18W UV Sterilizer - Ideal flow rate

[dmitri]

Hi,

I'm using the uv-c 20000 (18W) uv sterilizer. What is the recommended pump flow rating to ensure good kill rate per pass. Based on the article below. Does it mean that i should be using the 1300 L/h pump. Need clarification, pls advice?

Flow Rates:

Dwell time, the amount of time a given quantity of water is exposed to a given concentration of radiation may be calculated at about twenty gallons per hour flow per watt U.V.. This value or more watts per unit unit is adequate for providing a good kill rate per pass and will substantially reduce planktonic micro-organisms and organics concentrations.

[porc]

Hi,

for a UV sterilizer you should be more concerned about your pump being too strong rather than too weak... you would want to maximize the time the water spends in the chamber being blasted by the UV rays... When I used one previously (china brand) the box even stated not to exceed flow by a certain amount.

Calculating based on the flow rate you stated (20 gal/hr/watt) is not accurate at all. there is no information on the volume capacity of the sterilizer itself. eg. suppose your uv sterilizer is 20 gal then every molecule of water is exposed for 1 hr, but if your sterilizer is 1 gal volume that water only stays inside for 3 mins...

I don't know what should be the flow rate. I guess maybe turning around your tank's capacity every hour or even 2 hours should be fine.

Cheers,

porc

[Marineman]

I am using a 9watts UV, I am using a 1500L per hour pump, I guess yours may need 2500-3000LPH pump, don't think it should be based on your tank's turnover as a basis as each tank's size is different. It should be based on you wattages. ask the LFS that you bought your UV from.