Hands down, YOUR review the the Green Killing Machine is by far the best! I'm going to order the 24W model and install it in my sump filtering a 180 gallon freshwater aquarium. Since adding driftwood about three weeks ago, the aquarium water remains slightly green despite water changes and adding Purigen and Marineland carbon. I'm keeping my fingers crossed the GKM will restore water clarity. Thanks again for patiently making this video and clearly articulating your words.
Thanks for the feedback! It worked great for me - I used it a second time with the same results. I'm not worried about passing every molecule of water past the UV bulb because my aim was to clear up the water and not necessarily kill bacteria or pathogens. Good luck!
You may feel discouraged but don't give up, this works! I have 100 gallon tank, had the machine in there for a week, no change. Did half tank water change, waited a week, did another quarter, waited two more weeks and now after 3 weeks, it has cleared up. When I'd do water change before, it would get slightly better than go back to what it was so it's Def the light that's making the difference. Just keep in mind that if you have a big tank, it will be weeks before it clears up
thanks for the review. keeping wire ties is not a bad idea, it is called resource efficiency. but one needs a lot of shelfs and boxes to keep things sorted.
I run 2 24 watt on a 240 African Cichlid tank that is over stocked and the UV Sterilizer has worked magic and my water is beyond crystal clear. I'm very happy with it.
Woody's Discus FB Group Great !!!!! Very well made video.Just the type of UV I need, use it and put it away !!!! First time in many,many, years I have had this algae bloom. Have a pet smart 1 mile from the house !!!!!! Thank You So Very Much, Woody
nice little unit.. looks like it would fit my tank as well... I watched this video at 1.5 speed.. made you sound like a chipmunk but made it alot shorter LOL...
Such liberties you take! But what a good idea. It probably would have been better to give you something nicer to look at while I was talking. It is indeed a great little unit - I used it again and have a short (I promise) update I haven't posted yet. Thx for the feedback...🐿
Thanks for the review. With the advantages being so numerous regarding the killing of various pathogens, etc. what made you decide not to leave it in full time? Have you used it since the video posted in 2016?
Hi David, I removed it once it accomplished what I needed so as not to get it dirty inside or clog the little pump with constant use. I have used it since, and ran it on a saltwater molly breeding tank on and off for several months. I should say though, that this particular product isn’t rated for pathogen removal because it lacks the power and flow rate to do that. It’s perfect for clearing up water though. 👍🏻
I ran mine 24/7 when there was cloudy/hazy water, and removed it when the haze cleared up. The bulb lasted over two years from what I recall. I noticed it was most effective on smaller tanks, up to maybe 30 gallons.
two things for you I have five in these units that connection that you're complaining about you don't have it in all the way you have to push harder it can be very difficult to push it will snap in place. also you want to keep that pumps emerged under the water and helps cool the pump from overheating
Hey Bradley, I appreciate the info, for sure. We tried everything to get those two plugs connected - my husband is a strong guy and even he could not get them connected securely, where they weren't loose and kind of dangling. I consider this a product defect because it shouldn't require this amount of effort to make it work in the first place, and no matter the effort I put into it, I couldn't make it work. Loose electrical connections around salt water make me really nervous. Thank you for the tip about locating the pump so it doesn't overheat, that makes a lot of sense to me. Thanks for watching!
No problem one of mine I took a little sandpaper and sanded the raised plastic on the fitting and it goes over really nice .Good luck the tank looks awesome keep up the awesome videos
I could not tell if the water was clear enough because you did not take the blue light off in your tank will you keep that blue light on it gives the picture of hazy look so showing comparisons isn't that as good as if you would show it just with the white light on just some advice
Hi, that’s awesome. I still use mine. Sorry for the late reply - for some reason RUclips isn’t showing me comments and I have to go searching for them.... Good luck with the GM! 👍🏻
Mine worked fine for 1 year but now it doesn’t pump water as it used to... there barely water coming out from the tube... any idea how can I fix this? I cleaned the tubes but no luck, maybe I need to clean something else that I’m not aware.
Hi Neyser, That little pump can get gunky and can be taken apart for cleaning. I’m assuming you use the little blue sponge that’s included, to filter the water that gets drawn into the light housing? If not, the light section will get dirty and it does not come apart for cleaning. Then whatever gets pulled in there can also end up going through the pump and accumulatIng. This will all reduce water flow. I don’t know if you’ve taken pumps apart for cleaning before but if you haven’t, it’s a good idea to record video of what you’re doing as you take it apart, so you can refer to it later if needed (I’ve done this a lot lol!). And if you don’t have the little blue sponge, small pieces of filter pad also work as long as they’re fairly coarse (if too fine, it impedes water flow). Good luck - let me know if you have any questions. 👍🏻
Hi, just had a quick question. Is the Led light indicator on the control box on when you use this? I recently purchased this and the light does not turn on. Thanks for the help!
