UV Sterilizer Placement?

Bake@96.6 · 12/16/2013, 10:27 AM

Hello,

I have a 125G DT with a 90G sump refugium in the basement. I am running a Blueline 70HD on the return going through an Aqua UV sterilizer.

It was suggested to me at a LFS that running the entire return flow through the UV was too much flow and that to reap greater benefits from the UV I should split the return and valve the input to the UV to reduce the flow rate.

Anyone also think this would be better?

My concern is that splitting the flow would alter the flow rate to the DT and effect the water level in my sump. I do have gate valves on the drain lines from the DT that I could adjust to compensate if needed.

Would cutting back the flow through the UV make that big of a difference?

Shan69743 · 12/16/2013, 10:30 AM

a UV doesn't do a whole lot unless its treating all the water. so only putting 50% of the water through it is only going to be treating 50% of the tank.

GatorAlum05 · 12/16/2013, 10:43 AM

Actually. Each uv has a minimum and maximum flow for the intended purpose. Find this middle ground first. And for accuracy, plumb this proper pump with the flow to your uv.

Boa1277 · 12/16/2013, 09:27 PM

I run a water polisher canister filter to pull my UV and my chiller water. I can run about 300GPH and this kills everything I need it to including Dino. Good luck with yours I personally am a big fan of UV but if you run to much flow you will only get about 1/2 or less of the performance.

FlyPenFly · 12/16/2013, 09:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shan69743

a UV doesn't do a whole lot unless its treating all the water. so only putting 50% of the water through it is only going to be treating 50% of the tank.

This doesn't make any sense.

shaginwagon13 · 12/16/2013, 09:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FlyPenFly

This doesn't make any sense.

lol +1

krzyphsygy · 12/16/2013, 10:05 PM

Try and get as little flow as possible through it, my aqua uv is plumbed on the split return like your thinking. Only problem running the whole return through it is you will need like a 150watt uv to get the slow rate needed to kill what you want. By doing it off the split, you still get good kill rates.

Timber77 · 12/16/2013, 10:26 PM

you could still split the return, valve to the uv and have the uv output directed into the tank, flow rate is gonna depend on which brand/model of uv you have. most have charts, would recommend starting with flow rate the manufacturer recommends.

Bake@96.6 · 12/17/2013, 10:38 PM

It's and Aqua UV 57W driven by a Blueline 70HD @ about 8' of head. I am estimating the GPH to be around 1050-1100.

It was suggested to get the flow through the UV to around 400-500.

The thing is there is only a single 1" return line that goes from the basement up to the canopy where it runs along the length of the tank into 3 dual locline fittings. There is a gate valve on each locline as well, they are all wide open. The original idea was that they would help balance the flow between the first spout and the last one on the other side of the tank but when I started the system up they all just ended up wide open.

I would have to T off the pump then put another T after the UV to merge the streams back together.

I have gate valves on the drains from the tank that are currently wide open. I could partially close them to adjust the flow into the sump

Here's a few older shots to help give an idea...

krzyphsygy · 12/18/2013, 10:32 AM

Why not install the uv as close the the tank as possible to reduce flow to the unit. Place a gate valve before the uv to lower the flow. How much flow are you estimating your getting around where the uv will be placed if you placed right near the tank?
I fell the slower the flow through the sump he better skim mate your gonna get anyway. Plus I am not sure what you are using the uv for, but check the formula for kill rates. I am trying to get around 240,000. I also run an aqua uv 57 watt.

Bake@96.6 · 12/20/2013, 05:32 PM

Well,

According to the numbers on the Aqua UV site the exposure is around 90,000 at 1066GPH at End of Bulb Life.

That seems like quite adequate exposure to maybe even a bit high since I am starting to put corals in no?

SunnyB · 12/26/2013, 08:42 PM

If you make the flow through the UV too slow it would kill the planktonic food in your reef.

krzyphsygy · 12/26/2013, 10:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SunnyB

If you make the flow through the UV too slow it would kill the planktonic food in your reef.

IMO you want it very slow, like around 400gph, that will give you a good kill rate of like 190,000. I strive for 250,000. Planktonic food will get smashed but your skimmer is removing it daily as well.
I run mine at about 400gph 57 watt aqua uv and my reef looks fine, corals totally unaffected by it. Its my fish that see the benefit.

