uv flow questions with pix

[midnight]

so i got this uv online from petsmart
cheapest i found that came with a pump and is "one unit"
i got the smaller 9 watt one cus im cheap lol
i hook it all up,and it seems to not flow much at all
box and instructions dont say how much it should flow
but from the one flow pic,do you think its ok?
its on a big tank,i figured it would just take longer to clear
but after seeing the low flow,im wondering if this uv will be able to keep up with my lights

thoughts/opinions??

 

[midnight]

just found more info online
http://aa-aquarium.com/showroom4.php?id=156&level=1
says its 44gph and that seems right for the low flow

so do ya think it will be able to keep up with my lights?
i have 2 - 4' duel bulb strips,one purple bulb,one clear bulb each
i can only turn on one strip and only for a 3rd of the day

 

[Mattyou]

When you say "keep up with your lights" do you mean you are having algea problems? How large a tank is that on? In my experience, that is about the right size for about 55-75 gal of tank. Maybe they make them better than they used to, but the flow rate is LOW if that is a big tank, your not going to get what you wanted out of it Im affraid. I hope Im wrong though.

 

[midnight]

its on a 240g lol
i just figured it will take longer to clear it up
and ya i have that floating algae problem from the lights

 

[Mr Pleco]

its on a 240g lol
i just figured it will take longer to clear it up
and ya i have that floating algae problem from the lights

I found the 12watt verison of yours at petsmart also. Picked it up dirt cheap to. Yeah the gph from the pump that comes with it is low for big tanks. I am running my in my sump for my 180, but it works better with a slow flow imo; as to fast of a flow would decrease the effectiveness of the uv. A little tip that I found out about the uv is that little blue sponge for the intake on the uv part, it clogs fast so keep an eye on that.

 

[ar0wan]

Yeah me and a buddy picked these up.
File that under "A penny saved is a penny that still has to be spent when you buy the quality equipment anyway"
I pulled the sponge out completely, when it dies it's trash.

 

[Mattyou]

Run a Diatom Filter once a week for 2 hours or so, Diatom removes algae in no time flat.

 

[midnight]

I found the 12watt verison of yours at petsmart also. Picked it up dirt cheap to. Yeah the gph from the pump that comes with it is low for big tanks. I am running my in my sump for my 180, but it works better with a slow flow imo; as to fast of a flow would decrease the effectiveness of the uv. A little tip that I found out about the uv is that little blue sponge for the intake on the uv part, it clogs fast so keep an eye on that.

so yours is working good on a 180?
good news
and i think i will ditch the sponge,its in my sump and after mechanical filter
think its a bad idea to remove it?

Yeah me and a buddy picked these up.
File that under "A penny saved is a penny that still has to be spent when you buy the quality equipment anyway"
I pulled the sponge out completely, when it dies it's trash.

yours die?maybe cus you removed the sponge?lol
i bought a replacement bulb for when it goes
but funny thing is its on back order and im not sure if i will get it
if i cant get it now how will i get it in 6-12 months

Run a Diatom Filter once a week for 2 hours or so, Diatom removes algae in no time flat.

no clue what that is

 

[CHOMPERS]

Don't judge the UV by its water flow. To kill anything it requires contact time. If you increase the water flow you will also decrease the effectiveness of the UV.

And since it is probably way undersized, you should consider giving it a helping hand in getting the tank cleared up. Once it is cleared up, it will likely keep it clear.

If the tank isn't heavily planted, just kill the lights for a while. You will also need to up the water changes because the dying algae will suck the O2 out of the water as well as increase the ammonia from the decomposition.

 

[midnight]

ok cool
so it takes o2 and makes amm
will my filters catch it or does it sink and i will have to vac?or is it nothing?lol
i planned on "helping" it with wc's
and ive been helping with way less light for a long time lol
these lights are insane
previous owner had that diy 3 footer on this tank with a 500gph pump lol
but i dont trust it inside lol
im going to rebuild it for my big pond one day tho