Caution: Coralife Turbo-Twist UV Sterilizer internal rust?

navychief · 01/29/2017, 02:57 PM

Hello everyone:

I wanted to share a potentially reef damaging discovery I made after taking apart my UV sterilizer for cleaning. I'd like to know if anyone else who owns this model has made a similar discovery?

After taking the main body housing apart from the top, I found what appears to be rust with the housing's reflective surface. See pic...

It appears that the reflective sleeve within the housing has rusted. This unit is right at a year old. I'm planning to contact Coralife.

If it is rust, then maybe that will explain why I've been battling some unknown problem with my corals not completely opening. This is something I've been battling for quite some time.

Chief out.

ElementalJ · 01/29/2017, 03:53 PM

You didn't have any stray current in the tank? Looks to me like the sleeve was leaking Into the light fixture.

navychief · 01/29/2017, 05:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ElementalJ

You didn't have any stray current in the tank? Looks to me like the sleeve was leaking Into the light fixture.

Nope. No known stray currents. I will say that when I got it, I looked inside the housing (while assembling) and wondered how the mfg was able to get the nice, reflective surface (metallic looking) not to react to salt water. I believe there's a coating on the reflective surface...or was a coating that was eventually breached allowing the salt to do its thing.

ElementalJ · 01/29/2017, 05:47 PM

Wow. Definitely talking note since I've used that very same sterilizer in the past. Never had an issue.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

ElementalJ · 01/29/2017, 05:50 PM

And you've contacted them as In today? I can't wait to see what they say. I've contacted manufacturers in the past for all sorts of things. Some respond some do not. Dependent on who is handling things.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

navychief · 01/29/2017, 06:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ElementalJ

And you've contacted them as In today? I can't wait to see what they say. I've contacted manufacturers in the past for all sorts of things. Some respond some do not. Dependent on who is handling things.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Sent them an email with picture. I'll let ya know what they say. In the mean time, I hope people in the hobby are aware if they own one of these.

ElementalJ · 01/29/2017, 09:23 PM

Thanks for the heads up!

ReefCowboy · 01/29/2017, 10:52 PM

Thanks for the heads up. Rust is one of those things that makes you pull all your hair from the head, not knowing what the hell is going on, and corals start doing bad/dying

GimpyFin · 01/30/2017, 08:46 AM

I used a Coralife turbo twist briefly a few years ago and yes they start to rust after about 3-4 months of use in saltwater. The plastic they use on the UV housing can break down with UV light, so they put a metal sleeve inside to help (Cheap construction.) Coralife will tell you it is fine since GFO (Rust) is often used in aquariums as a filter medium. Want a good UV? Get an Aqua UV classic instead, they are way better, IMO.

navychief · 02/28/2017, 03:09 PM

Update: No response from Coralife on the UV light rusting. So with that, I'm not really inclined to purchase anything from them again.

Chief out

irishmarine · 09/28/2018, 11:05 AM

Just came across the same issue

Do NOt buy from Coralife! They know of the issue and never did a recall costing thousands in lost livestock

Raptor72 · 09/28/2018, 04:55 PM

I dealt with them regarding this issue back in 2015. They were fully aware of it, stated that they had no intention of updating their product and that they could send me a new one. I have one that I'm using right now only because it was given to me but I'll be planning to call them again at the first sign of rust.

Ok, now it's starting to be an obsession

Raptor72 · 11/02/2018, 01:20 AM

Funny how we were just talking about this last month. Mine made a popping noise the other day and sure enough, the water had made its way into the bulb chamber.

I called them up and they are sending me out a new shiny turd

. Don’t ever buy this product, it’s a waste of money. They are aware of the issues and have no plans to redesign their product, their words, not mine.

tkeracer619 · 11/02/2018, 08:51 AM

They're junk to begin with. These issues have been seen on and off since they came out.

01/29/2017, 03:53 PM	#2
ElementalJ Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Florida Posts: 88	Caution: Coralife Turbo-Twist UV Sterilizer internal rust? You didn't have any stray current in the tank? Looks to me like the sleeve was leaking Into the light fixture. __________________ I prefer the company of my reef. Current Tank Info: 56g Tall, 10g fuge, Dosing suppliments.

