UV sterilizer question

[Madonia]

I plumbed my 40w pentair UV sterilizer today from a pump by my skimmer in sump, to the unit, and the water returns back to the same chamber.

am I completely wasting my time doing this? Or should I bite the bullet and direct the output to the display tank? (It will look very ugly!)

 

[Ludders]

There is the argument that anything sterilised gets removed from the water column by the skimmer, so this is one way to setup. Also you can afford to have a slower flow rate to give increased exposure time to the UV rays over the dictated turn over from the return pump, which is usually high.

Personally I believe that the UV helps prevent bacteria reproducing rather than zapping them dead, so the only benefit from my perspective is the flow control on an independent pump.

Also if it's going to get ugly on your return plumbing, I would suggest your current setup sounds just fine.

Hope this helps.

 

[homer1475]

I run my UV from my sump as do most people. Nothing wrong with this setup.

Eventually all your water travels through the sump, so I don't know why you would think that wouldn't be the way to plumb it. Besides thats what a sump is for.... To hide the ugly equipment from the display.

 

[Madonia]

I run my UV from my sump as do most people. Nothing wrong with this setup.

Eventually all your water travels through the sump, so I don't know why you would think that wouldn't be the way to plumb it. Besides thats what a sump is for.... To hide the ugly equipment from the display.

 

[Madonia]

With it plumbed plumbed to the sump there I’m essentially recirculating already sterilized water back through the UV.
With it plumbed to the sump the amount of sterilization is limited by the return pump

Makes sense why a closed loop through the display is most effextice but I’m glad to hear that most people have it plumbed this way and that it’ll still be effective