Hi! It’s my understanding that if the little LED light isn’t on, the bulb isn’t on. I’d check and make sure all the connections are correct and tight and that the intake port on the bulb (where the blue sponge is) is completely submerged in the water. I’d also rotate the bulb housing underwater to make sure there’s no air trapped in it. I hope this helps. 🤷♀️
I know this video was posted a while ago, but I do have a question. I bought one & I’m wondering do I install it & then plug it in? It’s scary to do so & have fried fish...
Yes - install it where you want it, make sure the suction cups are secure and that the power block (with the 4 suction cups) is NOT above water so it cannot fall in, and that the little blue sponge in the UV tube is submerged below the water line. Check the pump output to be sure it's over the water, then plug it in. The pump itself doesn't have to be completely submerged, as long as the little blue sponge area is completely underwater. Good luck!
My tank is completely green and i was told this can get rid of it. It’s been 3 days and no difference. The light on the back of the box is on. should i do a whole water change and try to keep it running ?
I would keep it running and try and find out what’s encouraging the algae that’s making the water green - light intensity? feeding? etc. It’s possible it’s ongoing and the green machine just can’t keep up.....
Great vid. What was thought about not making it a permanent addition? I read it really helps with Ick parasites. Great design the external pump and hosing always keep me away from sterilizers also. I really love your deliberation toward issues.
Thanks - I figure I'll use it as I need it, then won't have the expense of replacing bulbs often. The reviews I read before buying it were scattered when it came to bulb life. It's so easy to install and remove that I don't mind doing it, say, once a month for a 24 hr period if the water starts to get a bit hazy.
I don't think the green machine cleaned up your size tank in one day it must have been some other reason for your cloudiness usually it takes up to 5 days to see results with the green machine.
Whenever I’ve used it (most recently on my saltwater molly breeding tanks) I’ve had the same results: the water is substantially clearer pretty much overnight. I run actual UV sterilizer units on my two current larger tanks but I’ll always keep a Green Machine handy for when I need to set up a small tank.
The only thing I don't like is that it's difficult to tell if the UV bulb is working or not, except for the very small led as an indicator and you have to trust that if it's on, the bulb is on, according to the manual.
There are many biological processes that occur in captive reef systems and most resolve themselves with time and patience. In my experience any bacterial bloom lasting more than 72 hours needs attention, and fast. The source needs to be identified and eliminated, and the excess bacteria removed from the water column ASAP. Allowing it to go on just means excess bacteria will form white slime, which is a whole other nightmare.
Was it clogging inside the unit? If so, you’re right about maybe using a finer sponge on the intake. And the little pump does come apart for cleaning. If you haven’t already, get yourself a set of these brushes: amzn.to/33MBgTw - the multiple sizes allow cleaning of every part of the pump, even the tiny hole inside the impeller magnet. (Disclosure: This is an amazon affiliate link, so if you buy them, I get a few cents for referring you. 😁) I LOVE these brushes and I don’t know how I ever used to get things clean without them. Good luck, hth. 👍🏻
@@Reefgrrl thanks much. Yeah I got it cleaned up. It was not too clogged. I’m just wondering if the light really tells you if then UV light is working. I have a Sun Sun also and you can see the actual light with a small window.
@@mentalistsa yes! I have a SunSun canister filter with a 9W UV and it has the little blue light on it. I agree with you that the tiny green light isn’t much help. But the bulbs do seem to last a long time. 🤷♀️
My understanding is that the bulb itself can’t be replaced - it’s the entire bulb housing that gets replaced. I’ve not done that because now I’m running an actual UV sterilizer on my system.
Hey Michael, it did a great job clearing the water and I ran mine again during the cycle of my new tank. These days I run a Vecton 8-watt UV sterilizer and it does a stunning job keeping the water crystal clear. Not to mention the added benefit of pest control. Depends on the size tank you have too. I’ll have a video coming out soon about the UV sterilizer. I’ve learned that it’s possible to have a proper sterilizer (as opposed to a clarifier, which the green machine is) even in smaller tanks. It’s a piece of equipment well worth having. Thanks for watching!
These can be very effective at killing parasites and bacterial algae. However the flow rate for the two are completely different. In fact at the protozoan speed its completely ineffective at killing algae. I notice you can adjust the flow rate but does this come with instructions to state at which speed you are working with?
