Make sure to layout the components and fittings to make sure you have everything you need before you get started. Slide-Loc Quick Release Lever, Probe Holders, and Frag Tile Mounts - Versatility Reimagined, A Wireless Ecosystem Built For Reefkeepers - The Red Sea ReefBeat App. If you don't have access to a flow meter, you can measure the flow by doing a manual bucket test. My UV light system requires a sediment filtration housing with a compatible 5 micron filter. You are using an out of date browser. Once inserted, install the top of the housing.Then mount the power supply on the wall such that one the cord can reach the light and a GFI protected outlet. Downloads: So, depending on what you want and how you want the unit to function, that would effect your plumbing design and placement. UV Sterilizers can be an excellent way to clear up cloudy water and help keep it crystal clear. Beneficial bacteria that live in rocks and the sand substrate will be unharmed since they are attached to rocks and beneath the sand. UV sterilizers should generally be run 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. You could set the flow to the UV with a gate valve by putting it in between the ball valve and the UV (on the input side of the UV). If you purchase a DC controllable return pump to run tank water through your sterilizer, you can adjust the water flow with the pump instead of plumbing in a flow-reducing valve to pinch off some of the flow. Not sure if that helps you or not lol.just throwing it out there as an option. (All 3 valves shut). Here are some of the reasons why they arent more popular: The best way to know if a UV Sterilizer is suitable for you is to weigh the basic pros and cons. Advertise today. UV clarifiers are similar to UV sterilizers, but the key difference is their power. JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. If you need help determining the true volume of your aquarium or sump you can use our aquarium volume calculator to sort it out. Use a flow meter to monitor the flow rate and confirm you got it right. Microscopic organisms vary in size and require unique exposure times to UV radiation to effectively kill each one. This just so happens to be the very common rate of turnover we run through our sump and return pump which works out for the common application of installation the UV inline using your return. Less than that is ok. More is not ok as some of the UV's will crack and leak with too much pressure. There are also brackets to use to suspend and/or secure the sterilizer. The store will not work correctly in the case when cookies are disabled. With the lights off you can really see how bright that light is. Water should be pulled from the sump, go through the UV, and then returned to the display. Bacteria, parasites, algae, etc., can be challenging to solve. Overall, this wasnt difficult to install and projects like this help me get more and more comfortable with plumbing. You must log in or register to reply here. $85.75, Earn 850 Reward Points Locate the valve on your main water line and turn it off. They are great additions for many saltwater aquariums to improve water clarity and fish and coral health, but most reefers dont use them for various reasons. The first thing to do after laying out the system is to mount the UV light and sediment filter. You could use a ball valve instead of a gate valve. First, they help keep your water crystal clear and fish and coral healthy. Trapping air can cause things to heat up and damage the UV. They are an excellent choice for everything from home aquariums to large recirculating systems. Earn 30 Reward Points, Starting at: Earn 3,140 Reward Points, Earn 5,680 Reward Points All content here is available for continued discussion at the new forums. Highly suggest placing the UV in a position easily accessible to open to remove and replace bulb without disconnecting from pvc system. It is a powerful electromagnetic frequency that damages microscopic organisms enough to prevent them from reproducing when exposed to strong enough amounts for a long enough amount of time. How to Install a UV Sterilizer, Set the Right Flow Rate, & Avoid Mistakes! Earn 1,365 Reward Points, Starting at: I dint even think of that! Because UV Sterilizers only eliminate floating bacteria, parasites, and algae, they will not cure your fish of conditions such as Ich that it has already contracted, but it can help control the spread. Unit 1, 13 Old Dairy Close, Moss Vale NSW 2577, 2021 Fresh by Design | Site created by, UltraAqua ULTRABARRIER Intake Water UV Systems, Taronga Western Plains Zoo - Taronga Platypus Conservation Centre, Cawthron Institute - PC2 Research Facility. Disclaimer: Almost any DIY project involves risk of some sort. It will be harder to make small adjustments but could work. Post Here. You could also include a flow meter like the Neptune Apex FMK (Flow Monitoring Kit). If using UV, the way you have it diagramed ensures all the water is treated which is good. 