01/29/2017, 05:47 PM	#4
ElementalJ Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Florida Posts: 88	Wow. Definitely talking note since I've used that very same sterilizer in the past. Never had an issue. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk __________________ I prefer the company of my reef. Current Tank Info: 56g Tall, 10g fuge, Dosing suppliments.

01/29/2017, 05:50 PM	#5
ElementalJ Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Florida Posts: 88	And you've contacted them as In today? I can't wait to see what they say. I've contacted manufacturers in the past for all sorts of things. Some respond some do not. Dependent on who is handling things. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk __________________ I prefer the company of my reef. Current Tank Info: 56g Tall, 10g fuge, Dosing suppliments.

01/29/2017, 09:23 PM	#7
ElementalJ Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Florida Posts: 88	Thanks for the heads up! __________________ I prefer the company of my reef. Current Tank Info: 56g Tall, 10g fuge, Dosing suppliments.

01/29/2017, 10:52 PM	#8
ReefCowboy Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Long Island, New York Posts: 1,742	Thanks for the heads up. Rust is one of those things that makes you pull all your hair from the head, not knowing what the hell is going on, and corals start doing bad/dying __________________ Rimless 150 Gal Sps System: Giesemann Spectra/New Apex/2x MP40qd's+ 2x Gyre XF250's/Cor20/Custom Stand, Sump and Algae Scrubber/2x DOS dosing/Skimz Octa 205i Skimmer

01/30/2017, 08:46 AM	#9
GimpyFin Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 2,032	I used a Coralife turbo twist briefly a few years ago and yes they start to rust after about 3-4 months of use in saltwater. The plastic they use on the UV housing can break down with UV light, so they put a metal sleeve inside to help (Cheap construction.) Coralife will tell you it is fine since GFO (Rust) is often used in aquariums as a filter medium. Want a good UV? Get an Aqua UV classic instead, they are way better, IMO. __________________ Brian Current Tank Info: 110 gallon

02/28/2017, 03:09 PM	#10
navychief "Shellback" Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Maryland Posts: 541	Update: No response from Coralife on the UV light rusting. So with that, I'm not really inclined to purchase anything from them again. Chief out

09/28/2018, 11:05 AM	#11
irishmarine Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: MA, USA Posts: 86	Just came across the same issue Do NOt buy from Coralife! They know of the issue and never did a recall costing thousands in lost livestock __________________ Red Sea Max 650 (180G) Reef tank Current Tank Info: Red Sea Max 650 (180G), T5 (800w), 2x250 Maxspect Gyre, Refugium

09/28/2018, 04:55 PM	#12
Raptor72 Registered Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Wildomar, CA Posts: 1,112	I dealt with them regarding this issue back in 2015. They were fully aware of it, stated that they had no intention of updating their product and that they could send me a new one. I have one that I'm using right now only because it was given to me but I'll be planning to call them again at the first sign of rust. Ok, now it's starting to be an obsession __________________ Ok,.... Now it's turning into an obsession Current Tank Info: Red Sea Reefer 750 XXL, Red Sea 170

11/02/2018, 01:20 AM	#13
Raptor72 Registered Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Wildomar, CA Posts: 1,112	Funny how we were just talking about this last month. Mine made a popping noise the other day and sure enough, the water had made its way into the bulb chamber. I called them up and they are sending me out a new shiny turd . Don’t ever buy this product, it’s a waste of money. They are aware of the issues and have no plans to redesign their product, their words, not mine. __________________ Ok,.... Now it's turning into an obsession Current Tank Info: Red Sea Reefer 750 XXL, Red Sea 170

11/02/2018, 08:51 AM	#14
tkeracer619 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Westminster, CO Posts: 17,289	They're junk to begin with. These issues have been seen on and off since they came out. __________________ Hobby Experience: 9200ish gallons, 26 skimmers, and a handful of Kent Scrapers. Current Tank: Vortech Powered 600G SPS Tank w/ 100gal frag tank & 100g Sump. RK2-RK10 Skimmer. ReefAngel. Radium 20k.