Suggestions on Uv/Filter duo

[Boyam]

Hello all, again.

I want to add a UV sterilizer to my tank. the plan is to buy some sort of filter along with the UV for easy set up and even cleaner water.

so, i already have a 200 gal wet / dry and a model AF-94 Lifeguard Mechanical Filter (micro filter). This is in a 90 gallon planted discus tank.

Suggestions please? keep in mind i want to keep this a combo deal; so, it will most likely be canister filter and and external UV sterilizer. open to other thoughts though.

thanks!!! :D

[Boyam]

bugger was hoping for some good suggestions >.<

[ILLUSN]

what you need to do is size your UV to your flow rate. in all honesty yuor best bet value for money wise it to grab a 36w pond master uv and hook it up to an eheim 2217. if not you could also consider a 24w internal uv for mounting in your tank, but thses look ugly and will only turn over 400L/hour

[Boyam]

wow do i really need a UV of that size; is more expansive than i thought. i was thinking 150 for one buggah! and i think the eheim 2217 is a good idea.
thanks ILLUSN!

planning on getting this stuff within the next two weeks, any feed back is appreciated.

[ILLUSN]

you want 1w of UV light/ 20L/H flow of your filter. so say a 2217 flows at 650L/h you need 32.5w of UV the nearest sized uv is a 36w its alsways better to have too much wattage than too little. sorry if this makes things expensive.

an internal is much cheeper but the flow rate might be a problem, that being said 2x 24w internals is still cheeper than a 2217 + 36w UV it just can look a little ugly.

[Boyam]

would i be able to sit them in my wet / dry sump part? it only holds about 5 in of water.

[ILLUSN]

no you wont, they need to be near fully submerged

[Boyam]

http://www.bigalsonline.com/BigAlsUS/ctl3684/cp18545/si1383393/cl0/coralifeturbotwist6x18wattuvsterilizer

what do you think about that? or is it trickery?!

maybe i should just get a super slow canister :roll:

[ILLUSN]

mate to kill algae you need only low watage 1w/100-200L of flow per hour, to sterilize water and kill protozoa and flukes you need the high wattage i wrote above


Eliminates single-cell algae for crystal-clear aquariums. Eradicates most harmful microorganisms on the initial pass through chamber

dont matter how many bends or twists they put into the waters path filters flow at X liters/hour and so the water flowing past the bulb HAS to move at that speed (ie if the filter is pumping 600l/h into the uv unit 600l/h must flow out of it)

[Boyam]

okay thanks 8)

now i know what i have to get in order for it to be right. no matter how much it sucks :cry: fishies r worth it!