Not that I recall. I always ran it wide open. I still use it periodically to clarify the water if I’m running a QT. Here’s my video specifically on UV: ruclips.net/video/_7I7YO6l9TA/видео.html
Hi James, what gets replaced is the entire housing, from where it attaches to the fitting that then attaches to the pump. So it’s entirely replaceable, very easily. People don’t like that the old one gets thrown away but I see it as a safety feature - there’s much less chance that the tiny bulb won’t seat properly and leak. I still use mine occasionally to clear cloudy water in my molly tank even though I have a UV unit running at level one in that tank. One thing I’ve learned also, is that the pump needs regular cleaning because it’s a powerful little thing, and does draw in debris. I’m still happy with mine though I use it less frequently and only as a water clarifier. 👍🏻
I have this in my 65 gallon tank but noticed the other day the water isn’t cycling though anymore... how would I go about fixing this? The green light is still on so I don’t think it’s the UV light
The intake pump at the bottom might be clogged. They’re powerful little things and it’s normal for them to need cleaning periodically. They come completely apart for cleaning. I have a favourite set of brushes I use for cleaning small pumps - 10 sizes which includes a couple small enough to fit inside the impeller. I love them. They’re on amazon, here: amzn.to/3d8Da2Y (it’s an affiliate link, which means I get paid a few cents if people use the link 😁). Good luck - let me know if you have any questions or if I can help. 👍🏻
Reefgrrl yeah think that was it finally figured out how to take it apart. Now if I could just get it to stay stuck to the glass and not let go that would be great. Haha
@@chrisberg4260 It’s heavy - I found cleaning the glass really well (ran my fingers over the area to remove any coating on the glass) helped. Plus, really pushing on the suction cups to make sure they make full contact.
Hey Michael, I pulled it out and assembled it so everything was in line vertically and the footprint ends up being roughly 3" x 3.5", 9.5" tall to where it would come out of the water. Hope this helps, and thanks for watching!
Hi, there’s a tiny green light on one of the two black boxes (can’t remember which one) which will be lit up when the bulb is operating. Is it a saltwater tank?
Just checked, and the little green light is on the control box which sits outside the tank. That is on, but it only tells me that there is electric current going to the device. the pump does in fact work OK. But I still cannot see how to see if the UV light inside is operative.
@@jon-jamesdougherty9982 My understanding is that if the light is on, the bulb is operating. It’s dangerous to look at UV light, which is why there’s no way to actually view the illuminated lamp. As long as the pump is pulling water in through the bulb assembly, it will pass by the lamp. It may depend on the nature of the cloudy water - and whether whatever is causing the clouding is reproducing so quickly that it outruns the ability of the UV to kill it. 🤔
It worked great in my nano tank to clear up the water, but isn’t true UV sterilization, just clarification. In my present tank I have a true UV sterilizer - I’ve done a video about it: ruclips.net/video/_7I7YO6l9TA/видео.html Thanks for stopping by!
I think I got one that was especially tight. I did eventually get the two ends to connect completely, and now I can’t get them apart. 😂 But that’s fine. 😁
@@Reefgrrl it sounds super There Is No Need To Pick them a part Anyway 😉 I am really looking forward to see if this helps against my algae problem I have only have the UV light for a few days 😊😉👍 have a nice weekend.
I know this is an old post but mine was very hard to snap together as well but with some force and twisting it did finally snap together like the power supply connection.
I used it during the cycle for the XL 425 because the water was very cloudy for over a month. It was very undersized for this system, but it definitely helped. I’m working on a video about UV sterilization, been running an 8W sterilizer for over four months now, and it’s amazing. Not a green machine though.
Hi Sue, in the video starting at around at 4:35 it clearly shows how the unit is mounted, and the picture on the box also shows how the sections are lined up. Hope this helps.
I took mine back to the store for refund after I read in the instructions there is no way to replace the bulb. I researched it and someone tried to take it apart and figured out the bulb socket and connector is incased in the waterproof resin or something like that. Basically there is no way of ever changing the bulb without destroying the conector and breaking the waterproofing. That is terrible because it ends up just being another landfilled waste product that can not be recycled. Why they would make it like this has got me. I guess they rather resell units over and over instead of light bulbs. The green machine is basically a throw away after the bulb wares out/burns out which the experts say UV sterilizers light bulbs should be replace every month to keep it strong and working correctly.