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To measure output you will need a 5 gal bucket. A 50-gallon tank would require 25 - 75 GPH through the UV sterilizer per hour to kill parasite. It may not display this or other websites correctly. Running a UV Sterilizer will help ensure the clarity of your water and will stay crystal clear. Oh OK you just dump it right back into the return chamber of your sump? Which one would you recommend for 93g DT, and how do you suggest plumbing it in? Be sure and research your choice thoroughly before you make a purchase. Clarifiers will improve water clarity by causing organics to clump together, making it easier for them to either be filtered out or the clumps will settle out of the water. Once this is adjusted, open the exit of the UV all the way. Flow rate is everything with a UV because it controls the contact time. Sicce Shark Pro Internal Filters - Change the Way You Think About Aquarium Filters. This can be plumbed inline using your return pump and is often the preferred route for this very reason, you don't need an extra pump to run the UV. The Reef Central Forums are now located at https://forums.reefcentral.comThe old forum is closed to new activity. The medicine will float in the water and most likely be altered or weakened after passing through the sterilizer. If I don't have to hook it back into my return line it will make things easier. JavaScript is disabled. The problem with this solution is that you cant control the flow rate through your sterilizer independently of your overall aquarium turnover rate. Next open the entrance to the UV a little at a time until you get the your 130 gph or less. Because of the design of my UV (both the size and because I wanted to hard plumb it), the UV had to sit back away from my DT. Earn 270 Reward Points, Starting at: In my spare time I like to engineer furniture for the weekend DIY'er like myself. The Pentair SMART UV Sterilizer (formerly Emperor Aquatics SMART UV Sterilizer). UV Dose chart from Emperor Catalogue, Click here for more info and contact us for a quote.. 130gph is the max you can put thru and still be sure the UV will sterilize everything passing thru. $1, $5, and FREE CORALS** This Sunday, New to Saltwater & Reef Aquariums? With the components mounted you can start to run the lines. I do like this option better because it seems like it would be easier to control the flow through the UV. A series of valves should also be placed to bypass the UV system if need be. Figure out exactly where you want them to go on the wall. How Much GFO - Granular Ferric Oxide Does a Reef Tank Need? coral or fish, whether beneficial or harmful. This means a bigger light can accommodate a higher flow rate while a smaller light with water flowing too fast might not be as effective. Running the Pentair off the main pump and using ball valves is a good way to control flow. Put a hose from the UV output into the bucket. This will relieve the pressure in the water lines and reduce the amount of water leakage when cutting into the lines.This step doesnt really need to be done until the active water lines are being cut into. So you want to aim for 2 gal per min to be close to your 130gph max. Simply time how long it takes to fill a 5-gallon bucket of water after passing through your UV. The exit of the UV will go into your display tank just like the diagram. High quality UV Lights. If you love this stuff as much as we do, you might want to consider following us onInstagramwhere we post sneak peeks and behind the scenes stuff in our stories. Now set up your durso with "no" water going thru the UV part of your system. It does so by damaging their DNA and preventing them from multiplying.Ultraviolet lightbulbs are often used for their disinfecting properties, and aquarium UV sterilizers are an excellent example. 18W-40W UV Manual 50W-150W UV Manual $56.90, Earn 560 Reward Points That said, this also affects how many times per hour you can recycle the entire water volume through your UV per hour which is also important. Also adjust the durso ? As you increase the size of UV sterilizers, you can increase their abilities, but the performance increases begin to drop until there is essentially no return on your additional investment. The diagram below is pulled from the installation manual of my UV light for reference.Once everything is laid out make sure to count all the couplers, tees, elbows, adaptors, PEX crimp rings, etc, needed to complete the install. A UV sterilizer should be run during the initial nitrogen cycle of your reef tank. Always follow the manufacturer's operating instructions in the use of tools, check and follow your local building codes, and observe all commonly accepted safety precautions. If you have an account, sign in with your email address. Different gph flow rates are needed for algae blooms versus parasite killing versus bacterial blooms etc. To ensure your UV sterilizer can meet your needs, you need to ensure that the effective flow rate will equal 1.5 times your total tank and sump water volume. This is arguably the most effective approach because it is easier to tune the flow rate correctly and works independently of your return pump and filtration. Water clarification or sterilization? To be effective, its recommended that a UV sterilizer should have an effective flow rate 1.5x the total water volume of your system. What are you trying to achieve with it? You want all of the water to pass through the UV as it makes its way through your filtration before heading back into your display. