American Aquarium Products: Good? Bad? Ugly?

[Integral9]

I've been searching around for a suitable UV for my QT / HT and not surprisingly I have not found much. At least until I ran across http://americanaquariumproducts.com

 

The amount of information on their site regarding the pro's and faux's of UV filtration is quite compelling and I really learned a lot (or I have a truck load of misinformation). And well I am compelled to buy one of their products. But before I do that has anyone else used their products or have opinions on them?

[Ryan S]

I have one. Fishie has one as well. They work great. It was recommended to me by Rob. Cheap UV systems, cheap replacement bulbs, and excellent customer service. I would absolutely recommend them.

 

I have this one on my 150g reef:

http://www.americanaquariumproducts.com/15WattUVSterilizer.html

[Integral9]

Thanks. I am trying to decide between a TMC Vectron 2 200 8W and the Terminator 13W model. It's for my QT / HT and so I want to kill parasites, not just clarify the water or kill bacteria.

[zygote2k]

I use a Vecton V2 400 15w sterilizer and am having no issues whatsoever. Make sure to use teflon tape on the threads though.

Loads of good info there.

[Ryan S]

You can also shoot Carl an email at: info@americanaquariumproducts.com and tell him your specs, what exactly you want it for, and which units you are leaning towards. He will respond pretty quickly with his advice on what to get as well.

[Integral9]

I did send him an email to their customer service line and got a response back already, from Devon though. Very informative. But he has more questions for me that I need to answer before he will recommend a unit for me.

 

So far a very good experience with these folks. I'll let you all know what he says.

[Integral9]

Well, I am not particularly impressed with these guys anymore. With what started out as a good conversation with Devon, ended with a "Sounds good..." "Good Luck" response.

 

My original question was asking which UV would be better suited for me to provide Level 2 sterilization in a 29 gallon tank. The response I got back was very long and had many links and included a question about whether I had UV on my main tank. So far, so good I was thinking. I read the links and what occured to me was that the site was very much geared toward a total UV solution, not just for a QT. So when I replied back and told him that I do not have a UV on my DT and that it was not a concern of mine as the fish in my QT had never been in my DT. His response was "Sounds good..." "Good Luck"....

 

Since I still needed an answer to my original question and he responded to me at 11:30pm on a Sunday, I replied back asking for that. Then I got a response from Misti telling me to buy the Vectron becuase it was the best and replacement parts were readily available. No mention of why their "Terminator" unit which comes with an OTS pump and plumbing and more for the same price as the Vectron, isn't suitable. After all the reading I did, I thought that would be their recommendation, just at a higher wattage than I originally asked about.

 

I feel like Devon didn't want to deal with me because I wasn't interested in buying 2 UVs and Misti is just telling me to buy the most expensive one on the market.

[Ryan S]

I would reply stating everything you just posted, and ask if Carl can reply to you personally.

 

He is the owner of the company. See what he says.

[Integral9]

I'm not sure if I want to keep going down this road as I don't feel there are any good exit ramps. I'm just disappointed with their follow up responses.

 

But for anyone out there looking for information on UVs, here is the web page on their site that was linked to me. Lots of very useful and helpful information on it:

http://www.americanaquariumproducts.com/AquariumUVSterilization.html

 

in particular these sections were pointed out to me:

http://www.americanaquariumproducts.com/AquariumUVSterilization.html#flow

http://www.americanaquariumproducts.com/AquariumUVSterilization.html#dwell_time

 

But I recommend reading as much as you can understand on that page.

[flowerseller]

Not to muddy the water but, why don't you run uv on your DT?

I would think that was a no brainer given you see the benefits of it on your QT.

just asking....

[Integral9]

No, that's fine. To be honest, I had never looked into UV filtration before. So w/out knowing much about it, I wasn't going to just go out and buy one. Now that I know what I would need to put a UV on my DT, I am (I think) interested in adding that to my setup. However, my wife just had a baby and our expendable income is being redirected towards diapers and formula. So that's why I just want the one for the QT now.