SICCE PUMP SIZE for 40W Pentair UV

MarsWulf5 · Jan 12, 2021

After failing a curing my fish of ich in QT for 10 months, I am purchasing a Perntair UV sterilizer.

The UV stand verticle and is 4ft high.

What size SICCE pump can handle the 4ft head pressure and still give 157 GPH?

Many people dont seem to understand what the "head" of a pump is. Basically a pump cannot pump water up to the moon. If a hose is held veticle from the output of a pump - the water will only rise so high. That height is the "head" pf a pump. The pump is pumping but all the water is rushing back through the output the wrong way.

At the head there is 0 flow.

Many people say, "my UV sterozer jist burnt out" or "the inside acrylic decayed" - well - that because they probably dint even get their 4ft UV full of water - less mind pumping through it.

If I use a pump with a 2 ft head... I cant fill a 4ft verticle UV to create a siphon back to sump. Follow me?

It's simple but seems to be over most peoples heads... Even pump sales reps who just don't "get it"

So, my question: Plumpling my 4ft Perntair UV which stands verticle - in and out of my sump - what size Sicce pump will give me 157GPH at the 4ft height of the UV Sterilizer?
Sicce 1.0?
Sicce 1.5?
Sicce 2.0?

Tcook · Jan 12, 2021

I think most people here understand head pressure. Why are you trying to cut it so close? Buy a bigger pump and throttle it back with a valve. You may want to run at a higher gph at some point down the road to treat dinos or bacterial bloom.

MarsWulf5 · Jan 12, 2021

Tcook said:
I think most people here understand head pressure. Why are you trying to cut it so close? Buy a bigger pump and throttle it back with a valve. You may want to run at a higher gph at some point down the road to treat dinos or bacterial bloom.

Man, you's think so - but I've asked this question 100x and nobody gets it. I'm not the first to ask it Seems a pump with a rated output of at least 1022 GPH will give me a flow around 200 GPH maybe more. No, way to tell until I test it myself. Should be straight forward. I cant be the only one with a 40W Pentair UV. If people understood it, there wouldnt be so many reviews for "burnt out" units online. Its clear whats going on. 1022GPH pump... Thats a heck of a lot more than what BRS was wanted to sell me... Sicce 0.5 c'mon. That's bull. They've done this before. It might be my first 4ft UV rodeo... But not BRS or Reef2Reef.

Tcook · Jan 12, 2021

Most companies, since included, provide flow curves for their pumps. You can plot your head pressure, rise and run, then pick the pump with the appropriate flow above that head. I did that all the time with magdrive since, Danner etc.

DCR · Jan 12, 2021

According to the Sicce head curves, the Syncra 1.5 will deliver about 157 gph at 5 ft of head. That would be your best fit assuming minimal friction. You might want to bump it up to a 2.0 if you are uncertain about the friction losses.

MarsWulf5 · Jan 13, 2021

Tcook said:
Most companies, since included, provide flow curves for their pumps. You can plot your head pressure, rise and run, then pick the pump with the appropriate flow above that head. I did that all the time with magdrive since, Danner etc.

Yes! I found the specs on the BRS website with a graph. I didn't understand it at first because its Euroean Numbers: using a comma for.a decimal place. As.it turns out - a Sicce 2.0 is the pump to go with. I have a 1.5 that I use for carbon. Gonna use that until I order a 2.0 next week. I ordered the UV and the plumbing. Thanks.

Tcook · Jan 13, 2021

Great! Make sure you mount it in a way wear you can easily remove the bulb and sleeve for service. Will need the length of the unit above or to the side to pull the bulb. Or use a few unions and shut off valves. That is for a permanent install. If it's going to run hob then no issues with access.

JumboShrimp · Apr 10, 2021

How is your UV unit working?

MarsWulf5 · Apr 13, 2021

JumboShrimp said:
How is your UV unit working?

It's amazing. Crystal clear water... Like fish swimming in air. I only use the UV sterilizer once and a while and I run carbon and GFO sometimes too. I have a 120G. I only change the water (30%) every month. My fish and corals are very healthy. Use two kessil a360x.

I had a flute going with Chaeto and a good light. But the 3.0 Sicce for the UV caused so much flow through the sump that my Chaeto got into everything and then died.

I have the wall clamps for the UV... Havent used em yet. I have it propped in a corner.

I only use it for about 6 hours at a time once a week.

*Water siphons through it all the time without the pump going from gravity when its off - which is awesome. Saves having that pump on. I do turn the pump on every three days or so... Just to keep the UV full and - no noise - and need to keep water going through it all the time.

I have have stuff I bought and dont need... I bought Hannah checkers... Dosing pumps... All the mixes... pH meter... I dont use it. My tank looks amazing.

This DT is up and running since Christmas.

I have a lot of corraline already.

I had algea starting... But since that Chaeto died. I said forget it - started dosing vibrant again. Cant beat it.

Cyano is my ONLY battle.

I have no pests. Not even a single bristle worm.

Lots of QT and dips... Etc...

I saw a couple icy cysts at the very start... They "went away"... But I got the UV... Never saw one again.

Fish are gettin BIG.

SPS and LPS all look great.

Spent $500 on a vortec circ. Pump. It sits off. The corals like it better off. Crazy.

Anyhow, I highly recommend the UV. Its big. Its expensive. Dont use it all the time... But - like I said, my tank is PRISTINE. Best tank - health wise - that Ive ever seen - and a water change every 5-6 weeks... Its a dream.

Worth it!