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. I actually bought a second pump and ran the UV independently from the main plumbing..that way it can be adjusted without any worries. First, it gives you a backup pump should one fail, you always have that secondary pump to keep water moving through your tank. I hope this answers some of your questions. For a 50 gallon tank, you should be moving 150 - 225 GPH through the UV sterilizer. Help Us & Share it. $38.49, Earn 1,550 Reward Points The easiest way to get a close estimate is to fill a 5 gal bucket from the tap closest to the well pump, using a stopwatch determine the time it takes to fill, then perform the following calculation.5 gallons / (seconds to fill) X 60 seconds = ____ Gallons per minuteDo this a few times to make sure you get an accurate rate. By plumbing in a completely separate loop that isnt connected in any way to your main loop, you dont have to factor in the main return pump flow, and you dont have to worry about tapping into your existing plumbing. They arent large enough to properly sterilize micro organisms although they will cause the water to become clearer. You can use that time to calculate the gallons per hour. Proper wattage, how many times water passes through per hour, and how it is plumbed all play a role to ensure optimal sterilization. Adding a loop off of your return pipe allows you to include a flow-reducing valve and tune the flow to an optimal setting to maximize the efficiency of your sterilizer. Then use the supplied hardware to mount the units. Its the tank that needs good water movement. Make sure to take into consideration the space above the UV light since the bulb will need to be removed and replaced every year. 50W-150W UV Diagram before 8/20 It also means you wont have the added expense of a separate pump if you were to not include it with your main loop. Any other free-floating unwanted microorganisms. I'm a Christian, father, husband and former aerospace engineer. We also limit UV time and dont run 24/7 unless there is a specific issue. Did you find this article helpful? Microorganisms residing in your rocks or substrate. More aquaculture and aquatic professionals choose the Pentair Emperor Aquatics SMART UV Sterilizers over competing UV brands because of the substantial performance information, effective product design, and overall quality. 50W-150W UV Diagram after 8/20 Copyright 2022 Montford Design | All Rights Reserved, Confusion around what they do and how they work, The added expense of the hardware required, The added complexity to plumbing and controlling the flow rate through the unit, Increased overall maintenance due to the need to clean the sterilizer and regularly replace the UV bulb, The fact that many reefers succeed well without one. Disclosure: This post is sponsored by RYOBI tools, however the opinions and instructions are 100% my own. If you would like to support our site and help keep our content free come find out more about how we can make money with no extra cost to you. And a tank needs consistent flow and water boxes are designed for specific flow rates. All Rights Reserved. It can get into pretty tight spaces and even has a light that will turn green to assure you get a proper crimp, or red if there is a fault. Most UV sterilizers are designed to be mounted vertically to avoid air getting trapped inside. If you get 1 gal in 1 min x 60 min you have 60gph. American Aquarium Products Aquarium UV Sterilization. As much as 50-75% less flow compared to killing off bacteria and algae. In 3 to 5 business days after Black Friday somewhere out there is man in a brown suit driving a big brown truck full of boxes that will bring joy and happiness to good little reefers all across the country (top that Santa!) For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. This leads people to believe they are sterilizing the water when they arent powerful enough to do so. Reproduction without permission is prohibited. Earn 2,840 Reward Points, Earn 4,020 Reward Points I hear u on the rock and agree with u and the mess with the Mud I think better than sand but all the same. The way that this system works is that the wavelengths from the UV light scramble the DNA of living organisms, such as bacteria, viruses, or cysts, rendering them unable to reproduce and harm anyone consuming them. In this case, you could increase the wattage of the UV sterilizer to accommodate the flow rate you have running through your sump/return pump or simply run a separate dedicated pump tuned to the slower flow rate. Do not run your sterilizer if you