UV & Chiller Routing

XRayLee · Dec 12, 2020

Couldn't find my answer for having both of these and which way it should be plumbed? What is the best way to route with a UV & chiller? I live in Phoenix AZ and don't need the chiller running right now but will need it come April so I want to hook them both up now. The tank is 29 gallon and the chiller is 1/15hp.

DC Reefer · Dec 12, 2020

Welcome to R2R!!!!

Do you have a sump, AIO tank? If AIO you can do a hang on back UV or one that fits in a compartment. If you have a sump I would run the return through the UV. For mine I used three ball valves which included a bypass of the UV completely so I could remove it for maintenance if necessary and still keep my return going. Also make sure you install it in a place you can change out the bulb - so you basically need about 2x the length of the UV sterilizer to get the bulb out. This is what will usually make the installation tricky.

I run my chiller out of my sump. I use flexible tubing with a dedicated pump through my chiller. It is all in my fish room so don't have to worry about how it looks around the tank. I like the flexible tubing for the chiller as it makes the maintenance and cleaning easy. Just swap the tubing and run RODI water through it backwards.

XRayLee · Dec 13, 2020

Thanks for the reply. No sump. This is my setup: 29 gal. tank, Sun-Sun 702B filter, Macro Aqua M-50 Mini HOB Skimmer, Arctica 1/15 Chiller, Flexzion 9 Watt UV Sterilizer Light 110V. I have this tank in my living room as a small divider between the living room and dining room. Filter canister, chiller & UV are all on the floor down next to the tank. My theory was to run from the filter outlet to chiller to UV then back to the tank. The Sun-Sun came with UV installed but took a dump after first day. I bought a new bulb but that's not the problem so that's why I got the external UV. I saw somewhere that it was better to run UV before chiller because of temperature change. Didn't know if that would make that bit of difference? Thanks for the help!

DC Reefer · Dec 13, 2020

I think your routing should work. Only concern I have is if the canister pump has enough flow to push through all the equipment.
is the UV for fish or algae? Slower flow for fish is good. I had a canister filter on a QT system and the pump died. i used a submersible pump to push water through the canister which worked fine. Not a pretty solution but worked. May be an option if canister pump not strong enough.

XRayLee · Dec 13, 2020

DC Reefer said:
I think your routing should work. Only concern I have is if the canister pump has enough flow to push through all the equipment.
is the UV for fish or algae? Slower flow for fish is good. I had a canister filter on a QT system and the pump died. i used a submersible pump to push water through the canister which worked fine. Not a pretty solution but worked. May be an option if canister pump not strong enough.

The UV is for fish and algae. I have submersible UV in my 125 freshwater tank and it's doing fine. On the saltwater tank I've noticed a few brown spots on my glass lately which I've been cleaning off every couple days. I've also backed off on the day lighting time. The canister should be enough, if not then I'll go the pump route.