Biosecurity for marine research and aquaria seawater — correctly-dosed UV and ozone that control pathogens between sea and tank, sized for seawater’s low UV transmittance and engineered so no oxidant residual ever reaches living stock.
Disinfecting seawater for living stock is a balance: enough dose to control pathogens and inter-tank cross-infection, but absolutely no residual oxidant reaching the animals. Seawater complicates both UV and ozone — its UV transmittance is lower than freshwater (so UV reactors must be sized accordingly), and ozonating seawater produces bromine-based oxidants and bromate that must be controlled and destroyed. Reynolds & Bauhm designs UV and ozone for marine systems to deliver reliable biosecurity while protecting the stock and meeting the discharge consent.
The UV dose (mJ/cm²) needed rises with the target organism — from tens of mJ/cm² for bacteria to far higher for resistant parasites and spores. We size each reactor to the design organism and flow.
Seawater absorbs UV more strongly than freshwater, so reactors are sized on the actual UV transmittance after filtration — clean, well-filtered water makes UV far more effective and economical.
UV SystemsAutomatic sleeve wiping keeps quartz clear in seawater, and UV-intensity monitoring with validated reactors confirms the delivered dose continuously — no residual to harm stock.
Ozone is a strong oxidant that disinfects, breaks down dissolved organics and removes colour — giving exceptional water clarity and lowering the load on UV and filtration.
Dose is controlled to an ORP set-point so disinfection is consistent without over-dosing — critical in seawater, where excess ozone forms bromine residuals.
Total residual oxidant is destroyed (de-gassing, UV or carbon) before water reaches the stock, and bromate formation is managed by dose control — protecting both the animals and the discharge.
| Factor | UV | Ozone |
|---|---|---|
| Primary role | Disinfection (no residual) | Disinfection + clarity + organics |
| Residual risk to stock | None (light only) | Must be fully destroyed first |
| Seawater caveat | Lower UVT → size up | Bromine/bromate → control & destruct |
| Clarity benefit | Minimal | Significant |
| Typical use | Inter-tank & supply biosecurity | High-clarity / high-biosecurity systems |
Many marine facilities use ozone for clarity and oxidation followed by UV as the final, residual-free disinfection barrier immediately before the tanks — the combination gives both crystal-clear water and a fail-safe, stock-safe finish.
Give us the flow, the biosecurity target and the species — we’ll size UV and/or ozone for seawater and engineer the residual control that keeps the stock safe.
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