UV Installation in Reefer 350

[JoshKReef]

I am looking for some ideas on how to install a UV sterilizer in a Reefer 350. How do people normally do this? I am currently just using flex hose to my return line.

A couple options I considered:

1.) Using a pump and just pumping some water out of the skimmer chamber, through the UV, and back into the skimmer chamber. I don't like this because you may be reprocessing the same already processed water.

2.) Splitting my overflow line into the sump and controlling flow with a ball valve. This is tricky bc how a Reefer is configured, also it is recommended to do this to post filtered water.

3.) Splitting my return line and controlling the flow through the UV with a ball valve and then putting it back into the return line farther down the line. Can this be achieved with all barbed fittings? Would this even work?

 

[Crabs McJones]

I am looking for some ideas on how to install a UV sterilizer in a Reefer 350. How do people normally do this? I am currently just using flex hose to my return line.

A couple options I considered:

1.) Using a pump and just pumping some water out of the skimmer chamber, through the UV, and back into the skimmer chamber. I don't like this because you may be reprocessing the same already processed water.

2.) Splitting my overflow line into the sump and controlling flow with a ball valve. This is tricky bc how a Reefer is configured, also it is recommended to do this to post filtered water.

3.) Splitting my return line and controlling the flow through the UV with a ball valve and then putting it back into the return line farther down the line. Can this be achieved with all barbed fittings? Would this even work?

For your return line, is it hard plumbed or is it rubber tubing? If you're able to the third option would be best. However I wouldn't have it go back into your return line further down, the pressure from the return is going to want to push the water back down instead of up and to your return in your tank. I'd have it just empty back into the sump.

 

[Denisk]

Can you add a manifold to your return and add the uv through that. That was you can adjust the flow through the Uv with ball valve and still have the appropriate flow needed through the return output.

 

[JoshKReef]

For your return line, is it hard plumbed or is it rubber tubing? If you're able to the third option would be best. However I wouldn't have it go back into your return line further down, the pressure from the return is going to want to push the water back down instead of up and to your return in your tank. I'd have it just empty back into the sump.

It's the stock rubber tubing from my return to the hard plumbed return section built into the stand. Putting it back into the sump is going to loop the same clean water back through though. Wouldn't this be the same as just pulling from the sump using another pump and dumping it right back into the sump? Unless I pulled from the skimmer chamber and fed into the return chamber, but that's a bad idea right?

 

[JoshKReef]

Can you add a manifold to your return and add the uv through that. That was you can adjust the flow through the Uv with ball valve and still have the appropriate flow needed through the return output.

Doesn't a manifold just send the water to different destinations? Where would I send the water post UV?

 

[Crabs McJones]

It's the stock rubber tubing from my return to the hard plumbed return section built into the stand. Putting it back into the sump is going to loop the same clean water back through though. Wouldn't this be the same as just pulling from the sump using another pump and dumping it right back into the sump? Unless I pulled from the skimmer chamber and fed into the return chamber, but that's a bad idea right?

It will loop some of the already cleaned water through, yes, but when you figure how much water you have running through your sump vs how much you have running through your uv, its not that much. Its the same as a protein skimmer, it goes into the pump, and spits the skimmed water out through the side right next to the return pump. So some of the "cleaned" water gets pulled back in, but so does the "dirty" water.

 

[JoshKReef]

It will loop some of the already cleaned water through, yes, but when you figure how much water you have running through your sump vs how much you have running through your uv, its not that much. Its the same as a protein skimmer, it goes into the pump, and spits the skimmed water out through the side right next to the return pump. So some of the "cleaned" water gets pulled back in, but so does the "dirty" water.

What do you think the pros and cons are of splitting the return versus adding a small pump to the skimmer chamber and sourcing your water there? Besides an additional pump

 

[Denisk]

Doesn't a manifold just send the water to different destinations? Where would I send the water post UV?

Yup, that’s pretty much what it is. You can always just send it back to the sump. The nice thing is that if let’s say it was to break, you could just close gate valve. You’ll have the ability to replace it, clean it, change the bulb. Whatever it may be you won’t have to turn the return off.

 

[cgdcinc]

I just added a 36 watt uv to my tank. I added a separate pump and made a manifold with 3 valves. One for Uv. One for media reactor and a spare. Jebao 2000 dc sine wave pump. Hose from the manifold to the Uv. I wanted to leave my return pump just for the tank. Pump is in my first chamber after my filter sock and the return from the Uv dumps back in my middle refugium chamber.

