UV sterilization

[Slick Willy 46]

Starting a Red Sea 350 G2. How long Should I wait to start the UV sterilizer. Thanks in advance.

 

[ReefingDreams]

What's your intended purpose for the sterilizer?

 

[Slick Willy 46]

What's your intended purpose for the sterilizer?

Algae.

 

[Bruttall]

Algae.

I'd consider a refugium for algae control instead of a UV. They are way more efficient and cost effective, especially if you DIY it.

 

[gbroadbridge]

Starting a Red Sea 350 G2. How long Should I wait to start the UV sterilizer. Thanks in advance.

Start it up a couple of days after your last dose of any bacterial cycling product.

Remember to turn off for at least 4 hours any time you add a bacterial product like MB7.

Running from the start will help reduce troublesome algae in the initial ugly phases.

 

[theMeat]

Agreed
Once cycle is completed run uv.
Refugium is good for many reasons, including nutrient control. Uv is good to help stop the spread of nuisance algae. Will add getting coralline algae going straight away is also a good thing. Because where coralline grows other algae has a harder time getting a foothold

 

[tzabor10]

Personally I had a lot of issues setting up the UV sterilizer. Getting it ready and adjusting the flow would help a lot. Please don’t set it up on the return line. Use a timer to keep it on just a few hours at night. Running 24/7 will throw off your bacteria balance.

 

[gbroadbridge]

Personally I had a lot of issues setting up the UV sterilizer. Getting it ready and adjusting the flow would help a lot. Please don’t set it up on the return line. Use a timer to keep it on just a few hours at night. Running 24/7 will throw off your bacteria balance.

Bacteria live on surfaces, not in the water column so running a UV full time is not a problem.

Mine has been running 24/7 for the last 5 years changing the bulb once a year and there is certainly no problem with 'bacterial balance' in my tank.

There is also no unsightly algae.