new Aqua UV unit showing rust?

jsong · 01/02/2018, 11:21 AM

Recently installed a new Aqua UV Classic 160watt unit with the wipers. Ran for just over a month and I noticed a rust coloured formation on the outside around the wiper nut. Took apart the unit and had this rust substance on some of the wiper rods, a bit on the bulb and on the wiper rings.

Is this rust? Anyone encounter this? Unit has been offline for a week and my SPS corals are showing greater polyp extension and was wondering if there is a with this.

Reached out to Aqua’s customer service but haven’t heard back. Guessing they’re getting back from holidays.

JohnnyHildo · 01/02/2018, 05:31 PM

in the 3 cases of people i know that bought aqua uv's with the wiper all 3 leaked from the exact same spot, 2 of which were leaking rusty water into the sump.
i'm sure ,when working properly, these are great units but how can a person justify the asking price when they're destined to leak if you even breath on the wiper?
aqua uv needs to fix their wiper or outright delete it.

slief · 01/02/2018, 09:39 PM

I would contact AquaUV. I run a 114 watt unit with the wipers which I’ve had for years and never had issues with the wiper arm rusting and I break mine down completely every year when I change my bulbs and would absolutely know if that was an issue on mine. I’ve also installed several on customers tanks with the wipers as well and never seen that issue.

Yes, the wiper arm will drip a drop or 2 at the seal when using the wiper but that is completely normal always stops immediately when the wiper is pushed back in. One thing I always do is apply some silicone grease to the wiper seals when I service the unit and I also replace the seals every 2 years as a precaution. AquaUV has very good service and support and if you bought this unit new, I am sure they will take care of you.

jsong · 01/03/2018, 06:41 PM

AquaUV's customer support was great. They're sending me replacement wipers and wiper nuts.

They're also sending me 'plugs' so I can just convert my wiper unit into a non-wiper unit which I'm going to just do. Feel more comfortable without have the metal wiper rods in there and will just do old-fashioned maintenance on the unit going forward.

slief · 01/03/2018, 06:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jsong

AquaUV's customer support was great. They're sending me replacement wipers and wiper nuts.

They're also sending me 'plugs' so I can just convert my wiper unit into a non-wiper unit which I'm going to just do. Feel more comfortable without have the metal wiper rods in there and will just do old-fashioned maintenance on the unit going forward.

Great to hear!

d2mini · 01/03/2018, 08:20 PM

This thread just reminded me that I'm running an AquaUV (non-wiper)!
I should probably clean the bulb after running it for the past 7 months.

RobZilla04 · 01/04/2018, 06:05 AM

How often is everyone cleaning the quartz sleeves?

01/02/2018, 05:31 PM	#2
JohnnyHildo Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Posts: 669	in the 3 cases of people i know that bought aqua uv's with the wiper all 3 leaked from the exact same spot, 2 of which were leaking rusty water into the sump. i'm sure ,when working properly, these are great units but how can a person justify the asking price when they're destined to leak if you even breath on the wiper? aqua uv needs to fix their wiper or outright delete it. __________________ 120G Standard - 40G Sump. Apex - DOS - ATI Current Tank Info: Acros - Zoas - Palys

01/02/2018, 09:39 PM	#3
slief RC Sponsor Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 14,173	I would contact AquaUV. I run a 114 watt unit with the wipers which I’ve had for years and never had issues with the wiper arm rusting and I break mine down completely every year when I change my bulbs and would absolutely know if that was an issue on mine. I’ve also installed several on customers tanks with the wipers as well and never seen that issue. Yes, the wiper arm will drip a drop or 2 at the seal when using the wiper but that is completely normal always stops immediately when the wiper is pushed back in. One thing I always do is apply some silicone grease to the wiper seals when I service the unit and I also replace the seals every 2 years as a precaution. AquaUV has very good service and support and if you bought this unit new, I am sure they will take care of you. __________________ Director Customer Support Royal Exclusiv USA For All Royal Exclusiv & Bubble King questions please refer to our Sponsor forum: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/fo...play.php?f=745 Current Tank Info: 480G display mixed reef, 90G sump, 90G refugium, 60G display refugium. Check out my build thread: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1783476

01/03/2018, 08:20 PM	#6
d2mini Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 10,344	This thread just reminded me that I'm running an AquaUV (non-wiper)! I should probably clean the bulb after running it for the past 7 months. __________________ -dennis Elos Diamond 120xl \| Elos Stand \| Radion G4 Pros \| GHL Profilux Controller \| LifeReef Skimmer \| LifeReef Sump Photos taken with a Nikon D750 or Leica M.

01/04/2018, 06:05 AM	#7
RobZilla04 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: St. Augustine, FL Posts: 1,857	How often is everyone cleaning the quartz sleeves? __________________ 90g Mixed Reef

01/03/2018, 06:41 PM	#4
jsong Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 53	AquaUV's customer support was great. They're sending me replacement wipers and wiper nuts. They're also sending me 'plugs' so I can just convert my wiper unit into a non-wiper unit which I'm going to just do. Feel more comfortable without have the metal wiper rods in there and will just do old-fashioned maintenance on the unit going forward.