advice from FX5 user & UV sterilizer user please
- Thread starter dizcus
- Start date
I've used a Lifegard 40 W UV sterilizer with an FX-5 for over 6 years. Maximum flow rate for the Lifegard 40W is 1500 gallons. With the FX-5 flow rate of 900 gph, the two work well together. We attached the return line from the FX-5 to the Lifegard UV sterilizer with the return line from the UV sterilizer going back to the tank.
We had a green water problem. We went from this
to this very quickly
We attached clear tubing to the UV sterilizer to run the water back to our 300 gallon tank.
We like the Lifegard UVs so well, we're going with two 120W UVs on our big system. (max flow rate 4500) The bigger the UV sterilizer, the bigger the maximum flow rate is.
paco mom and ken dragon thank you for you guys 2cent seems like both know so well, hopefully when other keepers search this idea as well this will help better understand the task at had and math lol.
hmmm yea i would think the bigger uv the longer the uv would help hitting more area traveling threw.
*my goal is to attack parasite and bacteria as well water quality and of course continue water changes but just had an insurance that all is well.
hmmm yea i would think the bigger uv the longer the uv would help hitting more area traveling threw.
*my goal is to attack parasite and bacteria as well water quality and of course continue water changes but just had an insurance that all is well.
Here's an excellent article on UV sterilizers.
http://www.americanaquariumproducts....ilization.html
Especially helpful is this chart:
I really think you should go for Level One Sterilization (the most common and recommended aquarium application) instead of just Clarification.
Here's how the math comes out for a FX-5 with media/flow rate 607 gph on a 300 gallon tank:
Clarification at turnover rate once every 2 hrs at 40 gph/Watt (With the FX-5, the turnover rate would be 2/hr)
607 gph divided by 1 W/40 gph = 15.18 Watts. So you would need a 15W UV for clarification
Level One Sterilization at turnover rate of 1.5/hr at 20 gph: (With the FX-5, the turnover rate would be 2/hr)
607 gph divided by 1 W/20gph = 30.35 Watts. So a 40W UV sterilizer on a 300 gallon tank will more than provide Level One Sterilization.
Keep in mind that the smaller the UV sterilizer, the slower the recommended flow rate will be. Example: A 15 W Pentair UV sterilizer has a recommended max flow rate of 240 gph,
whereas the 80 W UV sterilizer flow rate can be up to 3000 gph, and a 120 W UV up to 4500 gph.
By the same token, for Level Two Sterilization, on a 300 gallon tank, for a turnover rate of 4, I would need a flow rate of 1200 gph, and I would need between 120W and 150W to accomplish that.
As you can see, Level One Sterilization is fairly easy to accomplish. Level Two is harder. I am perfectly happy with Level One Sterilization. I don't give the nicks, scratches and cuts on my fish a second thought, as they heal very quickly. But I also do not introduce any other fish or items into their tank that could be a source of infection to my fish.
http://www.americanaquariumproducts....ilization.html
Especially helpful is this chart:
I really think you should go for Level One Sterilization (the most common and recommended aquarium application) instead of just Clarification.
Here's how the math comes out for a FX-5 with media/flow rate 607 gph on a 300 gallon tank:
Clarification at turnover rate once every 2 hrs at 40 gph/Watt (With the FX-5, the turnover rate would be 2/hr)
607 gph divided by 1 W/40 gph = 15.18 Watts. So you would need a 15W UV for clarification
Level One Sterilization at turnover rate of 1.5/hr at 20 gph: (With the FX-5, the turnover rate would be 2/hr)
607 gph divided by 1 W/20gph = 30.35 Watts. So a 40W UV sterilizer on a 300 gallon tank will more than provide Level One Sterilization.
Keep in mind that the smaller the UV sterilizer, the slower the recommended flow rate will be. Example: A 15 W Pentair UV sterilizer has a recommended max flow rate of 240 gph,
whereas the 80 W UV sterilizer flow rate can be up to 3000 gph, and a 120 W UV up to 4500 gph.
By the same token, for Level Two Sterilization, on a 300 gallon tank, for a turnover rate of 4, I would need a flow rate of 1200 gph, and I would need between 120W and 150W to accomplish that.
As you can see, Level One Sterilization is fairly easy to accomplish. Level Two is harder. I am perfectly happy with Level One Sterilization. I don't give the nicks, scratches and cuts on my fish a second thought, as they heal very quickly. But I also do not introduce any other fish or items into their tank that could be a source of infection to my fish.
Very informative and great read!!!^^^ Everyone whos debating of buying a uv-c should most definatly view this!
Pacumom awesome setup, very clean and sleek, fish are very nice as well!
Thanks
#1 S. Vettel
Pacu mom brought up a good point on turn over rate.
Assuming your tank is 600g, turning it once per hour through the 40W shows the UV is undersized for full flow. Cutting the flow in half will get you the dose but flow rate suffers unless you bypass. Which may take longer to be effective.
Assuming your tank is 300g, turn rate is 2X at 600gph. 2X 24.5 = 49mJ/cm^2. This would be at an acceptable range.
I speak for bacteria and parasite control so requirements are higher. Great discussion.
Assuming your tank is 600g, turning it once per hour through the 40W shows the UV is undersized for full flow. Cutting the flow in half will get you the dose but flow rate suffers unless you bypass. Which may take longer to be effective.
Assuming your tank is 300g, turn rate is 2X at 600gph. 2X 24.5 = 49mJ/cm^2. This would be at an acceptable range.
I speak for bacteria and parasite control so requirements are higher. Great discussion.
