57 watt aqua u/v, which mag drive to use, mag 12 or mag 9.5

Krazy · 02/23/2008, 05:40 AM

Gettin around to hooking up the extras I have laying around for my tank.

Got the aqua u/v plumbed in and hooked up, all I need to decide is which pump is better for the u/v to do its job, a mag 12 or a mag 9.5 ??

I have one of each here as most reef geeks have extra parts all over

I think the 12 would be a bit much? yes? But I could always tee off it and use it as a reutrn feed for my 40 breeder prop tank/refugium I want to plumb into the system rather then adding another mag to the sump (mag 2)

thoughts and advice is always appericated.

thanks in advance

OneDayMatt · 02/23/2008, 06:46 AM

You shouldn't put a high flow pump on a UV "filter". It's actually just a bulb that irradiates the water with UV light in a tube. The longer the water contacts that light, the better chance you have of the equipment accomplishing anything.

I think the water flow through a straight pipe (as hobby available UV "filters" do it) is an optimistic design for sterilization.

Krazy · 02/23/2008, 06:52 AM

U/V does better with a higher flow rate from what I've been told.

Humongous · 02/23/2008, 10:54 AM

Just depends upon what you are trying to kill. I ran mine with a mag 5 and never had any problems. The water was crystal clear.

DarG · 02/23/2008, 11:22 AM

Faster the flow rate the lower the kill rate. There is a good article on sizing and flow rates on the net. I cant remember the specifics. I believe that the UV unit should be sized for the water volume so that you can turn the tank over about 1.5 - 2X per hour . Not sure on how to determine the size but I know that my 25 watt unit falls within the criteria for a tank larger than my 90 gallon. Also, bulb type is important. Low pressure bulbs are more effective than medium and high pressure. The standard bi pin T5, T6 and T8 bulbs are low pressure and effective for aquatic UV sterilizers. Some single ended UV tubes are also low pressure and effective. Lots of information on the net but high flow rate is not the effective way to run UV sterilizer.

Krazy · 03/02/2008, 03:02 AM

any other input on this about high flow ??

I see that some run a mag 9.5 with the aqua 57 watt unit..

kaiser · 03/02/2008, 07:38 AM

I would put a Mag 5 on that.
This is from Dr. Smith and Fosters Website in reference to flow rates

Quote:

Per Manufacturer's recommendation:
Model / Flow Rate for Parasites / Flow Rate for Algae / Flow Rate for Bacteria
9W / 55 gph / 121 gph/ 253 gph
18W / 110 gph / 240 gph / 500 gph
36W / 290 gph / 680 gph / 1,550 gph

So you see the lower the flow rate the more effective they get.

Icefire · 03/02/2008, 12:52 PM

get something like 300gph max

Krazy · 03/02/2008, 03:51 PM

Can I run a Mag 12, and then tee off into my 1/3hp chiller as well?

I currently have a mag 5 running my chiller, and then I have a spare mag 7, mag 9.5, and mag 12.

Would be nice to only have one in there if possible.

Appericate the responses

Krazy · 03/02/2008, 03:51 PM

Can I run a Mag 12, and tee off into my 1/3hp chiller as well?

I currently have a mag 5 running my chiller, and then I have a spapre mag 7, mag 9.5, and mag 12.

Would be nice to only have one in there if possible.

Appericate the responses

DarG · 03/02/2008, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Krazy
Can I run a Mag 12, and tee off into my 1/3hp chiller as well?

I currently have a mag 5 running my chiller, and then I have a spapre mag 7, mag 9.5, and mag 12.

Would be nice to only have one in there if possible.

Appericate the responses

Yes, you can. My return pump hits a 2 port manifold which splits off to my 1/3 hp chiller and my 25 watt UV. You want to make sure that your pump provides the proper flow to your chiller within the chiller manufacturers flow range and also within the correct flow range to your UV. My 25 watt UV gets a little over 1.5X per hour my water volume (about 80 gallons) and the chiller gets the rest, about 800 GPH. Its alot of flow through my sump but the alternative is a smaller return pump but a second pump on a closed loop for the chiller. Better option for me was the stronger return pump.

Krazy · 03/08/2008, 09:13 PM

I plumbed the two into the mag 12, fired it all up today, working pretty good.

How can I measure the GPH coming out of each unit? Is there anyway to get an accurate measurement?

I have them dialed back to what I feel is pretty reasonable for them.

Also how long should I run the u/v for?

12hrs a day? 24/7 ?

DarG · 03/08/2008, 09:24 PM

I run mine 24/7 but some run them only part of the time.

There are flow meters that go inline with the plumbing.

Outside of that, take a container with a know volume and a stop watch or watch with a second hand. Time how long it takes to fill the container and do the simple math. For example, if you use a 1 gallon container and it takes 20 seconds to fill it ... 3 gallons per minute X 60 minutes = 180 GPH. You can get close enough for just about anything with that method.