Well, here’s the replacement bulb on Amazon: amzn.to/2Iz7Ek9 Costs under $20. And even if the bulb burns out and you decide not to replace it, the pump is still usable on its own. After being in the aquarium hobby for a while, I’ve learned small pumps always come in handy, for a wide variety of reasons. It turns out the only throwaway is the bulb housing, which obviously is unfortunate, but not the horror show you’re making it out to be. And in all the UV units I’ve researched, I’ve yet to see any credible source say that UV bulbs need replacement monthly - that’s ridiculous. It’s more like once a year, depending on the type of lamp it is. The medium pressure ones don’t last as long as the low pressure, but they all run longer than a month. They don’t degrade - what happens is the crystal sleeve gets coated with gunk, which reduces their effectiveness. When the bulb is done, it simply goes dark. The most expensive components are the lamp and the housing - pumps are rarely included in the larger units. What this means is that you’re mostly paying for the bulb. And I think $20 to replace the bulb is not out of line. I did this video nearly 2 years ago, and I’m still using my Green Killing Machine - right now it’s on my saltwater molly fry tank. And the original bulb is still working. Mind you, I’m a fanatic about cleaning and maintenance, so maybe that’s why I’ve never had any problems with it and it’s still going strong. I hope this information helps you realize this thing isn’t junk just because the bulb and housing are replaced as one unit. I think it’s an elegant solution to most people not knowing the proper way to handle these bulbs and therefore not installing them correctly and ending up with problems.
It was the Green Killing Machine 24 watt I purchased last year and returned it. Now that I think about it you’re right the problem was you can only use their bulbs which are very expensive and you could not change the housing to fit the standard UV bulbs or it will break. The problem was their bulbs were way to expensive and you might as well buy a new unit. According to all the charts I read the less wattage does not kill parasites. The bigger bulbs 15 watts and up kill parasites. That was important to me. I have a SunSun 18 watt now and it works great all for $40. from ebay. I have been using the SunSun for a year now and the bulbs are under $10. I replace every couple of months as suggested.
There is an excellent guide to explain the different types of UV Sanitizers on Dr Fosters website look up "Compare UV Dr Fosters” in Google and you will see the green machine is’t as good.
Here’s the 2 links to explain... Hope this helps www.drsfostersmith.com/pic/article.cfm?articleid=440 www.drsfostersmith.com/pic/article.cfm?dept_id=&aid=435
The green machine isn’t a sterilizer - it’s a clarifier only. It definitely has limitations when it comes to sterilization, and I’ve never said otherwise. When I get cloudy water in a small tank, it clears it up overnight. But I know it doesn’t have the ability to sterilize - only clarify the water. On my big tank I use a Vecton 2 8w low pressure unit. I get level 1 sterilization with it, which is acceptable to me. Here’s a link to my video on UV: ruclips.net/video/_7I7YO6l9TA/видео.html.
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Hands down, YOUR review the the Green Killing Machine is by far the best! I'm going to order the 24W model and install it in my sump filtering a 180 gallon freshwater aquarium. Since adding driftwood about three weeks ago, the aquarium water remains slightly green despite water changes and adding Purigen and Marineland carbon. I'm keeping my fingers crossed the GKM will restore water clarity. Thanks again for patiently making this video and clearly articulating your words.
Thanks for the feedback! It worked great for me - I used it a second time with the same results. I'm not worried about passing every molecule of water past the UV bulb because my aim was to clear up the water and not necessarily kill bacteria or pathogens. Good luck!
just found one of these in my garage from when I moved! i’m so excited to set it up! thank you so much for the amazing review!
Awesome! I still use mine when I need to clear cloudy water on temporary breeding tanks and it works great. 👍🏻👍🏻
You may feel discouraged but don't give up, this works! I have 100 gallon tank, had the machine in there for a week, no change. Did half tank water change, waited a week, did another quarter, waited two more weeks and now after 3 weeks, it has cleared up. When I'd do water change before, it would get slightly better than go back to what it was so it's Def the light that's making the difference. Just keep in mind that if you have a big tank, it will be weeks before it clears up
thanks for the review. keeping wire ties is not a bad idea, it is called resource efficiency. but one needs a lot of shelfs and boxes to keep things sorted.
Lol, the only time I can never find anything, is after I’ve tidied up! 😳
I run 2 24 watt on a 240 African Cichlid tank that is over stocked and the UV Sterilizer has worked magic and my water is beyond crystal clear. I'm very happy with it.
I won’t ever run an aquarium without a UV - I’m amazed at how people are always doubting that they work. 🤷♀️
Nice and thank you for confirming my decision to purchase this for my 35 gallon as i have a Algae bloom to clear up
I still run mine on smaller tanks if a problem pops up - they’re perfect for it. 👍🏻
Woody's Discus FB Group
Great !!!!! Very well made video.Just the type of UV I need, use it and put it away !!!!
First time in many,many, years I have had this algae bloom. Have a pet smart 1 mile from the house !!!!!!
Thank You So Very Much,
Woody
nice little unit.. looks like it would fit my tank as well... I watched this video at 1.5 speed.. made you sound like a chipmunk but made it alot shorter LOL...
Such liberties you take! But what a good idea. It probably would have been better to give you something nicer to look at while I was talking. It is indeed a great little unit - I used it again and have a short (I promise) update I haven't posted yet. Thx for the feedback...🐿
This will fit in Camber 1 on a biocube 29 . thanks for the great review.
