stompa Posted October 4, 2006 Report Share Posted October 4, 2006 starting my first salt water set up and wanted opinions on using a uv zapper......... is it worth investing in one or not???? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KP Posted October 4, 2006 Report Share Posted October 4, 2006 Get a better skimmer instead Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lduncan Posted October 4, 2006 Report Share Posted October 4, 2006 I would say absolutely worth investing in... But not at the expense of other equipment. But not specifically for parasite control. They make a significant difference in nutrient export. They can make a significant difference to the output of a skimmer. Layton Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stompa Posted October 4, 2006 Author Report Share Posted October 4, 2006 But not at the expense of other equipment i relise that.... ive spent the last 6 months reading and more reading and buying equipment for my setup as i didnt want to rush in and stuff it up by not having everything before i started and one of the last things ive been thinking about is a uv zapper .... and if they do a job then its worth investing in...... so everyones opinions would be good so i can decide if i want to invest in one or not........ who has one on there marine tank???? do you find its worth having or not???? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jetskisteve Posted October 4, 2006 Report Share Posted October 4, 2006 me not Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
petplanet Posted October 4, 2006 Report Share Posted October 4, 2006 Adding one shortly. Just need to plumb it up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lduncan Posted October 4, 2006 Report Share Posted October 4, 2006 i relise that.... who has one on there marine tank???? do you find its worth having or not???? I run a 40Watt HO, and I wouldn't be without one. Absolutely worth having. No need to run carbon (which eliminates another source of phosphate). Increases bacterial activity (specifically denitrifying bacteria), by splitting large organic molecules into smaller ones which bacteria can process more easily --> Increased skimmer output and lower nutrients. Plus the side effects of parasite control. Just get a high quality, high output one. I would recommend the Deltec one, it's competitively priced, but are much higher quality than the cheap asian imports. Emporer and Aqua UV are also good brands to look for. Layton Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
petplanet Posted October 4, 2006 Report Share Posted October 4, 2006 Just get a high quality, high output one. I would recommend the Deltec one, it's competitively priced, but are much higher quality than the cheap asian imports. I don't think the Asian ones are that bad. You can pickup a new 36w for as little as $240.00. They run Philips bulbs. The only major difference you might get is the water contact time with the UV. That can easily be varied by pumping a lower volume of water through the unit. THe 36w can take 24000 litres an hour and I can't see anyone putting that volume threw one into their tank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stompa Posted October 4, 2006 Author Report Share Posted October 4, 2006 2 use them & 2 dont..... i thought there was more than 4 people on this site with marine tanks :roll: :roll: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDM Posted October 4, 2006 Report Share Posted October 4, 2006 i don't use one, didn't know about the increase of skimmer out put though. Layton, do you have a link to a article on the increased export created by using UV? do you think it will help in getting my nitrates down? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suphew Posted October 4, 2006 Report Share Posted October 4, 2006 Me not Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drifty Posted October 4, 2006 Report Share Posted October 4, 2006 what are the bulb replacement costs on those ones petplanet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
land_lubber Posted October 4, 2006 Report Share Posted October 4, 2006 me not Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reef Posted October 4, 2006 Report Share Posted October 4, 2006 THe 36w can take 24000 litres an hour and No doubt they can, however might as well not use one if you can get so much water thru it, even at 3000L it would not be a very good unit. Quality units are not cheap as they are made correctly so that they work to kill parasites. Pump so much water thru it will means that the uv won’t kill anything. Here is some info http://www.tmc-ltd.co.uk/commercial/uv-filtration.asp Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chimera Posted October 4, 2006 Report Share Posted October 4, 2006 2 use them & 2 dont..... i thought there was more than 4 people on this site with marine tanks i dont. but dont know enough about them to make an informed decision whether they're worth while or not. just because a greater percentage dont, doesnt mean they're not worth using! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fay Posted October 4, 2006 Report Share Posted October 4, 2006 Same as chimera Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lduncan Posted October 4, 2006 Report Share Posted October 4, 2006 i don't use one, didn't know about the increase of skimmer out put though. Layton, do you have a link to a article on the increased export created by using UV? do you think it will help in getting my nitrates down? If you look hard enough on the internet, there is an interesting study in the Baltic where the found that while UV reduced water bourne bacterial counts. The total population of bacteria in a system was increased, when using UV. The also specifically mentioned an increase in denitrifying Pseudomonas species bacteria. Before I had UV, my nitrates had been hovering around 5 for a year or so. A little over a week or running the UV, the skimmer output increased dramatically, the rock started "bubbling", more detritus was produced, and nitrate was undetectable. I assume this was from boosting the bacterial activity within the rock -> more detritus -> higher skimmer output. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TM Posted October 4, 2006 Report Share Posted October 4, 2006 I have a vectron 25w that i am about to put on, will let you no how it goes. The main difference i have found witht the good onves vrs the bad is the distance between the uv bulb and the quatz sleve. The pond ones are designed to just reduce algae in ponds, where the good ones kill bacteria. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TM Posted October 4, 2006 Report Share Posted October 4, 2006 I spose another question is what wattage is required for our sized tanks?? Is a smaller unit better than nothing? that is say a 25w compared to a 40 or 50w?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lduncan Posted October 4, 2006 Report Share Posted October 4, 2006 I would say yes, smaller is better than nothing. But the key is the flow through it, it needs to match the wattage to get the required exposure to do anything useful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
petplanet Posted October 4, 2006 Report Share Posted October 4, 2006 what are the bulb replacement costs on those ones petplanet About $110. The bulb needs replacing about every 6-7000 hours so if it is running 24/7 that would be around every nine months. No doubt they can, however might as well not use one if you can get so much water thru it, even at 3000L it would not be a very good unit. Quality units are not cheap as they are made correctly so that they work to kill parasites. Pump so much water thru it will means that the uv won’t kill anything. I had a look at the Deltec site and the design looks the same to me. Water goes in, passes a UVC bulb in a quartz sleeve and exits the unit. The Pondmaster flow rate is for pond use were algae control is the goal. Reduce the flow and you would have the same effect. http://www.deltecaquariumsolutions.com/UvInstructions.php What brand of bulb does Deltec use? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jetskisteve Posted October 4, 2006 Report Share Posted October 4, 2006 try Aquamedic they are very well priced & the bulbs are phillips & cheap most internet shops sell them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stompa Posted October 4, 2006 Author Report Share Posted October 4, 2006 yes the aquamedic was the one i was looking at...... but now im not sure ..... may wait and make it a add on later..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lduncan Posted October 4, 2006 Report Share Posted October 4, 2006 If you're buying a new one, I'd stick to the brands mentioned: Emperor Aquatics, Aqua UV, or Deltec They use GPH t5 / t6 style, pure quartz lamps, which are more efficient than the PL-L style in the Aquamedic ones. Layton Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reef Posted October 4, 2006 Report Share Posted October 4, 2006 had a look at the Deltec site and the design looks the same to me. All uv units look the same. the deltec does not take 24000L like the cheap asian unit, it only takes 2000L as that would actually will kill paristes and some bacteria. deltec uses 30w t5 tube. same as life guard units. also the unit runs on a electronic ballast. if you are going to a use a uv it is better to have it going on the main pump so you pass all the water thru it and get maxium kill rate. so most small uvs will be no good as they can handle high flow rates. The main difference i have found witht the good onves vrs the bad is the distance between the uv bulb and the quatz sleve. The pond ones are designed to just reduce algae in ponds, where the good ones kill bacteria. pretty much. The TMC commercial units are real good quality and use nice high wattage bulbs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.