UV sterilizer + Bio tower = ???

[rallysman]

I was recently given a 16 watt UV sterilizer by a good friend of mine (thanks billy), and I'm tossing around the idea of using it in combination with a bio tower.

I have a 5" x 48" acrylic tube that I planned on filling with bio-balls and running the return side of the UV sterilizer through that.

The setup would be as follows:

200gph pump (mounted near the top of the tank) flowing through the UV and into the top of the acrylic bioball filled tube and then back into the tank.

Thoughts? Comments? Suggestions?
Thanks in advance everyone.

 

[Dr Joe]

Something like this...http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=66676&highlight=bio+tower

Now close your mouth and get to work on it .

Dr Joe

.

 

[rallysman]

Pretty much, but is there any advantage/disadvantage to using the UV in conjunction with that? Will I need more flow or less flow?

The bio tower is simple, but I've never dealt with a UV sterilizer before.

 

[ewurm]

Do you need more bio? I thought you already had a lot.

 

[rallysman]

Do you need more bio? I thought you already had a lot.

I do have enough, but I figured it couldnt hurt to add to it since I'll be pumping water through the UV.

 

[frnchjeep]

ummm...this might be a dumb question, but if you put the outlet of the uv sterilizer into a bio filter, wouldnt everything already be dead by the time it hit the biofilter?

 

[ewurm]

I do have enough, but I figured it couldnt hurt to add to it since I'll be pumping water through the UV.

LOL, welcome to the club, you're a filtration addict.

 

[ewurm]

ummm...this might be a dumb question, but if you put the outlet of the uv sterilizer into a bio filter, wouldnt everything already be dead by the time it hit the biofilter?

Ammonia and nitrite don't die. But you would have to seed the biofilter.

 

[rallysman]

ummm...this might be a dumb question, but if you put the outlet of the uv sterilizer into a bio filter, wouldnt everything already be dead by the time it hit the biofilter?

Those are the types of questions I'd like to have answered.
I'm new to UV sterilizers, but I was under the impression that the ammonia would still be present.

 

[frnchjeep]

ah.... that makes sense