit. So if he can replace the bulb in the sunsun with a good brand name bulb, and run the unit at low flow, it would be sufficient

 

[Hitman]

36 watts for a 200 gallon tank can not turn over the filtered water effectively enough to be of any use plain and simple. The housing on those are thin the cheap glass tubes the bulbs are in break the reviews on them are garbage, the bulbs have different ends manufacture to manufacture so you can’t just get a different bulb. The pentair bulb vs lifeguard aquatics in the same wattage are 3” different in length so it’s not that easy. Remember amazon only posts x vs good reviews so amazon is not a place to read reviews. ,my company sells on amazon and for x price you can prevent negative reviews from posting. I’m just trying to help a fellow reefer out from wasting money on something.

 

[stacksoner]

true, but, arguably, the housing isn't going to break, and only the pump(if there is one), bulb and ballast are going to be "low quality" with any off brand unit. So if he can replace the bulb in the sunsun with a good brand name bulb, and run the unit at low flow, it would be sufficient

It's not just buying a UV bulb, you're buying a housing fixture that's supposed to be designed to allow for water to pass by the bulb----and perform a specific function.

If this company makes no claim to establish a performance expectation or any kind of science-based claim that their product works....why should you believe it to be true?

 

[Hermie]

It's not just buying a UV bulb, you're buying a housing fixture that's supposed to be designed to allow for water to pass by the bulb----and perform a specific function.

If this company makes no claim to establish a performance expectation or any kind of science-based claim that their product works....why should you believe it to be true?

I can't answer that question, but to address your first point, generally, I agree.

However, specific aspects of a design affect performance to varying magnitudes. In my research, bulb/ballast UV power is the most "questionable" and will have the highest impact on overall performance.

When it comes down to it, it's a science. Without studying a design, I can't give you an exact answer. I'm only giving consumer advice. As much as that one website delves deep into the science, not all customers are going to buy their product.