UV Sterilizer

MuralReef

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#1
This is a multifaceted question so feel free to address either piece. First, do you run a UV sterilizer? I have had a few donated and am considering installing one on in hopes that it will help eliminate any remaining ICK that may be in my tank even though no fish are currently showing signs. I am also hoping it will help with cyano. What are your opinions of UV sterilizers?

Second, one of the sterilizers that I want to use is giving me mixed messages. The bulb is burnt out. The outside of the unit says it is a 25 watt sterilizer, but the burnt out bulb is a 57 watt bulb. What size bulb should I go with? Problem is I can remember who I got the unit from it was either Martin or Ryan from Coralate. Which bulb would you order?
 

MuralReef

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#3
I run uv. If sized correctly it Should help control ich, algae, and the like. I just recently changed my bulb and now I don't have to scrape the glass as often. I like that fact the most and probably will always run a uv on my big tank. Regarding the sizes Id go with whatever the ballast says
There isn't anything on the ballast, but on the outside body of the unit is says 25 watt.
 

SynDen

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#5
I run one now too. After trying to fight the dino issue for a year or more, I installed a uv sterilizer, and now I think I will always run one. Even with the used bulb it came with, it still eliminated the most of the dinos within a few weeks, and tank has finally begun to recover and looking better.

For bulb size I would go with 25w if that is what the unit says. Thats a pretty standard uv wattage, the 57w sounds odd, but might be specific to the model, and you would need to ask the manufacturer to be sure.
 

MuralReef

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#6
Found the bulbs online they are the same size bulb, but I can't imagine that a ballast intended for a 25W lamp will run a 57W.
 

scchase

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#7
Depends many of the ballasts hidden away in our equipment are very broad in what they run. Lots of equipment has workhorse ballasts for example rebranded as aquarium stuff and they will run a wide variety of wattages.
 

SkyShark

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#8
Found the bulbs online they are the same size bulb, but I can't imagine that a ballast intended for a 25W lamp will run a 57W.
Maybe that’s why it burnt out! I’d give the manufacturer a call, thy should be able to help you sort it out pretty easy. I don’t have much experience with them, but I see a lot of large tanks like yours running them.
 
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