Return pump size for Algae/Bacteria flow rate for a 40w UV Sterilizer

[PeteB]

I bought a Pentair Smart UV 40 watt Sterilizer from BRS. I’m looking at plumbing it after the return pump. I would like to run it for bacteria/algae control.

I have a 150 gal tank (60x24x24) and a Trigger Saphire 39 sump.

On the BRS website it says:

Min Operational flow rate: 157 GPH
Max Operational flow rate: 262 GPH

Per the Spec chart:

Water flow rate Algae/Bacteria Suggested/Max: 943/1574 GPH.

So, am I correct in thinking that I have to find a return pump the will produce the 943 GPH flow rate after accounting for head pressure?

 

[lapin]

I bought a Pentair Smart UV 40 watt Sterilizer from BRS. I’m looking at plumbing it after the return pump. I would like to run it for bacteria/algae control.

Min Operational flow rate: 157 GPH
Max Operational flow rate: 262 GPH

This is for protozoa control

Water flow rate Algae/Bacteria Suggested/Max: 943/1574 GPH.
So, am I correct in thinking that I have to find a return pump the will produce the 943 GPH flow rate after accounting for head pressure?

This is for algae/ bacteria

The slower the flow the more sterilization that will take place

 

[Robert1994]

I'm looking at installing an algae scrubber, is the UV filter as effective ?

 

[lapin]

They both will work. They work differently. Its a hard call to say what method is better. It depends on the tank.

 

[PeteB]

Correct, that’s what I see. So that means I’ll need a return pump capable of achieving the 943 GPH for algae/bacteria.

I was hoping to have 2 independent return pumps (totaling 3-5X turnover).. before I decided on using the UV Sterilizer. Now it looks like I’ll have about 5.5 - 6x turnover with only using one pump.

Any suggestions on pumps? Approx 10’ head pressure. I have a R.O. VarioS 6 but it doesn’t look like that will be quite enough flow.

 

[lapin]

Correct, that’s what I see. So that means I’ll need a return pump capable of achieving the 943 GPH for algae/bacteria.

I was hoping to have 2 independent return pumps (totaling 3-5X turnover).. before I decided on using the UV Sterilizer. Now it looks like I’ll have about 5.5 - 6x turnover with only using one pump.

Any suggestions on pumps? Approx 10’ head pressure. I have a R.O. VarioS 6 but it doesn’t look like that will be quite enough flow.

You can still have 2 pumps. You dont need 943gph to get rid of some algae. Optimum water movement thru the UV for what you want it to do is 943gph. It will work at 500gph. Wont see as much water pass thru but (kill rate) sterilization will be higher.

For example i run my UV about 6 hours a day. 3 at night and 3 during the day. If I ran it 24/7 my skimmer would go nuts with all the dead stuff

 

[PeteB]

Ok, thanks. Would it be possible to just put a dedicated UV pump in the return section of the sump and have the output from the UV go back into the sump near the filter socks?

Then I can have my 2 smaller return pumps going from the sump to the display as I originally planned.

 

[Aerow]

Yes that will work just fine, it is how mine is setup. You will get a bit of the same water back through it but just more time to kill off bad stuff.

 

[BrandonS]

Can always feed uv back into sump and not tank if your looking for lower display turnover

 

[JPK_Esquire]

Ok, thanks. Would it be possible to just put a dedicated UV pump in the return section of the sump and have the output from the UV go back into the sump near the filter socks?

Then I can have my 2 smaller return pumps going from the sump to the display as I originally planned.

What did you end up doing on this? I am having the exact same problem. I originally ran it off my COR-20 return pump (I am running two return pumps -- COR-20 and Cor-15), but was only getting like 520 gph through the UV. I had the same idea as you and bought a separate Sicce pump to run it out of the Skimmer chamber to the return chamber, but the Sicce Syncra Silent 5 (rated for 1300+ gph) was slowed to 600 when I ran it through the UV. I haven't been able to discern how to get the advisable 950+ gph.

 

[Brian-222]

What did you end up doing on this? I am having the exact same problem. I originally ran it off my COR-20 return pump (I am running two return pumps -- COR-20 and Cor-15), but was only getting like 520 gph through the UV. I had the same idea as you and bought a separate Sicce pump to run it out of the Skimmer chamber to the return chamber, but the Sicce Syncra Silent 5 (rated for 1300+ gph) was slowed to 600 when I ran it through the UV. I haven't been able to discern how to get the advisable 950+ gph.

I'm in the process of setting up a new tank right now with the same uv and can't get it to the recommended 950+ gph. Did you ever get that figured out and what pump did you end up going with?

 

[Bobby daniels]

I'm following along on this. I've been trying to achive that 943gph thru my UV as well and so far the best I've achived is 450gph thru it using a Jebao pump rated @ 2640gph. Right now i do have everything reduced to ¾" plumbing, but planning on switching over to 1" the next day I've got 3hrs to sit down and replumb it

 

[Brian-222]

I'm following along on this. I've been trying to achive that 943gph thru my UV as well and so far the best I've achived is 450gph thru it using a Jebao pump rated @ 2640gph. Right now i do have everything reduced to ¾" plumbing, but planning on switching over to 1" the next day I've got 3hrs to sit down and replumb it

Ok, keep us posted when you do. Hopefully, it works out. Thanks!

 

[DavidinGA]

I've always ran an undersized pump through a UV with great success. Besides a better kill rate with a slow flow, no good reason to waste more electricity on a higher gph pump.