Awesome! Thanks for watching!
I just bought a sterilizer made by Coral Life for the bio cube? You're saying this works fine in chamber #1?
Thanks for the review. With the advantages being so numerous regarding the killing of various pathogens, etc. what made you decide not to leave it in full time? Have you used it since the video posted in 2016?
Hi David, I removed it once it accomplished what I needed so as not to get it dirty inside or clog the little pump with constant use. I have used it since, and ran it on a saltwater molly breeding tank on and off for several months. I should say though, that this particular product isn’t rated for pathogen removal because it lacks the power and flow rate to do that. It’s perfect for clearing up water though. 👍🏻
How long should this be ran every day and do you run it 24/7 or do you take it off once it is cleared up. Also how long does the bulb seem to last?
I ran mine 24/7 when there was cloudy/hazy water, and removed it when the haze cleared up. The bulb lasted over two years from what I recall. I noticed it was most effective on smaller tanks, up to maybe 30 gallons.
two things for you I have five in these units that connection that you're complaining about you don't have it in all the way you have to push harder it can be very difficult to push it will snap in place. also you want to keep that pumps emerged under the water and helps cool the pump from overheating
Hey Bradley, I appreciate the info, for sure. We tried everything to get those two plugs connected - my husband is a strong guy and even he could not get them connected securely, where they weren't loose and kind of dangling. I consider this a product defect because it shouldn't require this amount of effort to make it work in the first place, and no matter the effort I put into it, I couldn't make it work. Loose electrical connections around salt water make me really nervous. Thank you for the tip about locating the pump so it doesn't overheat, that makes a lot of sense to me. Thanks for watching!
No problem one of mine I took a little sandpaper and sanded the raised plastic on the fitting and it goes over really nice .Good luck the tank looks awesome keep up the awesome videos
mine was the same super tight you really have to give it a good push.
When mine came in I had the same problem with the connector and a bit of elbow grease popped that sucker right into place
I could not tell if the water was clear enough because you did not take the blue light off in your tank will you keep that blue light on it gives the picture of hazy look so showing comparisons isn't that as good as if you would show it just with the white light on just some advice
Just ordered one of these thanks for the review
Hi, that’s awesome. I still use mine. Sorry for the late reply - for some reason RUclips isn’t showing me comments and I have to go searching for them.... Good luck with the GM! 👍🏻
@@Reefgrrl no worries thanks
Very good Reefgrrl! I think I will have to get one of those! 😀👍
Mine worked fine for 1 year but now it doesn’t pump water as it used to... there barely water coming out from the tube... any idea how can I fix this? I cleaned the tubes but no luck, maybe I need to clean something else that I’m not aware.
Hi Neyser, That little pump can get gunky and can be taken apart for cleaning. I’m assuming you use the little blue sponge that’s included, to filter the water that gets drawn into the light housing? If not, the light section will get dirty and it does not come apart for cleaning. Then whatever gets pulled in there can also end up going through the pump and accumulatIng. This will all reduce water flow. I don’t know if you’ve taken pumps apart for cleaning before but if you haven’t, it’s a good idea to record video of what you’re doing as you take it apart, so you can refer to it later if needed (I’ve done this a lot lol!). And if you don’t have the little blue sponge, small pieces of filter pad also work as long as they’re fairly coarse (if too fine, it impedes water flow). Good luck - let me know if you have any questions. 👍🏻
Hi, just had a quick question. Is the Led light indicator on the control box on when you use this? I recently purchased this and the light does not turn on. Thanks for the help!
Hi! It’s my understanding that if the little LED light isn’t on, the bulb isn’t on. I’d check and make sure all the connections are correct and tight and that the intake port on the bulb (where the blue sponge is) is completely submerged in the water. I’d also rotate the bulb housing underwater to make sure there’s no air trapped in it. I hope this helps. 🤷♀️
I know this video was posted a while ago, but I do have a question. I bought one & I’m wondering do I install it & then plug it in? It’s scary to do so & have fried fish...
Yes - install it where you want it, make sure the suction cups are secure and that the power block (with the 4 suction cups) is NOT above water so it cannot fall in, and that the little blue sponge in the UV tube is submerged below the water line. Check the pump output to be sure it's over the water, then plug it in. The pump itself doesn't have to be completely submerged, as long as the little blue sponge area is completely underwater. Good luck!
My tank is completely green and i was told this can get rid of it. It’s been 3 days and no difference. The light on the back of the box is on. should i do a whole water change and try to keep it running ?
I would keep it running and try and find out what’s encouraging the algae that’s making the water green - light intensity? feeding? etc. It’s possible it’s ongoing and the green machine just can’t keep up.....
