uv stetilizer question

[kope1078]

I'm setting up a new 125 gallon with duel overflows and was wondering if anyone has their UV plumbed right into one of their drain lines. I was thinking of putting in a tee in the drain then adjust flow thru it with a ball valve. Each overflow is rated at 750 gph and I bought a 36 inch odyssey sterilizer. Any thoughts???
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[b-o-b-s]

I believe for proper protozoa control you will need about 150-200 gph passing over the lamp. Don't know much about these as I'm just setting one up on my 125. I just ordered a mj600 to power my current gamma 25w uv sterilizer. I got this in a package deal with a used tank and I just ordered a bulb in hopes that's all it will need to function.

 

[bearjohnson]

Each UV will have their own flow rate recommendations. You can certainly use a drain as a supply however, you will need to be able to dial the flow down. 750goh is too much flow for the UV to do anything.

 

[Eric81]

Your flow will depend on what you want to get accomplished with your UV. If you are just wanting to control algae and clearer water, then higher flow is ok. If you goal is to kill and control parasites, then much slower flow is needed than what an overflow can provide with out a valve or other mechanism to reduce the flow. As mentioned above, check the UV's manufacture's guide on flow rate to determine what you will need.

 

[vlangel]

I have my UV in one of my return lines. You may have good reason for not doing it that way but it has worked well for me.

 

[Eric B]

I would never put it on the drain line as it will need slower flow through the UV and I never put any valve on a drain line only a return line. You will open yourself up to major problems trying to adjust the flow on the drain and I would just "T" off the return plumbing and put the UV there.

 

[specialk]

I have a 125 with 2, ... yes 2 Lifeguard 40 sterilizers. (One Lifeguard 40 is good for a 300 gallon) I have them plumbed together, right into my return chamber of the sump. The sterilizers are resting on top of the sump. The 2 sterilizers are plumbed together. I have a small pump in the return chamber, that pushes the water up and thru the 2 sterilizers, then the water gets dumped out thru the sterilizers, right back into my return chamber (where it is then returned back into the tank)



The pump I have moving the water into the sterilizers moves the water, just enough to get it thru the 2. You want to make sure that the water is taking its good old time going thru that sterilizer -- thus making it exposed to the UV rays for as long as possible, maximizing your "zapping time"

 

[kope1078]

Let me clarify...I would T off a drain to accommodate the sterilizer. Using a ball valve I can control flow thru it. I wouldn't be restricting the drain if I had the sterilizer draining seperate from it. Basically just redirecting some of the flow to it.

 

[kope1078]

I have my UV in one of my return lines. You may have good reason for not doing it that way but it has worked well for me.

I read that you should have the stetilizer draining into your filtration/ skimmer chamber to give it a chance to remove whatever the UV kills off. I don't want to pop that back up into the display.

 

[vlangel]

I read that you should have the stetilizer draining into your filtration/ skimmer chamber to give it a chance to remove whatever the UV kills off. I don't want to pop that back up into the display.

I never heard that but it makes sense.