UV Size and Pump Recommendations

[SuperSaiyanTang]

I am thinking about putting a UV on my reef tank. It seems like the benefit of having it may be worth the cost. My tank is ~130 gallons and probably 150 with the sump. I have been looking at the Aqua UV Classic 25w and 57w. There is a pretty big difference in price between the two. Would the 25w be sufficient? Any recommendations on pumps? Should I get a controllable dc pump? My main goal with the UV is for clear water, stop algae outbreaks, and prevent disease in my tank.

 

[Jon Fishman]

I would go with bigger. I have 100w on my 150g

For pumps, a d/c is a good option, but just used whatever I had laying around that was sized with Aqua UVs recommendation

 

[SuperSaiyanTang]

I would go with bigger. I have 100w on my 150g

For pumps, a d/c is a good option, but just used whatever I had laying around that was sized with Aqua UVs recommendation

How much flow are you putting through? Seems like I should aim for 3-4x tank size in gph.

 

[Jon Fishman]

How much flow are you putting through? Seems like I should aim for 3-4x tank size in gph.

ha. I can’t remember. Some people are very into the technology and science of the hobby..... unfortunately I am the complete opposite!

It’s actually not a 100w UV sterilizer. So this is what I “believe” my setup is like, as far as GPH is concerned:

I run three 25w Aqua UVs daisy-chained together with a 450gph or so pump. The fourth Aqua UV came broken so it got setup later and rather than re-plumb I put it on its own 275 or so gph pump for more disease control type of stuff. I also run Ozone but the reactor came with the pump so I don’t know the GPH off-hand

 

[jlts21]

It’s actually not a 100w UV sterilizer. So this is what I “believe” my setup is like, as far as GPH is concerned:

I run three 25w Aqua UVs daisy-chained together with a 450gph or so pump. The fourth Aqua UV came broken so it got setup later and rather than re-plumb I put it on its own 275 or so gph pump for more disease control type of stuff.

I’m curious to know if that’s just as effective running daisy chained sterilizers rather than one large one (2 40w compared to one 80w or 3 25w compared to one 75w). Because, for example, the 80w AquaUV is two 40w that are ran parallel, but I would think they are plumbed a little differently than if you bought 2 40w separately and plumbed them together. I’m not an expert in UV which is why I’m asking

 

[Jon Fishman]

I’m curious to know if that’s just as effective running daisy chained sterilizers rather than one large one (2 40w compared to one 80w or 3 25w compared to one 75w). Because, for example, the 80w AquaUV is two 40w that are ran parallel, but I would think they are plumbed a little differently than if you bought 2 40w separately and plumbed them together. I’m not an expert in UV which is why I’m asking

I think it’s all related to water contact time with the bulbs

 

[jlts21]

I think it’s all related to water contact time with the bulbs

Ahh okay. Just out of curiosity, how do you have yours daisy chained? I just bought 2 40w AquaUV from another member here (one high flow and one low flow) but I’m thinking I should daisy chain em both for just high flow. I’d like to do 2 40w just like a single 80w if possible

 

[Jon Fishman]

So.... go pump > tubing > In on 1st unit (either way can be in) and the out on that > in on second unit > tubing on out of second unit back to your sump. I have no good pictures. Here is the three together

 

[jlts21]

So.... go pump > tubing > In on 1st unit (either way can be in) and the out on that > in on second unit > tubing on out of second unit back to your sump. I have no good pictures. Here is the three together

Okay I’ll post my own thread to do some research so I’m not hijacking the OPs thread anymore (sorry @SuperSaiyanTang for hijacking it for a minute)

 

[SuperSaiyanTang]

Okay I’ll post my own thread to do some research so I’m not hijacking the OPs thread anymore (sorry @SuperSaiyanTang for hijacking it for a minute)

No worries! I think I’m leaning towards the 57w, just need to find a pump. Maybe a simple one with a valve? Would it be ok just sitting on the bottom of the stand? Most of seen are attached to plumbing some how.

 

[jlts21]

No worries! I think I’m leaning towards the 57w, just need to find a pump. Maybe a simple one with a valve? Would it be ok just sitting on the bottom of the stand? Most of seen are attached to plumbing some how.

I’ve heard of people putting a separate pump in their DT for just UV but I have not seen pictures of it so I can’t comment as to where they put their pumps. If you’re not wanting to plumb it to the return, I know people do a separate pump in the sump in the first chamber then have it output to the return chamber as well. I’m not expert in UV but going back to your original post I do know that depending on what you want the UV to accomplish you need different flows (low gph for parasites and high gph for algae and bacteria) in case you were not aware of that

 

[Jon Fishman]

I do pump from skimmer area of sump, and return line to the next chamber in sump. Nothing in Display

 

[SuperSaiyanTang]

Bump,

I took a look at the Aqua UV guide and it says the 25w works up to 150 gallons. I think that may be enough. Any reason why I would want to go higher?

 

[jlts21]

Bump,

I took a look at the Aqua UV guide and it says the 25w works up to 150 gallons. I think that may be enough. Any reason why I would want to go higher?

Get what you can afford, but bigger is better. If I understand it correctly, the bigger the sterilizer the higher the flow you can put thru it and it still be effective. So in turn, would allow a greater turnover rate while not having a flow too high to be effective. For example (and these number are just an example they are not fact) a 25w can have a max flow of 200gph to be effective, whereas a 40w can have a max flow of 400gph to be effective. Same effectiveness but will have more water flow meaning a higher turnover rate

 

[vanpire]

There is definitely a price difference. If you really want to kill bacteria, go with the 57W or higher. If you just want clear water, you can use the lower wattage. I would go with the higher wattage unit.

Lower flow and higher voltage are better for killing bacteria and parasites. If you have space, hook it up to the drain from your overflow. You can create a T before the UV and add a valve to lessen the flow to the UV if you need. Saves from having to buy a new pump. Saving money on the pump will help with the sting of the higher priced unit.

You can keep your UV on the floor of your sump but keep the electrical components like ballasts off the floor. Also plumb it so it is easy to clean your quartz sleeve and UV lamp. Easy maintenance is key.

 

[SuperSaiyanTang]

Thanks for the feedback!

My sump sits in an acrylic tray that covers the footprint of the stand. I was going to place the UV just next to the sump to plumb. The ballast needs to be mounted elsewhere?
The stand is a steel stand with some wood wrap in the places.

 

[Malcontent]

Flow rate doesn't matter much as a higher flow rate is usually linked to a corresponding increase in turnover rate so the UV dosage ends up being the same. And the same dosage often yields the same results owing to the time-dosage reciprocity law.

An 800 gallon system with 1-2 40W bulbs and a 450 gph flow rate reduced death rates due to FW ich from 83% to 0.7%. This is well below the flow rates bandied about by FW aquarists for years. Some even suggested that flow rates be as low as 10 gph for protozoa. Maybe they'd die of old age?

 

[Jon Fishman]

Flow rate doesn't matter much as a higher flow rate is usually linked to a corresponding increase in turnover rate so the UV dosage ends up being the same. And the same dosage often yields the same results owing to the time-dosage reciprocity law.

An 800 gallon system with 1-2 40W bulbs and a 450 gph flow rate reduced death rates due to FW ich from 83% to 0.7%. This is well below the flow rates bandied about by FW aquarists for years. Some even suggested that flow rates be as low as 10 gph for protozoa. Maybe they'd die of old age?

You scienced me a bit too much...... But 80w uv for 800 gallons would be a no from me......

I run 100w on 150g