@@Reefgrrl i did a full water change and have kept it running. the green water never came back but it’s still a bit cloudy ish
I hope it eventually works for you. I consider it a really useful tool. 👍🏻
Great vid. What was thought about not making it a permanent addition? I read it really helps with Ick parasites. Great design the external pump and hosing always keep me away from sterilizers also. I really love your deliberation toward issues.
Thanks - I figure I'll use it as I need it, then won't have the expense of replacing bulbs often. The reviews I read before buying it were scattered when it came to bulb life. It's so easy to install and remove that I don't mind doing it, say, once a month for a 24 hr period if the water starts to get a bit hazy.
Push hard onthat connector it will snap together and make a water tight seal. It is hard to seat it completely but it will go.
I don't think the green machine cleaned up your size tank in one day it must have been some other reason for your cloudiness usually it takes up to 5 days to see results with the green machine.
Whenever I’ve used it (most recently on my saltwater molly breeding tanks) I’ve had the same results: the water is substantially clearer pretty much overnight. I run actual UV sterilizer units on my two current larger tanks but I’ll always keep a Green Machine handy for when I need to set up a small tank.
The only thing I don't like is that it's difficult to tell if the UV bulb is working or not, except for the very small led as an indicator and you have to trust that if it's on, the bulb is on, according to the manual.
You’re 100% right, and I agree!
I just got one set it up and my led light did not come on. Is it a dud
A bactrrial bloom is normal after new setup. 1-2 weeks and its gone. Interfering with it just postpones the innevitable.
There are many biological processes that occur in captive reef systems and most resolve themselves with time and patience. In my experience any bacterial bloom lasting more than 72 hours needs attention, and fast. The source needs to be identified and eliminated, and the excess bacteria removed from the water column ASAP. Allowing it to go on just means excess bacteria will form white slime, which is a whole other nightmare.
Had for one day. Seems to clog up fast. Maybe replacing coarse sponge with finer one? Also need to know how to clean the power head.
Was it clogging inside the unit? If so, you’re right about maybe using a finer sponge on the intake. And the little pump does come apart for cleaning. If you haven’t already, get yourself a set of these brushes: amzn.to/33MBgTw - the multiple sizes allow cleaning of every part of the pump, even the tiny hole inside the impeller magnet. (Disclosure: This is an amazon affiliate link, so if you buy them, I get a few cents for referring you. 😁) I LOVE these brushes and I don’t know how I ever used to get things clean without them. Good luck, hth. 👍🏻
@@Reefgrrl thanks much. Yeah I got it cleaned up. It was not too clogged. I’m just wondering if the light really tells you if then UV light is working. I have a Sun Sun also and you can see the actual light with a small window.
@@mentalistsa yes! I have a SunSun canister filter with a 9W UV and it has the little blue light on it. I agree with you that the tiny green light isn’t much help. But the bulbs do seem to last a long time. 🤷♀️
Good job on your review of this product. Do you know when and how to replace the bulb?
My understanding is that the bulb itself can’t be replaced - it’s the entire bulb housing that gets replaced. I’ve not done that because now I’m running an actual UV sterilizer on my system.
When the light goes out!
@@aspro1010 how can you tell?
Your review helped so much thanks!!
I’m so glad to hear that! I’ll have a video out soon about UV sterilization. Thanks for watching!
Day one for me,,looking for great results
Thanks so much I will be ordering one for my sump
Hey Michael, it did a great job clearing the water and I ran mine again during the cycle of my new tank. These days I run a Vecton 8-watt UV sterilizer and it does a stunning job keeping the water crystal clear. Not to mention the added benefit of pest control. Depends on the size tank you have too. I’ll have a video coming out soon about the UV sterilizer. I’ve learned that it’s possible to have a proper sterilizer (as opposed to a clarifier, which the green machine is) even in smaller tanks. It’s a piece of equipment well worth having. Thanks for watching!
These can be very effective at killing parasites and bacterial algae. However the flow rate for the two are completely different. In fact at the protozoan speed its completely ineffective at killing algae. I notice you can adjust the flow rate but does this come with instructions to state at which speed you are working with?
Not that I recall. I always ran it wide open. I still use it periodically to clarify the water if I’m running a QT. Here’s my video specifically on UV: ruclips.net/video/_7I7YO6l9TA/видео.html
@@Reefgrrl cool thanks. I just ordered a 3W Green Killing machine. Excited to see how it works for me.
@@Reefgrrl if you get a chance I just started my channel. Check out my first ever edited video. ruclips.net/video/L1pYYZM7eRo/видео.html
Excellent !!
Is it mandatory to connect the pump
Yes - there won’t be water flow moving across the UV lamp unless the pump is running.