have to administer medication to your fish. To target and kill Ich, Flukes and other common fish parasites is much more difficult and requires slower flow through the UV sterilizer which increases that contact time. Here are the main issues: A reef tank UV sterilizer should turn over the entire volume of your aquarium 1.5 times per hour. As you can see in this pic I have the true union ball valves so I can take it out for cleaning and UV replacement and you can see another 1/2" line that I need to hook into the return line for refill on a water change. Earn 295 Reward Points, Earn 40 Reward Points It may not display this or other websites correctly. Cut the PEX to lengths needed and connect with the required fittings and crimp rings.I used the 18V PEX crimper from RYOBI which is pretty amazing. Plumb your UV in a way so that it is easy to remove and replace the bulb which is required to be done annually. These high-quality UV sterilizers feature a watertight sealed design and can be used safely both indoors and outdoors. The UV return goes to the tank. There are a few different ways to install a UV sterilizer into your aquarium plumbing: Also, it is essential to note that you want the cleanest possible water entering your sterilizer to minimize contaminants dirtying the quartz sleeve protecting the UV bulb. Thx because I need to do that for everything as this will be all new plumbing and I still think my return pump is borderline, """If I put a gate valve in place of the ball valve and then put another ball valve in front of to then it would work right?"" The answer of how much GPH will depend on those answers. Water flow needs to be controlled and monitored to ensure that organisms in the water column are exposed to UV radiation for the minimum amount of time and intensity. Sizing the light properly will make sure the water gets the correct dosage of UV light but there is one other thing that could hinder the effectiveness of this type of filtration, shadows. Rogue Engineer will not assume any responsibility or liability for damages or losses sustained or incurred in the course of your project or in the use of the item you create. Your tools, materials, and skills will vary, as will the conditions at your project site. No that really does help, this was the other option I was considering. What size tank do you have? Earn 775 Reward Points, Starting at: I hope this helps. Generally, going with a larger UV sterilizer will not cause a problem. Dont just start hacking into your plumbing without a plan. This device can ensure that all water entering your DT has been effectively treated with UV, which is why connecting it to your return is crucial. Ultraviolet radiation is emitted from the sun and is the radiation that causes sunburn. There are a lot of benefits to UV Sterilizers that make them worth consideration: UV sterilization in aquariums has its downsides as well. I dont know if you have enough room to add another valve inline. Not sure if this is something we want to use all the time or just in the event of You bought a commercial grade UV sterilizer, which comes with performance expectations and delivers certainty as a gatekeeper. Visible light, radio waves, and x-rays are some of the other wavelengths along the electromagnetic spectrum. Ultraviolet radiation can help control several issues in a saltwater aquarium. Ultraviolet radiation is just outside the visible light spectrum. Protozoa typically respond better to lower flow rates and more dwell time, while algae are easily treated with higher flow rates and less dwell time. Make sure to adjust the flow from the input side of your UV. JavaScript is disabled. Hi everyone I'm working on setting up new and have an album with pictures and questions and was hoping someone could take the time to read and help me out? Even if this means drawing a diagram on paper, trust me, its worth it.The sediment filter should be installed just after the well pump or main water shut-off and the UV light should be the last water treatment component in the system. $24.99, Earn 60 Reward Points This means plumbing your sterilizer in just before where your plumbing returns water back to your display tank or installing a closed-loop in the return pump area of your sump. Earn 590 Reward Points So if you want to reduce the time you have the water off in the house then you can wait until everything else is mounted and ready to be spliced in. While many reefers are wildly successful without the addition of a UV sterilizer, others swear by the benefits they experience when using one.If you have the budget and are willing to deal with a bit of extra maintenance and some additional plumbing, youll likely be delighted with the return on your investment. Photos and Solutions, Use a closed-loop with a separate pump and plumbing not connected to your main plumbing. Here are some times you might want to turn off your UV sterilizer for a while: Ultraviolet radiation is just one of many wavelengths along the electromagnetic spectrum. Clarifiers are not as powerful as sterilizers. The Pentair Smart UVs are also badged as the BioShield UV Disinfection Sanitizers for swimming pool sterilisation. So if I run the output of the UV back in the sump it will make things easier but where can I put a gate valve that I have so that when I take it off line and put it back online I won't have to set the 130gph witch by the way I haven't really figured out a good way to do without a flow meter. This can cause the sterilizer to become dirty and lose some effectiveness. Just dont open it all the way. 18W-40W UV Diagram There may be times when you have to add beneficial bacteria to your reef aquarium. All trademarks property of their respective owners. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. Rogue Engineer has made every effort to be complete and accurate in the instructions provided on this website. The effective flow rate of a UV sterilizer is the flow of water, usually listed in gallons-per-hour, through the sterilizer. The flow thru the sump will be fine. Smart UV Brochure Design also allows for removal of the entire power assembly for easy interior cleaning, Remote Power Supply positions the ballast away from the UV vessel and water, increasing overall safety, All SMART UVs are watertight and designed for operation in wet environments, SMART UVs feature a heavy-wall UV-resistant plastic vessel (UV Vessel Lifetime Limited Warranty), Clear viewing ports are positioned on both ends of each SMART UV vessel for safe internal inspection, High-Quality American-Made Low-Pressure High-Output UV lamps offer 9,000 hours of continuous operation (80% efficient after 9,000 hours), Neutralizes harmful bacteria and pathogens quickly, Reduces chlorine usage which helps eliminate itchy skin, burning red eyes and chemical odors, Energy-efficient, high-output UV lamps provide up to 12,000 hours of continuous operation, Easy to maintain and install in new pools, Low operating costsuses about the same energy of a 60-W light bulb, Neutralizes harmful bacteria and pathogens instantly. We have ours positioned so we can literally open it up to service without cutting flow and without taking apart the plumbing. Adds to regular aquarium maintenance as the UV bulb needs to be replaced occasionally, and the quartz sleeve that protects the bulb sometimes needs to be cleaned. 6325 Sandburg Road, Suite 400 Golden Valley, MN 55427. UV sterilizers are regarded by most aquarists as optional pieces of equipment, although some swear by them and wouldnt have a reef aquarium without one installed. Your design looks good, I would make a small change and put the flow meter on the other side of the ball valve, this will give you the option remove and clean it as well. BRS has some good videos. With this tool, you fine-tune your flow to keep it within the optimal range. This is a pretty typical size supply line for most houses. Piping changes will throw off the accuracy of the flow meter. Earn 425 Reward Points, Earn 1,890 Reward Points Lets make this a little less complicated. You will need some way of determining this. The most common rate of flow for reducing bacteria and algae using a UV is 3x - 4.5x total tank volume per hour. Content on Reef Tank Resource is copyrighted. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. But what exactly are they capable of killing, and what wont they kill? The flow rate of water through the unit is essential to ensure the marine organisms such as harmful bacteria, algae spores, disease-causing parasites, protozoa, etc., are exposed to the UV radiation long enough to prevent their ability to reproduce. I think I have read through the owners manual about 5 times now and I am trying to make a decision on how to plumb it. When it comes to sizing a whole home UV light youll want to look at the flow rate which is given in GPM (gallons per minute) and make sure they are at or above the max flow rate in your house.To give you a rough idea of the max flow rate of your homes water system you can first look at the supply line size. Connect the cord to the top of the housing and plug the power supply in. My pump is rated 660 gph My total of 90 gal x5 = 450 gph That would be a min I would think, And it's Sunday and the NFL and Nascar will rule this house later LOL. Here are some things that can cause cloudy water or negatively affect your fish and coral health. Earn 20 Reward Points, Earn 7,560 Reward Points The effective flow rate is different depending on what you want to kill with the sterilizer. If you increase the size of a UV sterilizer to an extreme level, you may begin to have problems with heat being inadequately removed from the sterilizer, which may cause it to prematurely fail. Equipment Discussion for Saltwater and Reef Aquari, Purchased 57wt Aqua UV - requesting direction. Then go to the nearest bathtub or faucet and turn it on. So in this setup my concern was just looks, do you guys just have a second return line hung over the rim of your tank or are there some more clever ways of hiding it?
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