Krazy · 03/12/2008, 05:50 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by DarG
I run mine 24/7 but some run them only part of the time.

There are flow meters that go inline with the plumbing.

Outside of that, take a container with a know volume and a stop watch or watch with a second hand. Time how long it takes to fill the container and do the simple math. For example, if you use a 1 gallon container and it takes 20 seconds to fill it ... 3 gallons per minute X 60 minutes = 180 GPH. You can get close enough for just about anything with that method.

excellent info !

Thanks

02/23/2008, 05:40 AM	#1
Krazy Registered Member. Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Albany, NY Posts: 2,941	57 watt aqua u/v, which mag drive to use, mag 12 or mag 9.5 Gettin around to hooking up the extras I have laying around for my tank. Got the aqua u/v plumbed in and hooked up, all I need to decide is which pump is better for the u/v to do its job, a mag 12 or a mag 9.5 ?? I have one of each here as most reef geeks have extra parts all over I think the 12 would be a bit much? yes? But I could always tee off it and use it as a reutrn feed for my 40 breeder prop tank/refugium I want to plumb into the system rather then adding another mag to the sump (mag 2) thoughts and advice is always appericated. thanks in advance

02/23/2008, 06:46 AM	#2
OneDayMatt Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Pearland, TX Posts: 122	You shouldn't put a high flow pump on a UV "filter". It's actually just a bulb that irradiates the water with UV light in a tube. The longer the water contacts that light, the better chance you have of the equipment accomplishing anything. I think the water flow through a straight pipe (as hobby available UV "filters" do it) is an optimistic design for sterilization. __________________ [I miss the little red house]

02/23/2008, 10:54 AM	#4
Humongous Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Boise Idaho Posts: 93	Just depends upon what you are trying to kill. I ran mine with a mag 5 and never had any problems. The water was crystal clear. __________________ The glass is neither half full or half empty, it was simply engineered wrong in the first place. Current Tank Info: 10.5'L x 5'W x 30"H

03/02/2008, 12:52 PM	#8
Icefire Seasoned reefer Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: In Quebec, Canada Posts: 3,653	get something like 300gph max __________________ Temp 80F, PH 8.5-8.0, Alk 6.8-7.2, Ca 430, Mg 1700, NO3 0-0.25, PO4 0.04, 34.4 PPT Lights @ 100% all others, 35% White Current Tank Info: 60g Cube, 120lbs live rocks, Hydra52 2x120W, 2 MP40+ 1 MP10 @ 70%, Phosban 550 GFO+Carbon, 200W Heater, SWC Skimmer, Kalk ATO, 150 gpd RODI

02/23/2008, 06:52 AM	#3
Krazy Registered Member. Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Albany, NY Posts: 2,941	U/V does better with a higher flow rate from what I've been told.

02/23/2008, 11:22 AM	#5
DarG Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 5,515	Faster the flow rate the lower the kill rate. There is a good article on sizing and flow rates on the net. I cant remember the specifics. I believe that the UV unit should be sized for the water volume so that you can turn the tank over about 1.5 - 2X per hour . Not sure on how to determine the size but I know that my 25 watt unit falls within the criteria for a tank larger than my 90 gallon. Also, bulb type is important. Low pressure bulbs are more effective than medium and high pressure. The standard bi pin T5, T6 and T8 bulbs are low pressure and effective for aquatic UV sterilizers. Some single ended UV tubes are also low pressure and effective. Lots of information on the net but high flow rate is not the effective way to run UV sterilizer.

03/02/2008, 03:02 AM	#6
Krazy Registered Member. Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Albany, NY Posts: 2,941	any other input on this about high flow ?? I see that some run a mag 9.5 with the aqua 57 watt unit..

03/02/2008, 03:51 PM	#9
Krazy Registered Member. Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Albany, NY Posts: 2,941	Can I run a Mag 12, and then tee off into my 1/3hp chiller as well? I currently have a mag 5 running my chiller, and then I have a spare mag 7, mag 9.5, and mag 12. Would be nice to only have one in there if possible. Appericate the responses

03/08/2008, 09:13 PM	#12
Krazy Registered Member. Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Albany, NY Posts: 2,941	I plumbed the two into the mag 12, fired it all up today, working pretty good. How can I measure the GPH coming out of each unit? Is there anyway to get an accurate measurement? I have them dialed back to what I feel is pretty reasonable for them. Also how long should I run the u/v for? 12hrs a day? 24/7 ?

03/08/2008, 09:24 PM	#13
DarG Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 5,515	I run mine 24/7 but some run them only part of the time. There are flow meters that go inline with the plumbing. Outside of that, take a container with a know volume and a stop watch or watch with a second hand. Time how long it takes to fill the container and do the simple math. For example, if you use a 1 gallon container and it takes 20 seconds to fill it ... 3 gallons per minute X 60 minutes = 180 GPH. You can get close enough for just about anything with that method.