Dbondaruk · 12/26/2013, 10:39 PM

Would be useless to run uv during day and turn off at night?

krzyphsygy · 12/27/2013, 10:40 AM

Yes, you want to run it 24/7. Plus every time you turn it off and on you shorten bulb and ballast life. There is a TOTM on here that runs a BIG uv. Most all public aquariums run them....

12/16/2013, 10:27 AM	#1
Bake@96.6 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Upstate NJ Posts: 6	UV Sterilizer Placement? Hello, I have a 125G DT with a 90G sump refugium in the basement. I am running a Blueline 70HD on the return going through an Aqua UV sterilizer. It was suggested to me at a LFS that running the entire return flow through the UV was too much flow and that to reap greater benefits from the UV I should split the return and valve the input to the UV to reduce the flow rate. Anyone also think this would be better? My concern is that splitting the flow would alter the flow rate to the DT and effect the water level in my sump. I do have gate valves on the drain lines from the DT that I could adjust to compensate if needed. Would cutting back the flow through the UV make that big of a difference?

12/20/2013, 05:32 PM	#11
Bake@96.6 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Upstate NJ Posts: 6	Well, According to the numbers on the Aqua UV site the exposure is around 90,000 at 1066GPH at End of Bulb Life. That seems like quite adequate exposure to maybe even a bit high since I am starting to put corals in no? __________________ 125G DT 90G sump/refugium in basement. Zebra Moray, Coral Beauty, Bullet Goby, 3 Yellow Tail Damseld, 1 Yellow tail Chromis, 2 Ocillaris Clowns. Pulsing Xenia, Green Zoas, Frogspawn Current Tank Info: 125G DT 90G sump/refugium in basement was FOWLER for 10 months going reef now

12/16/2013, 10:30 AM	#2
Shan69743 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: North Central PA Posts: 54	a UV doesn't do a whole lot unless its treating all the water. so only putting 50% of the water through it is only going to be treating 50% of the tank.

12/16/2013, 10:43 AM	#3
GatorAlum05 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: FL Posts: 406	Actually. Each uv has a minimum and maximum flow for the intended purpose. Find this middle ground first. And for accuracy, plumb this proper pump with the flow to your uv.

12/16/2013, 09:27 PM	#4
Boa1277 Registered Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Tucson Posts: 317	I run a water polisher canister filter to pull my UV and my chiller water. I can run about 300GPH and this kills everything I need it to including Dino. Good luck with yours I personally am a big fan of UV but if you run to much flow you will only get about 1/2 or less of the performance.

12/16/2013, 10:05 PM	#7
krzyphsygy Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 2,148	Try and get as little flow as possible through it, my aqua uv is plumbed on the split return like your thinking. Only problem running the whole return through it is you will need like a 150watt uv to get the slow rate needed to kill what you want. By doing it off the split, you still get good kill rates.

12/16/2013, 10:26 PM	#8
Timber77 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Posts: 754	you could still split the return, valve to the uv and have the uv output directed into the tank, flow rate is gonna depend on which brand/model of uv you have. most have charts, would recommend starting with flow rate the manufacturer recommends.

12/18/2013, 10:32 AM	#10
krzyphsygy Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 2,148	Why not install the uv as close the the tank as possible to reduce flow to the unit. Place a gate valve before the uv to lower the flow. How much flow are you estimating your getting around where the uv will be placed if you placed right near the tank? I fell the slower the flow through the sump he better skim mate your gonna get anyway. Plus I am not sure what you are using the uv for, but check the formula for kill rates. I am trying to get around 240,000. I also run an aqua uv 57 watt.

12/26/2013, 08:42 PM	#12
SunnyB Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Florida Posts: 45	If you make the flow through the UV too slow it would kill the planktonic food in your reef.

12/26/2013, 10:39 PM	#14
Dbondaruk Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Harrisonburg,VA Posts: 706	Would be useless to run uv during day and turn off at night?

12/27/2013, 10:40 AM	#15
krzyphsygy Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 2,148	Yes, you want to run it 24/7. Plus every time you turn it off and on you shorten bulb and ballast life. There is a TOTM on here that runs a BIG uv. Most all public aquariums run them....