UV filter for AIO sumps?

Reef_at_Sea

Active Member
View Badges
Joined
May 16, 2024
Messages
379
Reaction score
208
Location
Netherlands
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Hello,

Does anyone (preferably EU-based) run a UV filter in an AIO sump?
I would like to have a very affordable & easy to install UV filter that doesn't take too much place in my Waterbox 50.3 AIO sump.

I have seen this one but i'm not sure about the quality.

interne-uv-sterilizer-met-timer_0.jpg_May-11-2022-1151am.jpg



Thanks all!
 

GARRIGA

2500 Club Member
View Badges
Joined
Oct 12, 2021
Messages
3,692
Reaction score
2,952
Location
South Florida
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
AquaUV has a HOB option that could be placed in one chamber and then pumped to next chamber by using a small dedicated pump thereby treating some of the water which his better than none.

Only brands I trust are Pentair (formally Emperor) and AquaUV.

Going to be testing out the new Fluval FX inline which according to speaking with them used a cathode tube which generates 6w of pure 253nm UV-C. I'm hesitant to believe but cheap enough to test and has a small footprint
 

GARRIGA

2500 Club Member
View Badges
Joined
Oct 12, 2021
Messages
3,692
Reaction score
2,952
Location
South Florida
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Fluval is Italian made therefore should be available in the EU.
 

GARRIGA

2500 Club Member
View Badges
Joined
Oct 12, 2021
Messages
3,692
Reaction score
2,952
Location
South Florida
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
I did find the fluval one, it's more towards the fresh water category it seems.
And it doesn't seem any different than Resun, Eheim, aqua medic, deltec or Jecod?
UV rays aren't fresh or salt focused. 253nm UV-C is what kills pathogens by altering their DNA/RNA. The key is turnover rate and wattage. Pentair has recommendations and quote the amount of UV-C present. In other words, their 25w isn't 25w of pathogen DNA/RNA altering 253nm but only 8w of it is and that's what I'm comparing the cathode tube used in Fluval. If it's true and not marketing then it should perform same as an equivalent low pressure UV bulb emitting same amount of UVC watts.

Based on their chart below you can see their 25w actually puts out 8w UVC. Why I have hopes for that Fluval assuming it's really 6w UVC and not 2W which might still work depending size of tank.

Could be since it's paired with an FX and high flow rates they only quote is as clarifier but used with less flow then becomes a sterilizer. Devil is in the details.

PENTAIR UV FLOW CHART.png
 
OP
OP
Reef_at_Sea

Reef_at_Sea

Active Member
View Badges
Joined
May 16, 2024
Messages
379
Reaction score
208
Location
Netherlands
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
UV rays aren't fresh or salt focused. 253nm UV-C is what kills pathogens by altering their DNA/RNA. The key is turnover rate and wattage. Pentair has recommendations and quote the amount of UV-C present. In other words, their 25w isn't 25w of pathogen DNA/RNA altering 253nm but only 8w of it is and that's what I'm comparing the cathode tube used in Fluval. If it's true and not marketing then it should perform same as an equivalent low pressure UV bulb emitting same amount of UVC watts.

Based on their chart below you can see their 25w actually puts out 8w UVC. Why I have hopes for that Fluval assuming it's really 6w UVC and not 2W which might still work depending size of tank.

Could be since it's paired with an FX and high flow rates they only quote is as clarifier but used with less flow then becomes a sterilizer. Devil is in the details.

PENTAIR UV FLOW CHART.png
Interesting!

My main goal for using a UV filter is to battle fish-disease.
 

GARRIGA

2500 Club Member
View Badges
Joined
Oct 12, 2021
Messages
3,692
Reaction score
2,952
Location
South Florida
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Interesting!

My main goal for using a UV filter is to battle fish-disease.
Me too. Why I focus on UVC wattage and tank turnover. Key for anything available in your area is finding low pressure UV bulb that provide that UVC and then I'd go off the Pentair chart. Problem is finding out the UVC wattage as many don't quote that and I'm not knowledgeable on whether all 25w low pressure UV bulbs emit the same 8w UVC. Contacting the manufacturer might help.
 

GARRIGA

2500 Club Member
View Badges
Joined
Oct 12, 2021
Messages
3,692
Reaction score
2,952
Location
South Florida
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
BTW, watts are watts and that UV will warm your tank up so take that into consideration.
 
OP
OP
Reef_at_Sea

Reef_at_Sea

Active Member
View Badges
Joined
May 16, 2024
Messages
379
Reaction score
208
Location
Netherlands
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
BTW, watts are watts and that UV will warm your tank up so take that into consideration.
Currently i'm looking at the aqua medic Helix Max 2.0.
it recommends a 100-200l/h flow and has a PL-S-9 W lamp with a power of 2,4 W/UVC.
They recommend this one for a tank of 250 liters.


Sorry for the dutch website.
 

GARRIGA

2500 Club Member
View Badges
Joined
Oct 12, 2021
Messages
3,692
Reaction score
2,952
Location
South Florida
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Without actual UVC wattage and just mentioning UVC wattage I don't know what to make of that. Recommending a certain size tank without acknowledging if that's pathogen or bacterial is lacking information I seek. No clue what that bulb is as I don't know the technical aspects of tubes other than the generality that low vapor is needed and that's the extent of my knowledge on that and why skeptical on the Fluval cathode application.

Here's the Pentair EU site that can direct you to a dealer. Used Emperor back in the 80s and based on feedback from others them and AquaUV seem to be the most trusted brands and what I can recommend. All others might be good but no clue on my end.

 
Back
Top