How long should uv sterilizer run for

I understand you are trying to alternate contact time in favor of volume, but most UVs are not large enough to be effective at either even when they are super clean. I would opt for long contact time and rely on mechanical filtration, or opt for no UV at all. Thread Tools. David A. Crandall, M.

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Visit hawaiianwargod's homepage! A UV Sterilizer only sterilizes a small portion of the total water. That little bit has a positive effect on the whole. I don't quite understand your set up though. In a setup totaling gallons, if it's a typical display and Refugium and even if there is a Frag Tank involved, 1" pipe and 1" valves would be suggested because for any return pump serving a system that size, 1" piping would be most efficient, carrying the most water with the least amount of drag.

This 1" sizing has to do with the physics of water flow at the volumes we typically deal with for that size of system. I don't know if I've written this so that it makes sense. I'm just a simple coral farmer trying to describe something that is pretty technical. Feel free to ask any questions here or come visit so I can show you what I mean. I am running 2 pumps. One for the main display and frag tank. That return is 2" piping. I am running a second pump for my reactors and fuge.

I have a manifold where I can control the flow of the various vales off of the manifold from he main pump. Ahhh, of course. That makes sense. Years ago I was a doubter of UV Sterilization. How in the heck could such a small amount of water exposed to UV radiation make any difference at all in a much larger tank.

I changed my tune after seeing one tank after another being benefited by it. Bad "censored" Cabinets Best quality in the valley! He is one sexy bald guy, even with out a finger! The data shows that a reef tank should run a sterilizer in the 30kk range these numbers define the exposure of the water because if run at higher exposure the micro organisms needed by corals will be zapped. Most aquarium owners run too much water, too quickly through their UV sterilisers.

With UV its all about contact time so to be effective on unicellular algae or large parasites the water should pass close to the bulb, and flow along the entire length of the bulb slowly. The more time spent next to the UV rays, the more effective they are at damaging anything that flows past them.