UV Sterilizer with FX5?

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95socalstang

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Sep 9, 2006
210
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Las Vegas
Is it possible to use a UV sterilizer in line with an FX5? If so how big would it need to be, and how could it be fit using the tubing?

Eric
 
We have a Pentair Aquatics 40 Watt UV sterilizer connected to our FX5. It works beautifully. The wattage of your UV sterilizer should be based on your tank size (we have a 300 gallon tank) Our particular model is very tall (40") so is not suited for under the stand placement. Ours sits on the floor behind the tank where the FX5 is also located. The return line from the FX5 is attached to the UV sterilizer. Another hose is connected to the UV sterilizer to be the new return line to the tank. The FX5 simply pushes the water through the UV sterilizer and back to the tank.

uvsterilizer.jpg


There are other UV sterilizers, such as the Coralife Turbotwist, which can be connected horizontally. There are fishkeepers who really like their Coralife UVs
 
pacu mom;802650; said:
We have a Pentair Aquatics 40 Watt UV sterilizer connected to our FX5. It works beautifully. The wattage of your UV sterilizer should be based on your tank size (we have a 300 gallon tank) Our particular model is very tall (40") so is not suited for under the stand placement. Ours sits on the floor behind the tank where the FX5 is also located. The return line from the FX5 is attached to the UV sterilizer. Another hose is connected to the UV sterilizer to be the new return line to the tank. The FX5 simply pushes the water through the UV sterilizer and back to the tank.

uvsterilizer.jpg


There are other UV sterilizers, such as the Coralife Turbotwist, which can be connected horizontally. There are fishkeepers who really like their Coralife UVs



sorry to be difficult...........but you should not exceed the flow rate for the uv unit or you will not have enough contact time for it to do its job.

run a bypass line to reduce the flow rate thru the uv to the correct amount
 
johnptc;802677; said:
sorry to be difficult...........but you should not exceed the flow rate for the uv unit or you will not have enough contact time for it to do its job.

run a bypass line to reduce the flow rate thru the uv to the correct amount

You are absolutely correct about flow rate, and I forgot to mention it. Each UV sterilizer has a recommended flow rate. That said, we went from this
tank-07.jpg


to this in a very short time with the UV sterilizer:
newtank-02.jpg


The FX5 pumps about 607 gph. The maximum recommended flow rate through the Pentair Aquatics 40W UV sterilizer is 1500 gph. The recommended maximum flow rate through their 25W UV sterilizer is 760 gph. No wonder our UV sterilizer does such a great job! It can handle a much bigger flow rate than the FX5 can put out! Another great feature of this model is that their bulbs have a higher UV output than more conventional bulbs, and last longer. It is recommended that most UV bulbs be changed at least every six months. Ours has been going 24/7 for over a year. Having read the recommendations of other UV sterilizers, I got paranoid and just today received my replacement bulb from Big Als. There has been no change in the water clarity/color, so we know the original bulb is still going strong.
 
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