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Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 11/21/2007 1:45:54 PM
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| I have read through many of the postings surrounding the use of UV lights in reef tanks and greatly appreciate the +s & -s of having one. My daughter picked up a used 15W Aqua UV system and would like to include it in her new tank (moving from AGA 72G bow with 30G sump to AGA120 with 55G sump). I don't want to have a separate pump for the light and are thinking to put it inline with my oceans motions / Pan world 100PX-X closed loop system when I move it over to the new tank. The UV light will only be run as needed and I figure that with that much H20 coursing through it constantly, it will stay pretty clean. I also don't have to worry about the lamp not being covered by water if my little reef keeper decides to flick it on. PS1: sum return is a MAG 18 and I'm running two durso 1 1/4" overflows. PS2: This is my first time ever posting...no laughing please src="http://forum.marinedepot.com/Skins/Classic/Images/EmotIcons/Tongue.gif" width=20 border=0> PS3: Sony's next gold mine!
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Group: Administrators
Last Login: Yesterday @ 7:31:49 PM
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| The AquaUV 15 Watt sterilizers have a max flow rate of 1800 gph, so you are well under this with the PanWorld pump. But they also say it is up to a 75 gallon saltwater tank, so it will be a little undersized according to them. You will still need to clean the quartz sleeze regardless of the flow going through the unit. Slime builds up on the quartz sleeze, blocking the light. You could also use it in the return pump (Mag 18) with out a problem if that is easier to plumb in. Lastly, Welcome to the Marine Depot Forums! HTH, Keith
________________________________________________ Keith "Simply put, you believe that things or people make you unhappy, but this is not accurate. You make yourself unhappy." Wayne Dyer
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Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 11/21/2007 1:45:54 PM
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| Keith, thank you for the warm welcome. After your post, I checked the Aqua website and realized i have the 25 watt unit which is good upto 150G SW. I think i'll be in good shape. I considered placing the UV unit in the return but my plumbing between my tank and sump is pretty compact to allow full access to the sump. Thx again!
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Group: Moderators
Last Login: Yesterday @ 7:25:34 AM
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| To kill parasites, the UV dosage must be 90,000 uw/cm2. For the 25 watt UV, that means you can only pump a maximum of 400 gph through the unit. Anything faster than that means you are only working against bacteria and free-floating algae. Also, be sure to run the UV 24/7 if you are going to use it at all. Otherwise, the UV will quickly become colonized with bacteria, sponges, worms, etc. and render it useless when utilized intermittently.
Steven Pro, yeah that is my real name.
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Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 9/29/2006 5:20:16 AM
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| you said that you bought the unit used.the bulb is only good for less than 1 yr.you may have to replace the bulb.
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Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 11/21/2007 1:45:54 PM
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| Mr. Pro, I see the 25Watt unit is rated at 30,000 µw/cm² at 1200 GPH. I assume you altered your flow rate by 1/3 to get to 90,000 µw/cm². My question is , where did you fing the 90,000 µw/cm² spec for killing bacteria? I really didn't want to have to add another pump to the system. Especially one that has to be removed drained and cleaned every time we use the UV. Could you build a closed loop in the sump with a MAG5 and treat the tank that way? Pull the water from the same side of the sump (55G divided 1/3 for return and skimmer intake) as the skimmer does. The sump to tank turnover is probably about 1200 GPH (MAG18 with 5' head).
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Group: Moderators
Last Login: Yesterday @ 7:25:34 AM
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| I just looked at the UV sizing chart that Aqua UV has on their website. http://www.aquaultraviolet.com/uvsizingchart.php 90,000 uw/cm2 is the industry standard for parasites. It is basically a rating determine by lamp intensity and contact/exposure time. If you look at their chart, you will see that for the 25 watt unit you can only pump through 400 gph to attain the proper contact/exposure time to kill parasites. I would use a pump that is capable of no more than 400 gph, something like the Mag-Drive 350.
Steven Pro, yeah that is my real name.
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Group: Administrators
Last Login: Yesterday @ 7:31:49 PM
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| Money Would it be possible to T off your closed loop and use a ball valve to regulate the flow through the sterilizer? I think a seperate pump, like Steven mentioned, would be best but if this simply is not possible I thought T'ing off the closed loop might work. Keith
________________________________________________ Keith "Simply put, you believe that things or people make you unhappy, but this is not accurate. You make yourself unhappy." Wayne Dyer
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Group: Moderators
Last Login: Yesterday @ 7:25:34 AM
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A T probably would work, but I would spring for a gate valve instead of a ball valve for finer control.
Steven Pro, yeah that is my real name.
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Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 11/21/2007 1:45:54 PM
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| Still thinking about how to plumb this thing without another pump. What do you think about the following setup? Use a gate valve to divert some water to UV unit. Water will naturally want to flow in the direct 1" line (i think). The gate valve should supply enough back pressure to divert water through the UV light. I'll use unions with the UV unit for service. Thoughts? 
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