Hi Reefgrrl
Can you tell me is the bulb replaceable? Thx
Hi James, what gets replaced is the entire housing, from where it attaches to the fitting that then attaches to the pump. So it’s entirely replaceable, very easily. People don’t like that the old one gets thrown away but I see it as a safety feature - there’s much less chance that the tiny bulb won’t seat properly and leak. I still use mine occasionally to clear cloudy water in my molly tank even though I have a UV unit running at level one in that tank. One thing I’ve learned also, is that the pump needs regular cleaning because it’s a powerful little thing, and does draw in debris. I’m still happy with mine though I use it less frequently and only as a water clarifier. 👍🏻
I have this in my 65 gallon tank but noticed the other day the water isn’t cycling though anymore... how would I go about fixing this? The green light is still on so I don’t think it’s the UV light
The intake pump at the bottom might be clogged. They’re powerful little things and it’s normal for them to need cleaning periodically. They come completely apart for cleaning. I have a favourite set of brushes I use for cleaning small pumps - 10 sizes which includes a couple small enough to fit inside the impeller. I love them. They’re on amazon, here: amzn.to/3d8Da2Y (it’s an affiliate link, which means I get paid a few cents if people use the link 😁). Good luck - let me know if you have any questions or if I can help. 👍🏻
Reefgrrl yeah think that was it finally figured out how to take it apart. Now if I could just get it to stay stuck to the glass and not let go that would be great. Haha
@@chrisberg4260 It’s heavy - I found cleaning the glass really well (ran my fingers over the area to remove any coating on the glass) helped. Plus, really pushing on the suction cups to make sure they make full contact.
Reefgrrl You’re awesome! Thanks for taking the time to help 💯👏🏼
@@chrisberg4260 Always my pleasure! ☺️
Do you have the dimmensions? Wondering if this would fit in the back of an all in one aquarium.
Hey Michael, I pulled it out and assembled it so everything was in line vertically and the footprint ends up being roughly 3" x 3.5", 9.5" tall to where it would come out of the water. Hope this helps, and thanks for watching!
Does the control box have a led lit when its working properly
It does. It’s a small green light.
I don't see your green indicator light on control is it on cause i just bought one but no light
It’s on, but it’s very very faint and hard to see.
Thank you for replying I think I bought mine broken
@@grambeats3525 same thing for me I plugged in. No led light
How can I check if the UV is in fact operating? I have had it in my 30 gallon tank for 5 days now and absolutley no difference!
Hi, there’s a tiny green light on one of the two black boxes (can’t remember which one) which will be lit up when the bulb is operating. Is it a saltwater tank?
@@Reefgrrl Many thanks I will now check. The tank is freshwater, with a temp of 22C.
Just checked, and the little green light is on the control box which sits outside the tank. That is on, but it only tells me that there is electric current going to the device. the pump does in fact work OK. But I still cannot see how to see if the UV light inside is operative.
@@jon-jamesdougherty9982 My understanding is that if the light is on, the bulb is operating. It’s dangerous to look at UV light, which is why there’s no way to actually view the illuminated lamp. As long as the pump is pulling water in through the bulb assembly, it will pass by the lamp. It may depend on the nature of the cloudy water - and whether whatever is causing the clouding is reproducing so quickly that it outruns the ability of the UV to kill it. 🤔
@@Reefgrrl many thanks for the reply. However there was no way to check if the light was on or not. The UV bulb is completely sealed.
so do u like it or nah cuz i have the same thing at home
It worked great in my nano tank to clear up the water, but isn’t true UV sterilization, just clarification. In my present tank I have a true UV sterilizer - I’ve done a video about it: ruclips.net/video/_7I7YO6l9TA/видео.html Thanks for stopping by!
My reef tank was like milk with bacteria bloom, this corrected it over night.
It works really well in cases like that, thanks for letting me know. 👍🏻
There is nothing wrong with Connector just put the heart together a network Drive little Click and it will be a tight Fit 😊😉👍
I think I got one that was especially tight. I did eventually get the two ends to connect completely, and now I can’t get them apart. 😂 But that’s fine. 😁
@@Reefgrrl it sounds super There Is No Need To Pick them a part Anyway 😉 I am really looking forward to see if this helps against my algae problem I have only have the UV light for a few days 😊😉👍 have a nice weekend.
very nice vid helped alot
Glad to hear it, and thanks for watching!
I know this is an old post but mine was very hard to snap together as well but with some force and twisting it did finally snap together like the power supply connection.
Can it be installed sideways?
As long as the intake (on the bulb section) is submerged, you can orient it any way it fits.
I got mine and it did the same thing but after some elbow grease the connection fit just right
Do you still use this? did it help? :)
I used it during the cycle for the XL 425 because the water was very cloudy for over a month. It was very undersized for this system, but it definitely helped. I’m working on a video about UV sterilization, been running an 8W sterilizer for over four months now, and it’s amazing. Not a green machine though.
