What pump do you recommend for UV Sterilizer?

[TrishK]

We’re looking at getting the
Pentair Aquatics
SMART UV 40 WATT Sterlizer
For our 180 gallon tank. Does anyone have a recommendation for a good pump for it?

 

[AZMSGT]

Any that will supply the flow you want for what reason you’re adding the UV for.

 

[TrishK]

I know that, I was just wondering if anyone had good experience with a certain brand for that particular sterilizer

 

[AZMSGT]

I know that, I was just wondering if anyone had good experience with a certain brand for that particular sterilizer

Brand doesn’t matter. Something with an adjustable flow is nice. For redundancy sake, I run the exact same pump as my main return line. So if my main return pump goes bad I can just use the UV one Till I can replace it. Not that it matters but I Run a Ecotech M2.

 

[Hydrored]

I run mine through a COR20, the other COR20 is one manifold port and 2nd return. I find that UV sterilizers kill flow

 

[Idoc]

I have a Aqua UV 57w UV and use a Maxijet 1200 to operate it. I am trying to keep a very low gph flow through the UV (approx. 400gph) due to a previous dino outbreak. The recommended flow through my UV is around 1100gph for parasites, but I choose to go lower due to the dinos!

 

[Blue Spot Octopus]

I would say a Jebao DC 8000 pump should do the trick, are you plumbing the return right back in the sump or to the tank?

 

[TrishK]

I would say a Jebao DC 8000 pump should do the trick, are you plumbing the return right back in the sump or to the tank?

Sump, filter, UV, return pump. We have a Dino problem too

 

[TrishK]

Brand doesn’t matter. Something with an adjustable flow is nice. For redundancy sake, I run the exact same pump as my main return line. So if my main return pump goes bad I can just use the UV one Till I can replace it. Not that it matters but I Run a Ecotech M2.

I just didn’t know if there might be certain brands that aren’t very compatible with the UV or have issues people have complaints about like too noisy etc. we don’t want a pump identical for the one we have because that one was over $400 and I’d rather buy several cheaper ones over a couple years than spend $800 for both up front. We didn’t get a stimulus check LOL

 

[vetteguy53081]

I use a sicce 2.0

 

[TrishK]

I have a Aqua UV 57w UV and use a Maxijet 1200 to operate it. I am trying to keep a very low gph flow through the UV (approx. 400gph) due to a previous dino outbreak. The recommended flow through my UV is around 1100gph for parasites, but I choose to go lower due to the dinos!

We have a Dino problem too. We have manually removed all that we can see but we know it will come back so investing in the UV. Did you use Dr Tims Waste Away in conjunction with the UV to get rid of the Dino’s?

 

[vetteguy53081]

We have a Dino problem too. We have manually removed all that we can see but we know it will come back so investing in the UV. Did you use Dr Tims Waste Away in conjunction with the UV to get rid of the Dino’s?

I use 1ml of peroxide per 10 gallons at night. Do not feed coral food which is fuel for dino. Add liquid bacteria during the day.

 

[Vette67]

I had a parasite problem in my 180, so I run 2 Lifegard 40 watt UV sterilizers off of a T on my return pump. I have my sump in my basement, so I run a PanWorld 150PS to go up about 14 feet of head pressure. I run two because I want every drop of water that goes through my sump to be sterilized. It is now impossible to spread disease from one of my tanks to another. Well, the parasite would have to survive a trip through a sterilizer... but I do like the Lifegard because they have replaceable liners, and downdraft tubes, which do get eaten over time by the UV. UV is not kind to plastic. But you need room for something about a 36” tall to use the Lifegard, because they can only run in a vertical orientation.

 

[TrishK]

I use 1ml of peroxide per 10 gallons at night. Do not feed coral food which is fuel for dino. Add liquid bacteria during the day.

Thanks!! I was going to purchase some Dr Tims Waste Away but one review said a slight overdose wiped out their entire tank :/
We can’t find peroxide around here to save our souls....just the 3% right? I don’t know what people are using it for because I can’t find it anywhere.

 

[Miller535]

I would say a Jebao DC 8000 pump should do the trick, are you plumbing the return right back in the sump or to the tank?

This is what I would recommend too. As I believe that pentair uv recommends 900gph flow for bacteria/algae (dinos)

 

[TrishK]

I had a parasite problem in my 180, so I run 2 Lifegard 40 watt UV sterilizers off of a T on my return pump. I have my sump in my basement, so I run a PanWorld 150PS to go up about 14 feet of head pressure. I run two because I want every drop of water that goes through my sump to be sterilized. It is now impossible to spread disease from one of my tanks to another. Well, the parasite would have to survive a trip through a sterilizer... but I do like the Lifegard because they have replaceable liners, and downdraft tubes, which do get eaten over time by the UV. UV is not kind to plastic. But you need room for something about a 36” tall to use the Lifegard, because they can only run in a vertical orientation.

We have lots of room. Our 180 is built into our bar room and the back is accessible through the storage room so we have a lot of room back there. Here is a pic to give you an idea.

 

[Vette67]

We have lots of room. Our 180 is built into our bar room and the back is accessible through the storage room so we have a lot of room back there. Here is a pic to give you an idea.

Now that’s freakin’ cool. I built a bar in my basement, and have fantasies about putting a shark tank next to it, but I can’t get my wife to buy into that idea. I really like that behind your bar.

I guess my main point about the sterilizer is to think how efficiently you want it to work. Just attaching a UV to your sump and running it on a separate pump can only guarantee some of your water will be sterilized. I would personally get a bigger sterilizer that could handle the flow of your existing recirculating pump, and spend the money there instead of buying a separate pump. It will cost a little in flow, but the peace of mind knowing that all of your recirculated water is being sterilized would be worth the cost, at least to me...

 

[TrishK]

Gotcha...I’ll let the husband know

 

[TrishK]

Now that’s freakin’ cool. I built a bar in my basement, and have fantasies about putting a shark tank next to it, but I can’t get my wife to buy into that idea. I really like that behind your bar.

I guess my main point about the sterilizer is to think how efficiently you want it to work. Just attaching a UV to your sump and running it on a separate pump can only guarantee some of your water will be sterilized. I would personally get a bigger sterilizer that could handle the flow of your existing recirculating pump, and spend the money there instead of buying a separate pump. It will cost a little in flow, but the peace of mind knowing that all of your recirculated water is being sterilized would be worth the cost, at least to me...

Show the wife our set up. It’s definitely a huge conversation piece. We host a neighborhood Halloween and xmas party each year and everyone just flocks to the tank asking questions. Husband loves the attention lol

 

[Vette67]

My bar is already Corvette themed (surprising, huh?). I couldn’t put a tank on that back wall because it is an outside wall. I was thinking about cutting a hole in the wall on the left and doing an in-wall tank there.

I did show my wife your tank, and she thought it was very cool. But she rolled her eyes when I said it was motivation to put a tank by our bar!