UV sterilization....?

[usefulidiot213]

Does anybody use a UV sterilizor....? I was thinking of adding one to the return line of my canister filter, but I was hopping to get some feedback first before I spend the money.

I was wondering if it is worth it...

 

[joncat24]

I personally feel that they are worthwhile. There is alot of debate on their effectiveness, but my own personal history is that I used two small odyessea units on my 180 and I never had ick, so I like em.
Like I said, I don't know if they work or not, but the tank was always clear and disease free so I would use em again.

 

[scsinet]

They are reasonably effective as long as you run water through them slowly enough and that you don't have any false expectations. Manufacturers and vendor like to make you think that your water will turn into wine by using them.
The bad rep they get is mostly from people that hook them up the way you are talking about, right on a main return line. The water flow is too high, so they are not effective, so people claim it's the UV unit's fault.
Use no more than about 5gph/watt sterilizer power. If you have a 20w unit, don't run more than 100gph through it. If you run it on a canisters' output, most of the really bad stuff, such as viruses and parasites, won't be harmed by the light. The only way UV units are effective is if they acheive a "total kill," in other words, whatever goes in comes out dead, and for that slow flow is critical.

 

[usefulidiot213]

oK.. So I am looking at the 18w Turbo twist... I should get a seprate small pump for it. Something about 90GPH..? Will that work well with a 100gal tank..?

 

[anonome]

What size tank do you have?
I have a 125 with a 9w turbo twist and 200gph pump. I have been extremly pleased with the results.
The key is to have the water go through them slowly to be beneficial for parasites, which is why most people run them. If the canister has a high output, no matter how big the uv light is it won't kill parasites, or virus' .

 

[usefulidiot213]

Originally Posted by Anonome
What size tank do you have?
I have a 125 with a 9w turbo twist and 200gph pump. I have been extremly pleased with the results.
The key is to have the water go through them slowly to be beneficial for parasites, which is why most people run them. If the canister has a high output, no matter how big the uv light is it won't kill parasites, or virus' .
Ok sweet

I will go with something like that then.. The main reason I was looking at getting one was for parasites and Viruses.. So I just need to find a pump to hook it up to..