UV Sterilizer Heating Tank?

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Bud8Fan

Bud8Fan

Fire Eel
MFK Member
Nov 15, 2006
1,351
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Nebraska
I FINALLY got my Ocean Clear and Pentair 40 watt UV closed loop up and running. It's being powered by a Reeflo Marlin pump.

After a couple of days I noticed my water temperature creeping up and it finally hit 81° F. I thought my Ranco controller might be going bad but it is supposed to fail in the "off" position.

I unplugged the Ranco and for the next couple of days the temperature stayed right around 81° with my house temperature never getting above 70°.

So I think to myself maybe it is the UV. I unplug it and sure enough the temperature slowly retreats.

I have 500 total gallons of water with 300 of it in a 3/4" thick acrylic tank and the other 200 in a "HIGHLY" insulated homemade sump.

Anybody else notice their UV's heating their tanks?
 
Finalfire9;2937746; said:
Ya uv is for really for saltwater tanks with chillers. Or for ponds that are green.
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Uh, ya. Nobody uses them on freshwater tanks to prevent a host of bacterial and viral problems. Not to mention the added benefit of killing suspended algae.

Yup, your right. Saltwater and ponds only.
 
Finalfire9;2937763; said:
You might want to try giving it its own person timer and only run it 1 hour a day. SO its effective yet not baking your tank
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I was thinking a timer also. If it can keep the tank at 79 I'd be happy. 81.4 seemed to be the max it heated it to so maybe I'll start with 12 hours on, 12 hours off.
 
i don't think it's because of UV, i'm on my 18watts coral life 24/7 for my 150gallons, the temperature is always at 31C, i wonder that your tank temp is at 81 F, 81F is still little low ???
 
40 watts (of ANYTHING) to heat 500 gallons won't work! Doubtful it is your 40 watt UV sterilizer!
 
Then you guys explain why the temperature slowly goes back down when I unplug the UV.

If I can heat the tank with a 250 watt heater that cycles on and off why is it so crazy that a 40 watt high intensity light could do the same job if left on 24/7?

Ever touch a light bulb? Ever touch an aquarium heater?

There is a Mag Drive 2400 in the sump that I'm sure contributes somewhat but the UV is obviously adding heat to this tank.

40 watts (of ANYTHING) to heat 500 gallons won't work! Doubtful it is your 40 watt UV sterilizer!
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Your science teacher would be proud. It all depends on heat loss. A 5 watt heater could heat 1000 gallons over time if the volume of water had no heat loss. This tank is 3/4" Acrylic which has awesome insulating powers and my sump is insulated better than an Igloo cooler. I have very little heat loss.

ya, i got a 18w on my 55 and don,t have heat problems.
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Glass tank? Hardly any insulating value at all.
 
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