Using pond UV filter for aquarium pest control?

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
kendragon said:
Then you need to design for UV dose of 50mJ/cm^2. Most smaller UVs are advertise for clear water, it takes a very low dose for that so beware. Takes a lot more for protozoan and bacterial.
Click to expand...

I'm thinking I might just forgo the UV filter all together since I can keep water clearer and cleaner with more water changes and those will also cost less on the monthly basis than UV. healthy fish is the first defense against disease I will take this knowledge though and setup a comprehensive quarantine setup with UV filtration. What flow rate would this filter support: http://www.fosterandsmithaquatics.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=5163+5165+7430&pcatid=7430

the 120 watt version? What is the maximum to kill parasites and bacteria?
 
Ok now I'm thinking of running a UV filter on a sperate pump inside my future sump system. I would place a pump in the sage 1 chamber to grab water and pump in through the UV filter and into A biotower that will empty into the fill resevoir and from there to the primary pump and back into the tanks. This would sterilize about 1/4-1/3 of the water that goes through the pump.

I would combo this pump(Model 5500):

http://www.fosterandsmithaquatics.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+4587+18989&pcatid=18989

And this UV filter(the 120W version):

http://www.fosterandsmithaquatics.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=5163+5165+7430&pcatid=7430

What do you think, a good match or is that pump still to fast for proper sterilization? It would be running alongside a sump system with a little giant 4260 running as the main sump pump:

http://www.fosterandsmithaquatics.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=5163+5164+18632&pcatid=18632
 
If you are going to use the UV for sterilization, then you should aim for about 100mW/cm^2. The larger the organism, the larger UV dose needed to kill it. Protozoans are the largest out of the microscopic pathogens that you are trying to control with the UV light, and the lowest UV dose I've seen reported to control Ichthyophthirius ("Ich") is about 100mW/cm^2. This would then also easily control bacteria, viruses, fungi, and algae.
 
Another note is that the UV takes in 1.5 inch hose, the pump is .75 inch hose. I know the measurement is GPH and that is volume over time but for some reason in my head I keep thinking that will halve the flow rate and somehow lower the GPH(though I know it won't, will it) hmmmm.... I'm thinking the step will move twice as much water half as fast so it should result in the same GPH right?

At any rate, @calioutlaw1a I'm not really comprehending how to calculate the actual dosage of the light since they don't list the dims of the chamber.
 
I'm looking at a turbo twist to make a sterilizer for my quarantine tank :

http://www.fosterandsmithaquatics.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=5163+5165+10824&pcatid=10824

What is the max flow rate you think I could get on the 36W for Sterilization?

I'd like to consolidate the tanks to one filter so I'd hate to run a separate line or loop for UV filtration. I will be putting this on a 75 gallon tank that will be heavily stocked as I typically purchase fish in bulk. Would I be better off going with a 55 W:

http://www.fosterandsmithaquatics.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+4393+22691&pcatid=22691

The cost difference is insane to me.

These are pretty reasonable, especially for the 55W but I'm not very familiar with the brand:

http://www.fosterandsmithaquatics.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=5163+5165+22603&pcatid=22603

Any specific recommendations. Originally I was looking at these to drop into a tank:

http://www.fosterandsmithaquatics.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+4393+19643&pcatid=19643

But user reviews have turned me off to them.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
MonsterFishKeepers.com
Top Bottom