UV sterilizer sizing?

[jsodwi]

I need to get a new uv for my 750g. With a moderately heavy stock. What size should I look for and pump to run it? Will an 80 watt do it? There is a huge price jump from 80w to 120w so if I can do it with the 80 I'd rather but if not I'll have to suck it up Thanks

 

[ozzyboo]

Have a read through this

http://www.americanaquariumproducts.com/AquariumUVSterilization.html

I found it a very helpful read,It certainly makes some of the manufactures figures seem very optimistic on flow rates.
It seems that for general bacterial control and most virus's 20-25 GPH/per watt is a good figure but some single cell parasites the rate need to be reduced down to around 10 GPH/per watt to be effective.
But well worth a read.

 

[jsodwi]

Thats a great site. i'm still a bit confused though. I should flow 1125gph for my tank but I'm not sure how to figure out the wattage I need

 

[nomad]

based on what I previously read here, in order for the UV to be efficient, the wattage shouldn't be lower than a tenth of the gph number ...but don't take my word for it, I'm about to start a UV question thread of my own.

 

[pacu mom]

Thats a great site. i'm still a bit confused though. I should flow 1125gph for my tank but I'm not sure how to figure out the wattage I need

1125 gph divided by 20 gph/w = 56 Watts for Level One Sterilization (bacteria/some viruses)

So the 80W UV Sterilizer should work for you.

 

[haynchinook334]

1125 gph divided by 20 gph/w = 56 Watts for Level One Sterilization (bacteria/some viruses)

So the 80W UV Sterilizer should work for you.

So, is there a certain wattage that will cover all stages Clarifies, Stage one and two? Or is it "you can only have one or the other" kind of a deal?

 

[jsodwi]

1125 gph divided by 20 gph/w = 56 Watts for Level One Sterilization (bacteria/some viruses)

So the 80W UV Sterilizer should work for you.

Oh that was easy. Thanks for figuring that out for me I must have been thinking too hard haha.

 

[ozzyboo]

So, is there a certain wattage that will cover all stages Clarifies, Stage one and two? Or is it "you can only have one or the other" kind of a deal?

The lower the flow rate the longer the contact time in the UV,so to cover all stages it would seem that 10 GPH per watt would be the way to go as at the rate of flow you are covering all of the others ie 40 GPH per watt and 20-25 watts per gallon.
That being the case there are a lot of companies making /selling uv's whose figures for flow rates are well off,also the design of the UV seems to be quite important if you read though that info as the CF versions of the UV do not seem to be as effective as the standard length units due to reduced contact time for the same wattage.
What's writen may well not be gosple but it is a good starting point.