Help me understand relationship between UV sterilizer and sump flow

[Pennekampdream]

I think I will be interested in adding a UV sterilizer to my future new tank. According to the manufacturer, it is recommended to adjust the flow depending on what it is you want to sterilize. For example high flow rate for algae and low flow rate for Protozoa bacteria. I was under the impression it was always better to have high flow through the sump in order to better filter the tank. If so, would lowering the flow to follow the UV recommendation for algae diminish the sumps ability overall ?

 

[blaxsun]

Yes. Just run the input for your UV from a post-filter section in the sump to the return chamber in the sump. Then you can run it whatever speed you desire.

 

[Pennekampdream]

Does that mean it will require a dedicated pump just for the UV ?

 

[RocketEngineer]

Does that mean it will require a dedicated pump just for the UV ?

Ideally, yes because like you mentioned, there are reasons to run it different rates to solve different issues.

Running high flow through the sump doesn’t always do much. All you want to achieve is to ensure enough turn over to keep the water chemistry consistent.

 

[gbroadbridge]

Does that mean it will require a dedicated pump just for the UV ?

You do not need a dedicated pump, but you do need a feed from the return pump to the UV and then back into your return plumbing, with a valve to control the flow through the UV.

Then you can adjust the UV flow to whatever you want, with the balance of the flow bypassing the UV and going straight back to the tank.

You need to size the UV itself so that even with the low flow, it get's to turn over the tank volume 2-3 times per hour at whaever flow rate is necessary to control whichever type of protozoa (if that's what you're trying to do). Keep in mind different protozoa need different UV exposure to sterilize them.

 

[Pennekampdream]

Thank you all for the feedback. I’m sure I’m going to have many more questions in all kinds of subjects as I plan out my future 1st setup. Very helpful to have access to collective knowledge

 

[homer1475]

I personally like using a dedicated pump for the UV.

This way you can run whatever flow you want through it, and still have the flow through the sump without having to upsize the return pump.

 

[Pennekampdream]

I personally like using a dedicated pump for the UV.

This way you can run whatever flow you want through it, and still have the flow through the sump without having to upsize the return pump.

Where does the outflow from the UV end up?Directly into the tank?

 

[homer1475]

I run mine with the pump in my middle chamber, and the return into the return chamber(3 chamber sump).

 

[RocketEngineer]

Yup, input pump in the beginning of the sump and outlet with the return pump.

 

[Waters]

You can pull and return water to the same section in the pump.....with water moving through the sump the chances of pulling the same water twice are next to nothing. No different that using an ATO and returning fresh water to the same section the water is pulled from.

 

[Pennekampdream]

You can pull and return water to the same section in the pump.....with water moving through the sump the chances of pulling the same water twice are next to nothing. No different that using an ATO and returning fresh water to the same section the water is pulled from.

Okay. I guess it’s like on a river flowing down. If you take in water at the top and release it down stream it should not return to the intake.

 

[Waters]

Okay. I guess it’s like on a river flowing down. If you take in water at the top and release it down stream it should not return to the intake.

Exactly....I think somebody actually did some type of test to prove this....BRS maybe? I could be imagining it though lol.