UV vs. Algae

[quote author=Pipe_Organ link=board=General;num=1081106473;start=45#47 date=05/03/04 at 05:29:38]The UV I bought is just a sterilizer. It's a spiral design which keeps the water exposed to the UV longer. [/quote]

Thank you for that My understanding of UV units is that whatever goes in that is alive ( bacteria, pods, algae etc ) comes out the other end dead. So what are you doing with the bodies?

Do you have the output side of the UV unit near the intake side of your protein skimmer?

John

 

Might be worthwhile to look into "Ozone vs. Algae..."

Here are some "extractions" I have made for my own "notes" from responses by A. Calfo and B. Fenner over on web media, (both of whom I decided to put total faith in what they say above all others... ...of course that is just "my decision&quot

http://www.wetwebmedia.com/ozonefaqs.htm


From your articles you are very emphatic that the "fear" of ozone is unfounded since the levels of Ozone in use are so minimal and that UV, while beneficial, is not the best "bang for the buck".
<That is correct... that is, it is my opinion (shared by some, not all) that although UV sterilization per se is valuable as an adjunct to improving water quality in captive aquatic systems, ozone (and even ozone-generator dryers... to remove moisture ahead of the air's use in the ozone reactor) are better... ahead of UV use in value... but both are fine tools...>

(re question on ozonier or UV...)


Maybe not need, but an ozonizer is a great adjunct to enhancing water quality... increasing Redox, dissolved oxygen, reducing overall microbe populations in your system, helping to keep the water clean/clear...I would get it way ahead of a ultraviolet sterilizer myself...
Bob Fenner, who says yea

Their general concensus which occurs throughout most of their threads, is "Ozone is good..." & so is "UV" (just not as good)

Have made my decision...Ozonizer on the way...(will post complete "note collection" in other thread on "ORP&quot

OmarD
8)

 

intresting you speak of Ozone. I just won a distributorship for another area of my business dealing in the Living air purifier. Different application but same theme. Personally I lack the space for a reactor. The UV fits nicely in my sump working off an existing pump. Yes JohnO the return exits into the skimmer side of the sump. The Jury is still out, it has been just 3 weeks since I installed the unit. I used to have to clear the bubble algae 3 times a week, now I'm down to once per. I'll let you know more in the coming weeks. I also stopped the liquid feedings which has probably helped.

 

Ozone is a very active oxidizer, lots of attitude and packs a punch. Omar make sure you get a orp monitor/controller with the unit. Ozone will oxidize bacteria, organics and so on but it will not stop thier if it runs out of those, it will go after tissue on fish and corals just as easily as it does others. With Ozone you just have to be very careful, if it raises your orp to high your tank will die over night, so take the precautions, even double the precautions.

On the UV it wont kill critters as big as pods, but smaller critters like protoza, bacteria and so on will be toast. Also the UV bulb itself will produce a small ammount of ozone as a biproduct. UV is concidered a Passive oxidizer. It does not seek like Ozone does.

On the flake food its not nitrates you have to worry about its Phosphates. Flake food or simular are loaded with it. Usually as a result of the preservatives that are used in making it.

Pipe it will effect your skimmer a bit, as it is removing an ammount of what would be going to the skimmer cup.

John O the best way to look at a UV is that it is a disinfectant

mike

 

[quote author=mojoreef link=board=General;num=1081106473;start=45#53 date=05/03/04 at 18:58:21]

Pipe it will effect your skimmer a bit, as it is removing an ammount of what would be going to the skimmer cup.

John O the best way to look at a UV is that it is a disinfectant

mike[/quote]

Mike,

Thanks for the explanation, it is appreciated. Just a question though.

How does the sterilizer actually " remove " what was going into the skimmer cup previously?

I also disagree about the flake and phosphate statement, but another time perhaps

John

 

[quote author=mojoreef link=board=General;num=1081106473;start=45#53 date=05/03/04 at 18:58:21]On the flake food its not nitrates you have to worry about its Phosphates. Flake food or simular are loaded with it. Usually as a result of the preservatives that are used in making it.

mike[/quote]

Thanks for baling me out Mike. I knew it was one or the other, but I don't use flakes and didn't have a label to look at!

 

Thank for warning re Ozone, MojoReef...

Will monitor closely when I first startup...of course at minimimum settings so can see amts needed to keep ORP at desired levels under standard tank conditons...

Long term plan is to get one of the Neptune or Aquadyne (X10) monitor/control systems later this year.

I like the idea of both monitoring & controlling remotely - not to mention setting up for "pages" should any extreme conditions develop.

Good package prices on both systems from AquaDirect (local for us)...

Can do amazing stuff w/ X-10 technology...will get basic system and add "bells" & "whistles" as needed and resources become available...

Rgds (from Silverdale)

OmarD

 

They are nice Omar I have run the octopus and have run the aquacontroller, couldnt live with out them. I would not however use just that to controll ozoner, I would have an additional controller down line of it as a back up.

I knew that one was coming, lol..The radiation from the UV light penetrates the cells of the organism, and basically spatters its or modifies it severly. On the outs shell of the Light protector sleeve an ammont of naturally occuring ozone will form and oxidize an ammount. The over all effect is a small reduction is bio mass of the critters that go in.

On the flake food I guess I should have quantified that statement. Their are a few type out right now that claim to have none in them. The vast majority do have ammounts in them. the real bad foods that are the worst for P are the frozen products like reef plus or reef complete, frozen mysis and so on..
I will try to find some data for you John I knwo I have it somewhere.


Mike

 

I'm not really that transparent am I ? LOL

Yep, I understand that But what happens next? Is the critter now just carbon ( fried ) or will it decompose and add to the PO4 problem? Or is the amount of critters so small that it doesn't really matter ( BTW, by critters I include everything including algae )

All foods contain P, it's part of the natural process of nutrition and also decomposition. The difference I believe is the potential for ' fresh ' foods to release more PO4 than flake foods because of the decomposition aspect.

No need for the data Mike, I don't need any more data as my head already hurts.

Cheers

John

 

WoW, all that info. I'm a little older than most of you.  My brains' OS is Windows 53 . Consiquently I'm having a hard time comprehending all this info. Mike{Mojo} are there any foods out there that are low in P? My tank seems to be doing better {UV}but from what I've been told here{kudos Craig} it is too soon to determine. I've gone the refugium route as well as a Phos. sponge but I hate using chemicals.

~Jack