Is it possible to UV Sterilize a tank to much?
- Thread starter Red_Man
- Start date
The only time you would have a problem with using a UV sterilizer to much is if you have a reef tank with inverts that require platonic organisms to survive. In this scenario you would be killing off the food for those inverts.
In any other type of setup, you shouldn't have any problems since your beneficial bacteria isn't free floating so the only thing that's going to be exposed to the UV sterilizer would be free floating algae and pathogens.
In any other type of setup, you shouldn't have any problems since your beneficial bacteria isn't free floating so the only thing that's going to be exposed to the UV sterilizer would be free floating algae and pathogens.
I agree with the above statement.
I been using one on my planted Ram tank with no I'll effects and less nusance alge as a result.
I been using one on my planted Ram tank with no I'll effects and less nusance alge as a result.
The only negitive thing i can think of is wasting money, over sizing a UV is a good idea but going too far is wasteful as with anything.
epond83;4878939; said:
I totally agree. I only ask because I have a 580g I am puting together and cant find a sterilizer the right size. I find 500 and then 1000 gallon rated ones. If I get the bigger one I plan to put it on a timer and run it 4 on and 2 hours off. Just wanted to make sure I wasnt going to damage the eco system in any way. I plan on having like $1000 worth of pets in there. Don't need to be killing them!!!
I would do some searching around here on UV manufacture rating are always off. I think for the most part 1 watt per 10 gallons is a good rating. I forget the flow rating to go with that, maybe 10gph per watt?
The main thing you want is the proper flow per watt to make it effective, then a matter of getting the right size watt to get enough turn over in a tank.
Also info you will find on this site is light cycles, a shorter light cycle can lenghten the bulb life but only if the bulb turns on once a day. So 24 on is standard, 12 on 12 off would give longer life, but not twice because start does the most damgae.
If you do 4 on 2 off it will be turning on and off all day and would need to be replaced sooner then 24 on.
The main thing you want is the proper flow per watt to make it effective, then a matter of getting the right size watt to get enough turn over in a tank.
Also info you will find on this site is light cycles, a shorter light cycle can lenghten the bulb life but only if the bulb turns on once a day. So 24 on is standard, 12 on 12 off would give longer life, but not twice because start does the most damgae.
If you do 4 on 2 off it will be turning on and off all day and would need to be replaced sooner then 24 on.
Here's a great article on UV sterilizers:
http://www.americanaquariumproducts.com/AquariumUVSterilization.html
Flow Rate & Turnover Rate Table is quite helpful.
http://www.americanaquariumproducts.com/AquariumUVSterilization.html
Flow Rate & Turnover Rate Table is quite helpful.
uv is great and it think its similar to bio, you cant ever over do it, but it will become useless after a certain point
