A pragmatic method of determining UV filtration benefit might be to beg - borrow - steal a smaller more economical UV unit and treat declining fish in a smaller isolated tank. If fish improves, a bigger UV for your larger systems is likely to be useful. If fish dies, UV may not be so useful or might have been added too late.
Thank you. We do have a $400 UV unit, 2", 4ft, bulb is 40W but probably a much stronger one can be installed too, ... that should be more than plenty for one 240 gal tank. So in theory, I could test this theory.
In reality, I am not inclined. I am told by experts, you and Ken Dragon included, that UV is more or less a must anyway. I might as well focus my efforts on installing the UV treatment on the most troublesome system of 15K sump + 2x 4500's + 1800 + prospective 10,000. Like you taught me, I might be able to get away with DIY - several thousand $$$, maybe no more than $5,000 in purchase cost.
... i can’t even fathom what kind of pump you have there for your 50k gallons ??
maybe solar panels there?
you think about a go fund me for your reduce? FB loves a good cause
Thank you.
Pumps are 8x 5,000 GPH at our 7ft head = 40,000 GPH, and 2x 6,000 GPH at our 7ft head = 12,000 GPH; = 52K GPH. When 10K gets on line, it is planned to have 20,000-40,000 GPH. So the total flow will be 70,000-90,000 GPH just on that system of sump and 4 tanks.
Installing solar panels requires prohibitively large initial capital investment and the break even point is way too distant, used to be 30 years, now it is around 10 years - still too far for poor people. We're poor but we have no debt and wanna keep it that way.
Anyone can donate to us - under each video are a couple of ways, plus the website describes any number of ways. We have arranged these ways upon advice and request ... but on our own initiative / championing we are not asking for free money and don't plan to. My wife and I were raised to not ask for money but earn with our own labor everything we need and not wish for anything we can't earn or afford.
You may want to consider an open channel UV.
Chambered UVs are pressurized. Open channel are not. The electrical connection can be above water saving cost in waterproofing... ...water should be channeled through the UV to be effective and efficient. UV stable material near the light should be considered to prevent damage to the sump.
Thank you so much Ken. Yes, I am pondering a more or less related approach. No pipes. No pressure. I can sink the array of UV lamps inside a 500 gal plastic barrel / tank into which all the water drains from all the tanks, or not bother with the barrel and just set the array directly under the pouring draining water flow.
Do you think the UV will damage the sump liner over time? I thought the pathway of the UV light is exceedingly short and the intensity decreases exponentially away from lamp, so the liner even at 2-3 feet away will essentially not get any UV exposure.
Very sorry for your loss Victor.
The Wykii I would have considered one of the more hardy fish in there so to see that go is concerning and upsetting.
One thing that has struck me. You are one of very few folks that have the opportunity to interact so well with their fish. Ie. Have tanks big enough to get in and swim with them.
You don’t have correlation between being in the tank and fish loss or loss of health do you?
I assume you ensure your not wearing deodorant sprays or roll on or washing in fragranced soap prior to getting in, or even wearing shorts that have been washed with conditioner.
All could be effecting your fish even in the huge volumes of water you have.
Just a thought.
Thank you, Dave. It appears the pathogen we have has a thing for Hemibagrus. We lost our 5 yo 34" Asian RTC a couple years ago too in the same tank.
Good troubleshooting but no, no correlation whatsoever. Yes, I pay attention that I bring nothing into the water on my person and on my clothing when I go inside. Just as a precaution.
I forgot to update my find, 21kg monster
View attachment 1484374
Super find!! Thank you so much. The shape of the head and snout threw me off but I sure its just me. Dave knows wyckii exceedingly well and you too, so I trust you guys. This is amazing that wyckii can get up to 4 feet!!!
