Which u.v ?

[Borg]

Hi,
Currently have a 180 marineland and I’m looking to buy a sterilizer. My dilemma is which one should I buy?

I’ve narrowed it down to two sterilizers:
1) aqua ultraviolet 40 watt
Or
2) emperor aquatics 40 watt

So, which one should I go with?

 

[smartwater101]

Aren't 40w rated for like 350 gallons? Seems like overkill.

That said. I've been using Aqua UV for a decade, on multiple tanks, and have always been pleased. One major exception, do not get one with a wiper. It's a waste and will eventually just stay stuck. I removed it from the one I had with it, and plugged the hole. Great idea in theory but definitely not worth the time.

 

[EmdeReef]

Hi,
Currently have a 180 marineland and I’m looking to buy a sterilizer. My dilemma is which one should I buy?

I’ve narrowed it down to two sterilizers:
1) aqua ultraviolet 40 watt
Or
2) emperor aquatics 40 watt

So, which one should I go with?

What do you want to accomplish?

If water clarity, 40w is enough. For killing dinos you may need to go to 50 or above.

Parasites and pests I wouldn’t bother with a Uv

 

[smartwater101]

What do you want to accomplish?

If water clarity, 40w is enough. For killing dinos you may need to go to 50 or above.

Parasites and pests I wouldn’t bother with a Uv

No. 40w is rated for over 300 gallons. The flow rate for algae is in the hundreds. The flow rate for parasites is MUCH much lower. 40w is more than enough for 180g.

 

[Borg]

I’m looking at prevention. This will be my first u.v. I have a buddy who has a 220 fowlr with a 25 watt aqua u.v. Seems to be keeping the water clearer. My 180 is fowlr. I’m setting up a 65 soon for my first coral tank

 

[smartwater101]

This is for Pentair aquatics. Rated for 260. (The Aqua UV is rated for 325, but this gives you a good idea of flow rates and such.)

 

[EmdeReef]

No. 40w is rated for over 300 gallons. The flow rate for algae is in the hundreds. The flow rate for parasites is MUCH much lower. 40w is more than enough for 180g.

Yes but also no.

 

[smartwater101]

Yes but also no.

lol quite the contribution

 

[EmdeReef]

lol quite the contribution

Well I’m not going to push you to read up on UVs beyond manufacturer guidelines which for your information are almost entirely based on freshwater. There’s a freebie for ya

 

[RMS18]

I am on my second Aqua UV. Had a smaller one on a old smaller tank. Running a 25w for a 120g. You can't go wrong with either one but IMO they are the same you are paying for the name Emperor. I know BRS is all about emperor, but Aqua UV has been in the commercial end for a long time as well. Plus I like the white body of the Aqua UV vs the black of the emperor. Also don't get the wiper, heard sometimes they have rusted. They are better for freshwater.

 

[smartwater101]

Well I’m not going to push you to read up on UVs beyond manufacturer guidelines which for your information are almost entirely based on freshwater. There’s a freebie for ya

That would be interesting if it were true. Most also list saltwater guidlines.

Parasites and pests I wouldn’t bother with a Uv

sigh... every UV thread. There's always that one guy...

 

[EmdeReef]

That would be interesting if it were even remotely true.

sigh... every UV thread. There's always that one guy...

You need to spend more quality time with google or even contact Pentair and ask - they’re very open about it. In any event we’ll agree to disagree, too busy to waste more time. What I replied stands and perhaps the OP will consider it or not.

 

[Borg]

I was about to pull the trigger on the emperor but I’m leaning more towards the aqua.

Rated for 300 gallon tanks would I be effecting my bio diversity? What if I run it at night?

 

[Chac317]

I’ve got a 36w turbotwist on the sale forum. I know it isn’t either of the brands you mentioned but just thought I’d throw that option at you as well. Good luck!

 

[smartwater101]

I was about to pull the trigger on the emperor but I’m leaning more towards the aqua.

Rated for 300 gallon tanks would I be effecting my bio diversity? What if I run it at night?

You'd run it 24/7. No reason not to. There's more than enough beneficial bacteria in the tank that a UV isn't going to do much to them.

Better safe than sorry. There really is no downside to UV aside from $$$

Here is an interesting convo BRS had recently about UV Sterilizers:

Talking UV Sterilizers and Reef Tanks - #AskBRStv Live

Get MORE life from your CO2 Scrubber media? Today Ryan and Randy will show you how to DIY your CO2 Scrubber into recirculation mode! Missed Ryan and Randy Live? #AskBRStv Live Streams are available in Podcast form! Check them out on iTunes and Google Play below! BRStv on Itunes -...

www.bulkreefsupply.com

 

[EmdeReef]

I was about to pull the trigger on the emperor but I’m leaning more towards the aqua.

Rated for 300 gallon tanks would I be effecting my bio diversity? What if I run it at night?

The short answer is no. It’s more complicated but it won’t bring biodiversity in your tank to any detrimental level.

It may kill occasional good stuff like residual phytoplankton (if dosed), pods and perhaps even some free floating nitrifying bacteria (spores ) but none of it will have a serious bad effect. In other words your properly cycled tank will almost never be sterile by using a UV.

Manufacturer ratings (which are usually “suggestions”) are pretty specific to test conditions a manufacturer performed. UVs are somewhat comparable to protein skimmers in that regard.

 

[vangvace]

This is for Pentair aquatics. Rated for 260. (The Aqua UV is rated for 325, but this gives you a good idea of flow rates and such.)

I believe the 943-1574 gph rating is for clearing up the water and blooms.

BRS "testing" in a vacuum appears that you aim for one end of the spectrum or the other for flow rates

 

[ReeferMaddness843]

Running the Jabeo 36w UV on my 80 shallow. Have an mj1200 with a valve shut to where the pump is almost rattling. Nice and slow. Pulls in from my return section and discharges back to the filter sock section. Cleared my major Dino outbreak in 48 hours after trying many other things. I went with the Jabeo because it was $75 and didn’t want to commit to a higher price tag without knowing. Now that I know it works and does a great job, just gonna stick with it. Clear water, no Dino, and happy tank.

 

[smartwater101]

BRS "testing" in a vacuum appears that you aim for one end of the spectrum or the other for flow rates

That was one part of the conversation I felt was odd. Running a lower flow, to target protozoa, might be slightly less effective against algae, but they made it seem like it was wholly ineffective.

 

[LAReefer4Life]

I have pentair high output 80 watt uv and 57 watt aqua uv on my reefer 625xl. I like the pentair better to be honest. I went offline with the pentair for one month to see how it would impact clarity and algae and noticed there was more build up quickly. I turned it back on and with in a week a noticed a huge difference. I then tested turning off my aqua uv for 30 days and the pentair did its job and the clarity and algae maintained nicely. I am running the flow rates 150-300 gallons per hour to be effective against protozoa.