Uv Sterilizer or Ozone?

[DarthOcellaris]

Just want to get some varied opinions about these two water clarifiying units. I'm considering getting a UV sterilizer because I'm getting into SPS more lately.

[Wiskey]

I prefer UV because it's safer (you can't OD On it and kill anything, it also can't leak into your house and do damage to you) with UV you don't have to run carbon on your skimmer effluant,.. and you don't need a special skimmer to use it.

If you are looking to clarify your water you can do what I do,.. Fire up the UV bulb for 3 days every month or so,.. keeps my water cristal clear, I leave the pump moving water through the UV 24/7 though.

Whiskey

[Wiskey]

Oh,.. The downside of UV is expence. You need a big UV unit to do any real good,.. and you have to push water through it fairly slow. I will be using a 40", 40W Emperror Aquatics UV on my 180G and putting water through it at about 200GPH. I could go a bit faster and still expect to kill pathigins,.. but I like to be sure.

Whiskey

[120gallons]

Ozone has a great effect on water clarity and quality when used correctly.

[DarthOcellaris]

I like the argument about safety in the house I'm looking at some uv units and they're not really that pricey ( considering what they are ).

Whiskey, where are you purchasing yours from?

[Loverotties]

They're both are good for the reef!

[DarthOcellaris]

rotties, I see you voted for 'both'. What units do you run and how do you run them? ( ie ..together, alernating, etc )

[Geoff]

UV's when used properly can really help the tank. like Whiskey said they need to be big. expect to pay around $400 for a properly sized one. anything else would be a waste of energy and a royal pain to clean.

when running a UV get it as close to the skimmer input as possible that way anything killed will be immediately removed by the skimmer. you do not want the dead algae getting back into the display where it could rot and fuel other algae.

G~

[Wiskey]

Originally Posted by DarthOcellaris

I like the argument about safety in the house I'm looking at some uv units and they're not really that pricey ( considering what they are ).

Whiskey, where are you purchasing yours from?

Mine origanally was about a $400 or so unit,.. but I got it free for fixing a guy's truck. It is an Emperor Aquatics 40W T5 UV,.. I quite like it. I agree with Geoff on the best way to run a UV, but I'm not going to be running mine like that,... I'm going to be running mine more like Spanky runs his.

Whiskey

[DarthOcellaris]

I just got an offer for a used Emporer Aquatics 40W with any luck, I'll have it by this weekend

What size pump are you planning on using Whiskey?

[DarthOcellaris]

Originally Posted by Geoff

UV's when used properly can really help the tank. like Whiskey said they need to be big. expect to pay around $400 for a properly sized one. anything else would be a waste of energy and a royal pain to clean.

when running a UV get it as close to the skimmer input as possible that way anything killed will be immediately removed by the skimmer. you do not want the dead algae getting back into the display where it could rot and fuel other algae.

G~

I've read a ton of your posts regarding the output of the uv...makes a lot of sense to do it that way

My skimmer has been not working right lately so I'll need to figure that out I guess. I have an ASM G2 and have the riser tube as high as possible and the foam gets to the top of the skimmer but doesn't spill over into the collection cup. The foam just mucks up the chamber's inside diameter. Very frustrating considering I changed nothing in the setup except I removed my filter sock from catching the main tank's drain which I figured would be better. Any ideas guys?

[Wiskey]

Originally Posted by DarthOcellaris

I just got an offer for a used Emporer Aquatics 40W with any luck, I'll have it by this weekend

What size pump are you planning on using Whiskey?

Sweet!!!!!!!!!!

Well,.. My pump is a peice of junk,.. I don't reccomend using it, but I use a Quite one 1200 because I have it. I'll be returning the water from the sump to the main tank (also a bad idea) and it will run about 150-200GPH after head loss.

Later down the road I plan to use this UV setup to feed a 5 foot DIY slow flow skimmer,... but for now my setup will be less than ideal.

Whiskey

[Wiskey]

Originally Posted by DarthOcellaris

I've read a ton of your posts regarding the output of the uv...makes a lot of sense to do it that way

My skimmer has been not working right lately so I'll need to figure that out I guess. I have an ASM G2 and have the riser tube as high as possible and the foam gets to the top of the skimmer but doesn't spill over into the collection cup. The foam just mucks up the chamber's inside diameter. Very frustrating considering I changed nothing in the setup except I removed my filter sock from catching the main tank's drain which I figured would be better. Any ideas guys?

How long has it been not skimming?

Have you cleaned the venturi with a drill bit or something? They build up salt creep and block air.

Whiskey

[DarthOcellaris]

I'd say it's been not skimming for a month now. I actually soaked the skimmer, the pump and the venturi in a vinegar bath a week ago. The foam swirling in the body is absolutely great and it actually appears to foam just fine at the top but it just isnt making it over into the collection cup. Very strange.

Is it possible that something isn't sealed correctly? Does that make a big difference? I have noticed a little water dripping out from the inside right where an o-ring is.

Another thought is the needle-wheel. Is it possible that the foam isn't as great as it 'could' be? Would it be worthwhile to try the mesh-mod or maybe getting a new impeller?

[Hop]

Darth, poke a drill bit or paper clip through the venturi and make sure that there is not a piece of plastic obstructing the air intake from the manufacturing. I've been reading more and more about this problem. It may not be your problem, but it's a quick check to see if it is...