What size should I get for a 30 gallon system?
My system is 30 gallons total so the same size as I got - 9 watt - should work.
Your suppose to leave it in your tank!! otherwise the cloudiness will come back... i have one permanently in my tank & 24/7 its clear
I ran it 24/7 in my molly breeding tank and it worked great.
I ran mine just long enough to clear up the cloudiness which was 3 months ago and the cloudiness has never returned.
Can I just run it & discount it? But leave it in?
Nice vid
👍❤
Have mine running for 12 hours, no difference 😟
Give it time, and check that the glass is clean - sounds obvious, but if your glass has an algae film on it, the water will look cloudy. 🤷♀️
You are suppose to use it all the time to be affective!
Depends what you’re trying to achieve - at best this is a clarifier the way I use it. 🤷♀️
*Supposed
went strait from unbboxing to being in tank. No how to put into tank
Hi Sue, in the video starting at around at 4:35 it clearly shows how the unit is mounted, and the picture on the box also shows how the sections are lined up. Hope this helps.
The snails could have got excited with all the algae and released sperm into the water.
Well, they were all stuck together in a big clump when I put them into the sump....
I took mine back to the store for refund after I read in the instructions there is no way to replace the bulb. I researched it and someone tried to take it apart and figured out the bulb socket and connector is incased in the waterproof resin or something like that. Basically there is no way of ever changing the bulb without destroying the conector and breaking the waterproofing. That is terrible because it ends up just being another landfilled waste product that can not be recycled. Why they would make it like this has got me. I guess they rather resell units over and over instead of light bulbs. The green machine is basically a throw away after the bulb wares out/burns out which the experts say UV sterilizers light bulbs should be replace every month to keep it strong and working correctly.
Well, here’s the replacement bulb on Amazon: amzn.to/2Iz7Ek9
Costs under $20. And even if the bulb burns out and you decide not to replace it, the pump is still usable on its own. After being in the aquarium hobby for a while, I’ve learned small pumps always come in handy, for a wide variety of reasons.
It turns out the only throwaway is the bulb housing, which obviously is unfortunate, but not the horror show you’re making it out to be.
And in all the UV units I’ve researched, I’ve yet to see any credible source say that UV bulbs need replacement monthly - that’s ridiculous. It’s more like once a year, depending on the type of lamp it is. The medium pressure ones don’t last as long as the low pressure, but they all run longer than a month. They don’t degrade - what happens is the crystal sleeve gets coated with gunk, which reduces their effectiveness. When the bulb is done, it simply goes dark.
The most expensive components are the lamp and the housing - pumps are rarely included in the larger units. What this means is that you’re mostly paying for the bulb. And I think $20 to replace the bulb is not out of line. I did this video nearly 2 years ago, and I’m still using my Green Killing Machine - right now it’s on my saltwater molly fry tank. And the original bulb is still working. Mind you, I’m a fanatic about cleaning and maintenance, so maybe that’s why I’ve never had any problems with it and it’s still going strong.
I hope this information helps you realize this thing isn’t junk just because the bulb and housing are replaced as one unit. I think it’s an elegant solution to most people not knowing the proper way to handle these bulbs and therefore not installing them correctly and ending up with problems.
It was the Green Killing Machine 24 watt I purchased last year and returned it. Now that I think about it you’re right the problem was you can only use their bulbs which are very expensive and you could not change the housing to fit the standard UV bulbs or it will break. The problem was their bulbs were way to expensive and you might as well buy a new unit. According to all the charts I read the less wattage does not kill parasites. The bigger bulbs 15 watts and up kill parasites. That was important to me. I have a SunSun 18 watt now and it works great all for $40. from ebay. I have been using the SunSun for a year now and the bulbs are under $10. I replace every couple of months as suggested.
There is an excellent guide to explain the different types of UV Sanitizers on Dr Fosters website look up "Compare UV Dr Fosters” in Google and you will see the green machine is’t as good.
Here’s the 2 links to explain... Hope this helps www.drsfostersmith.com/pic/article.cfm?articleid=440
www.drsfostersmith.com/pic/article.cfm?dept_id=&aid=435
The green machine isn’t a sterilizer - it’s a clarifier only. It definitely has limitations when it comes to sterilization, and I’ve never said otherwise. When I get cloudy water in a small tank, it clears it up overnight. But I know it doesn’t have the ability to sterilize - only clarify the water.
On my big tank I use a Vecton 2 8w low pressure unit. I get level 1 sterilization with it, which is acceptable to me. Here’s a link to my video on UV: ruclips.net/video/_7I7YO6l9TA/видео.html.