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dunno about your actual question, but I do have some feedback.
I recommend against having a UV always connected just in case. Make a space for the UV in your setup and either have quick disconnects from the to the UV, or bypass and drain on the UV. You don't want the UV connected at all times for two reasons. The bulb will eventually get covered in slime and end up mostly useless by the time you need it. You will also have a a nice chunk of stagnant water in the UV that's been anaerobic since... well you get the idea.
I plumbed my system so I can plumb in a UV when I need it without getting wet, but the UV itself lives in a box in the garage. It stays dry so there's no sludge build up.
I recommend against having a UV always connected just in case. Make a space for the UV in your setup and either have quick disconnects from the to the UV, or bypass and drain on the UV. You don't want the UV connected at all times for two reasons. The bulb will eventually get covered in slime and end up mostly useless by the time you need it. You will also have a a nice chunk of stagnant water in the UV that's been anaerobic since... well you get the idea.
I plumbed my system so I can plumb in a UV when I need it without getting wet, but the UV itself lives in a box in the garage. It stays dry so there's no sludge build up.
Intothenew,
I was more concerned that the UV would be hooked up 24/7, but only running two or three days a year. I've seen the built in squeegee. I've never used it but it looks like a good model for full time usage. I like the look of the submariner for spot treatment. It's an in-tank model that looks like a submersible filter. It's essentially a combination powerhead/UV with a prefilter sponge.
http://www.jbjlighting.com/prod_submariner.html
TexasGal,
If you're running the UV 24/7 you need to clean it regularly. The bulb will develop a very thin coat of grime after a couple months. This this thin film will tremendously degrade the performance of the UV. Aquarium slime has a high SPF, try it at the beach someday.
Note that a UV sterilizer is essentially a fluorescent bulb that emits light in the UV range. Being a fluorescent bulb, the UV bulb should be replaced every 6-12 months as the bulb will rapidly degrade in effectiveness after this time. Some mfgr's will list the actual effective life in hours, such as 8000 hours.
I was more concerned that the UV would be hooked up 24/7, but only running two or three days a year. I've seen the built in squeegee. I've never used it but it looks like a good model for full time usage. I like the look of the submariner for spot treatment. It's an in-tank model that looks like a submersible filter. It's essentially a combination powerhead/UV with a prefilter sponge.
http://www.jbjlighting.com/prod_submariner.html
TexasGal,
If you're running the UV 24/7 you need to clean it regularly. The bulb will develop a very thin coat of grime after a couple months. This this thin film will tremendously degrade the performance of the UV. Aquarium slime has a high SPF, try it at the beach someday.
Note that a UV sterilizer is essentially a fluorescent bulb that emits light in the UV range. Being a fluorescent bulb, the UV bulb should be replaced every 6-12 months as the bulb will rapidly degrade in effectiveness after this time. Some mfgr's will list the actual effective life in hours, such as 8000 hours.
Tex Gal,
You have more experience than me with UV's. I did my research, trusted the advice, and followed it. If the bulb stays clean then you shouldn't have a problem.
As far as lifespan of the bulb goes. A UV bulb does not burn out for several years, it just puts out less and less UV light until then. You really can't check it visually since Light in the UV spectrum is not visible and the bulb is in a sealed container. The bright blue color of the bulb is more of a byproduct of the UV bulb and really just tells you that it's on. A UV sterilizer is for preventative purposes and is not needed for the daily health of the aquarium. Your aquarium is healthy enough that the UV could even be off and you'd never notice from the results. Your bulb if pretty high powered. I would think a 25W bulb can degrade quite a bit before it stops being useful.
You have more experience than me with UV's. I did my research, trusted the advice, and followed it. If the bulb stays clean then you shouldn't have a problem.
As far as lifespan of the bulb goes. A UV bulb does not burn out for several years, it just puts out less and less UV light until then. You really can't check it visually since Light in the UV spectrum is not visible and the bulb is in a sealed container. The bright blue color of the bulb is more of a byproduct of the UV bulb and really just tells you that it's on. A UV sterilizer is for preventative purposes and is not needed for the daily health of the aquarium. Your aquarium is healthy enough that the UV could even be off and you'd never notice from the results. Your bulb if pretty high powered. I would think a 25W bulb can degrade quite a bit before it stops being useful.
It may cost him the better part of his manhood if he doesn't get that wall patched soon...
He may need to pick up a nice pickling jar on your next trip to the hardware store.
He may need to pick up a nice pickling jar on your next trip to the hardware store.
intothe new,
for your amusement, here's another guy who had too much fun with his tank rebuild.
http://www.aquaticplantcentral.com/forumapc/journals/56524-50gal-ugly-tank.html
for your amusement, here's another guy who had too much fun with his tank rebuild.
http://www.aquaticplantcentral.com/forumapc/journals/56524-50gal-ugly-tank.html
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