UV setup for 350g?

[Venom SS]

Ive done some searching on the UV systems but none of the threads have really answered what I need to know. Hoping someone can help me out.

Im wanting to put a UV system on this 350g, but im unsure how to do it properly with my setup. I run 2 external pumps off of my sump rated at 1200gph each. Im thinking I should run atleast 40w of UV from what ive read, but none of the sytems ive found are rated high enough in flow to be connected on the return side of those pumps. Most of them say a max of about 500gph. Pretty sure im flowing higher than that out of these pumps. Should I run a 20w off of each pump, or buy a UV system big enough to plumb both pumps into one UV, then split back out to my two returns on the outbound side of the UV?

Heres a pic of how im setup now:

 

[Toby_H]

For maximum benefit including killing parasites... I highly recommend:

1W of UV strength per 10 gal of water volume...
10 gph per 1 W of UV strength...

Thus for a 35o gal... a 25 W (or slightly larger) UV light with 350 (or slightly less) gallons per hour flowign through it...

There are both 36 and 40 W units available...

Running water though the UV faster than this will not be effective at killing parasites... but will offer some of the other benefits.

Danner (Pondmaster) UV units come in 40W and are built like tanks. I love mine...

 

[Venom SS]

For maximum benefit including killing parasites... I highly recommend:

1W of UV strength per 10 gal of water volume...
10 gph per 1 W of UV strength...

Thus for a 35o gal... a 25 W (or slightly larger) UV light with 350 (or slightly less) gallons per hour flowign through it...

There are both 36 and 40 W units available...

Running water though the UV faster than this will not be effective at killing parasites... but will offer some of the other benefits.

Danner (Pondmaster) UV units come in 40W and are built like tanks. I love mine...

Thats where my question is, in the flow going through the UV. I cant throttle these pumps back to 400gph to accommodate going through a UV. The system wouldnt flow properly. So I either need one really long 40w that can provide all the benefits at 2000gph in a merge of the 2 pumps, or I need 2 individual 20w that will still be beneficial at around 1000gph, give or take. These pumps only have about 6ft of head pressure on them, so flow is still pretty high once it enters back into the tank. I guess that pretty much answers the question. In order to maintain the proper flow rate to get all the benefits of UV, im gonna need a really nice unit(s).

 

[JK47]

A long UV unit is going to be more benificial than two shorter units. Its not just all about watts, its also about exposure time to the bulb. I have a 40w unit that is at least 40". A shorter unit has less exposure with the bulb. Think of it like the sun. Fall asleep in the sun and you will burn because of being there for a while, quickly move around in the smae daylight and you will tan because of shorter contact time in the sun. One larger unit would be better IMO than two smaller units on each pump.

 

[RedDwarf]

If you put a tee on the return line from the pump and put a valve on it going to the UV then you can throttle back the volume as much as you need. You can either run the out from the UV back into the tank or back into the sump.

 

[Toby_H]

I understand and agree with what is being said abotu exposure time...

I also understand that there is no UV design available that will allow you to put 5 times the recommended flow through a UV and still acheive the maximum benefits...

Be v ery very cautious reading manufacturer recomendations. They will/do exaggerate to gain your business.

You will need to add a third pump/powerhead... or T off of one of your existing lines and put a ball valve between the T and the UV to adjust the flow rate to the proper flow. Do not put a ball valve after the UV light as this will create backpressure within the UV unit that can cause the unit to leak. Also consult the manufacturers recommendation about maximum head pressure. You mentioned having 6' head pressure which is more than normal and head pressure will also result in backpressure within the unit.

 

[pacu mom]

Ive done some searching on the UV systems but none of the threads have really answered what I need to know. Hoping someone can help me out.

Im wanting to put a UV system on this 350g, but im unsure how to do it properly with my setup. I run 2 external pumps off of my sump rated at 1200gph each. Im thinking I should run atleast 40w of UV from what ive read, but none of the sytems ive found are rated high enough in flow to be connected on the return side of those pumps. Most of them say a max of about 500gph. Pretty sure im flowing higher than that out of these pumps. Should I run a 20w off of each pump, or buy a UV system big enough to plumb both pumps into one UV, then split back out to my two returns on the outbound side of the UV?

Heres a pic of how im setup now:

Check out the Lifeguard 40 Watt UV sterilizer. Maximum recommended flow rate is up to 1500 gph. Only drawback is that this unit is 34 1/2" tall. Ours has performed flawlessly for us. We have ours connected to the return line of an FX-5.

Here's one site with some info:
http://www.lifegardaquatics.com/products/product.php?id=5

 

[Toby_H]

Keep in mind the "maximum flow rate" listed on a UV light is in regards to the amount of pressure it can handle before it leaks, this rating has absolutely nothing to do with the efficiency of the units performance...

Pacu Mom, I know your UV unit is working flawless for you and that's awesome. But please do keep in mind that the way in which you are using it you are not getting all the benefits they have to offer. A 40W UV at 800'ish gph simply will not kill parasites. This is not at all a problem for you as your intended use was/is to get rid of green water. But for others who want to also kill parasites, following your suggestions will not help them acheive their goal.

 

[KAWAMIKIE]

Keep in mind the "maximum flow rate" listed on a UV light is in regards to the amount of pressure it can handle before it leaks, this rating has absolutely nothing to do with the efficiency of the units performance...

Pacu Mom, I know your UV unit is working flawless for you and that's awesome. But please do keep in mind that the way in which you are using it you are not getting all the benefits they have to offer. A 40W UV at 800'ish gph simply will not kill parasites. This is not at all a problem for you as your intended use was/is to get rid of green water. But for others who want to also kill parasites, following your suggestions will not help them acheive their goal.

So are you implying that 800 gph is too fast or slow of flow for a 40W light?

I copied this from the Lifegard page:
"Higher flows will result in reduced effectiveness, however this reduction is not directly proportional to the increased flow. For example the QL-40 was tested at 1500GPH and produced a 99.33% reduction of bacteria (E.Coli). Increasing the flow 25% to 2000GPH decreased the effectiveness to 97%, a reduction of only 2.33%."

 

[Toby_H]

I am suggesting 800 gph is way to fast of flow rate for a wo W light...

I am suggesting that the % of E coli (bacteria) killed is useless information when considering whether or not the UV will be effective against parasites...

I am suggesting that manufacturers will make hundreds of different tests on their products... and share the results of two or three of those tests that will lead you to purchase their product...


But don't take that wrong, I highly advocate the use of UV lights...

I've been raising/breeding Blue Dempseys for a number of years and they are very well known to be prone to parasitic infection. I've used UV lights to attempt to defend them from parasitic infection in well over a dozen different set ups. I've made many "tests" regarding efficiency relating to parasitic infections...

I strongly suggest:

1W of UV strength (or slightly more) per 10 gal of volume...
10 gph (or slightly less) of flow through the UV unit per 1W of UV strength

Thus a 40W at 400 gph would work wonderful on your 350 gal... pushing water past the UV light faster than this will not kill parasites, but will provide some of the other benefits that UV's have to offer...