 

[Philt56]

My biggest problem is figuring where to put one in my sump area? I have a 425xl and assume I need at least a 25w model. These all seem to be in the 24-29” long range. If I try to mount on the stand back wall above the sump, it seems like that it would run into the plumbing. I have a fuge area in the front so my skimmer is also at the rear of the sump so its cup is also up in that area.

The only thing I can think of is to mount it on the inside wall of the dry side area of the stand (where my ecotech controllers are now) and drill holes for the hoses to go to and from the sump. Although one hose would have to bend quite a bit to go from the bottom connection of the uv back to the sump.

The Eheim 500 model uv looks like it could fit on the side wall by the return area of the sump, but it’s a lower wattage and doesn’t seem to be widely sold around here. Maybe it’s more of a European model since it’s on amazon uk?

Any ideas and pics of how others have mounted a uv in their reefers?

Thanks!
Phil

 

[JoshKReef]

Here is how I did mine.

 

[JoshKReef]

I forgot to include, this is what I use. Those pics are a reefer 350, so I imagine you have more room.

http://www.americanaquariumproducts.com/TMCUVSterilizer.html#vecton6

 

[Philt56]

I forgot to include, this is what I use. Those pics are a reefer 350, so I imagine you have more room.

http://www.americanaquariumproducts.com/TMCUVSterilizer.html#vecton6

Thanks! I think the 425 sump area is only bigger from front to back. Otherwise sump is identical to the 350, but that extra 2 inches may allow me to mount it front to back along the side wall.

 

[Philt56]

It says the vector is 5”wide? So that’s the diameter of the cylinder that uv bulb is in? So on your tank, it extends 5” from 5he back wall over the sump? Thanks.

 

[JoshKReef]

 

[Brock0019]

Not to hijack the thread but I’m kinda confused on how to do mine as well.

Peninsula 650 -I have a separate pump for the UV only pulling about 200-250gph. It’s in the chamber before The main return line and I’m having issues keeping enough water in there now.
Currently the UV return is plumbed to dump
I’m the return chamber, I’m wondering if I should have it just dump back into the main section or just plumb it into the emergency drain.
In the first pic the black tube is hard plumbed to the inlet(bottom of the UV is 2nd pic) and the top return is plumbed to the return chamber.
And that white pipe is the return from the UV into the return chamber.
So the water level in the area with the skimmer/reactor/UV pump is too low. So I think if I plumb the return back into the main return area it’ll solve those issues.
Thought?

 

[JoshKReef]

Are you sure it's not just temporary until the UV fills and the return catches up? That UV looks like it holds a lot of water. Your return chamber will probably run low after turning it on, but the chamber your pulling from should catch up

 

[Brock0019]

Are you sure it's not just temporary until the UV fills and the return catches up? That UV looks like it holds a lot of water. Your return chamber will probably run low after turning it on, but the chamber your pulling from should catch up

It’s been running over 24hrs. I’ve adjusted a few different things and it’s close to falling over the overflow into the return chamber. I could also Y it all and have it dump into the return and into the first chamber. Just not sure which would be best

Also the return chamber is where the output from the UV is. So that chamber will not be low, ever. Well unless the UV is powered off, which I don’t plan on doing.

 

[JoshKReef]

I am doing the exact same setup. Pull from skimmer chamber, dump water onto baffle (pretty much the same as return chamber).

I am using a QUIET ONE PRO 1200 (317 GPH) - LIFEGARD pump with the faceplace as low as it can go to regulate flow.

The issue with dumping it back into the main chamber is that you could end up feeding the same water through twice, before it ever gets back into the display.

Are you saying that with this setup, your return pump ends up running dry at some point, until the UV fills the return chamber again, and then the return pumps it up to the display?

What kind of UV is that? Brand and wattage? I want to look at something about it.

 

[Brock0019]

I am doing the exact same setup. Pull from skimmer chamber, dump water onto baffle (pretty much the same as return chamber).

I am using a QUIET ONE PRO 1200 (317 GPH) - LIFEGARD pump with the faceplace as low as it can go to regulate flow.

The issue with dumping it back into the main chamber is that you could end up feeding the same water through twice, before it ever gets back into the display.

Are you saying that with this setup, your return pump ends up running dry at some point, until the UV fills the return chamber again, and then the return pumps it up to the display?

What kind of UV is that? Brand and wattage? I want to look at something about it.

Pentair 40W

With how it is now the return chamber won’t run dry, if the UV powers off the return chamber will run low but the ATO would kick on to compensate. The chamber that’s low for me is the skimmer chamber. Not by a A lot (see pic) but enough to not have it flowing over the baffle strongly. So my thought is that if I Y it off and dump a little into the main chamber it will be enough of a difference to keep the sump chamber at the height I desire.