How did you mount your UV sterilizer?

[petcellar]

I'm trying to plumb an Aqua 57 UV sterilizer, and I don't have a basement or dedicated fish room behind the tank. I'd rather not mount it to the side of the stand out in the open.... I think that would spoil the looks of it.

I tried to mount it underneath the tank over the sump, but it just takes up so much room in there.... will be hard to service pumps, skimmers ect in the sump.

Just looking for ideas and maybe some pictures on how y'all cram an additional piece of equipment this size into your setup.

Thanks!!

 

[ReefTankENG]

How big is your sump? This is how I did mine. I can pull the whole thing, including pump, pretty easily for maintenance

 

[ReefTankENG]

It was an afterthought add-on

 

[1ocean]

if that falls into the water your tank is done.

 

[petcellar]

How big is your sump? This is how I did mine. I can pull the whole thing, including pump, pretty easily for maintenance

Thanks for the picture!!

I like how you can move it around so you can access equipment.... basically I secured mine to the underside of the cabinet top with plumbers strap.

However, I can't tell by looking at the picture.... what is keeping it out of the water? is it just the flexible tubing?

It's a tight squeeze under my sump for sure.

 

[MasterClassReefs]

I'm trying to plumb an Aqua 57 UV sterilizer, and I don't have a basement or dedicated fish room behind the tank. I'd rather not mount it to the side of the stand out in the open.... I think that would spoil the looks of it.

I tried to mount it underneath the tank over the sump, but it just takes up so much room in there.... will be hard to service pumps, skimmers ect in the sump.

Just looking for ideas and maybe some pictures on how y'all cram an additional piece of equipment this size into your setup.

Thanks!!

I am using the same sterilizer in my build. I left space behind the system to plumb it inline on a 2" vertical manifold using a bypass from one of my return pumps. This makes it a closed loop. From the pump to the manifold teed off from the main line with 2x union ball valves and a flow sensor so it can be shut off and worked on or changed. The main line has a union gate valve for flow control so I can dial in exposure to target specific pests. Best to have the water enter the UV low and exit up top to avoid air being trapped inside as that can cause other issues.

 

[MasterClassReefs]

if that falls into the water your tank is done.

Yeah, that would honestly make me very nervous. Its also in the way blocking access to things.

 

[ReefTankENG]

The left flange hits the lip on the left side of the sump and the right end hit the other side of the sump lip. The tubing and pump make it almost impossible to drop in the water… although that is a good point from 1ocean.

 

[BriDroid]

I mounted mine vertically with the Neat Aquatics Aqua UV Quick release clamps. It makes it super easy to remove and work on it to replace the bulb or clean. They’re not cheap, but very handy.

 

[ReefTankENG]

Yeah, that would honestly make me very nervous. It’s also in the way blocking access to things.

It is easy to take out. I am able to change the reefmat without moving it. I would have done it differently had I thought of it earlier. It was a big build process and I didn’t add it until I had an ich issue.

 

[Skippy The Meh]

I used hooks and chains to hang it. Its easy to move when i do maintenance.

 

[MasterClassReefs]

The left flange hits the lip on the left side of the sump and the right end hit the other side of the sump lip. The tubing and pump make it almost impossible to drop in the water… although that is a good point from 1ocean.

Skimmer overflow = toast as well. A lot can go wrong. Best to plan for it and avoid the problems rather than hope they pass us by. This unit is also quite large and heavy, best to clamp/strap it for support.

 

[MasterClassReefs]

Yeah, that would honestly make me very nervous. It’s also in the way blocking access to things.

It is easy to take out. I am able to change the reefmat without moving it. I would have done it differently had I thought of it earlier. It was a big build process and I didn’t add it until I had an ich issue.

Yeah as an afterthought it is a large, heavy addition that makes it a challenge for sure.

 

[BriDroid]

Yeah as an afterthought it is a large, heavy addition that makes it a challenge for sure.

Agreed! I had no clue how big the 15W classic Aqua UV was!!!

 

[MasterClassReefs]

Yeah as an afterthought it is a large, heavy addition that makes it a challenge for sure.

Agreed! I had no clue how big the 15W classic Aqua UV was!!!

I believe the 40w is even longer!
The 57w can take some serious flow, thats why I chose it and used the manifold. I am running varios 10 pumps, lots of flow.

 

[MasterClassReefs]

I used hooks and chains to hang it. Its easy to move when i do maintenance.

The ole dungeons and sterilizers vibe eh?

 

[petcellar]

I believe the 40w is even longer!
The 57w can take some serious flow, thats why I chose it and used the manifold. I am running varios 10 pumps, lots of flow.

Was getting frustrated trying to get "serious flow" through my 57 watt through those 3/4 inch barbs that it comes with.... until I searched the forum and found everyone else seems to have the same problem. I think the physics are again you trying to get the recommended flow levels through those barbs no matter the size pump.... somewhat frustrating.

 

[petcellar]

The left flange hits the lip on the left side of the sump and the right end hit the other side of the sump lip. The tubing and pump make it almost impossible to drop in the water… although that is a good point from 1ocean.

I see.... it fits just right in your setup so that it can't fall.

Thanks!

 

[petcellar]

I used hooks and chains to hang it. Its easy to move when i do maintenance.

Would you happen to have a picture of your setup?

That might be the answer for me.... I used plumber strap, but would be very inconvenient to unscrew it each time to do maintenance.

The idea of putting it in the way (seeing that there aren't very many good places to put it) but still being able to remove it is something I didn't think of...

 

[MasterClassReefs]

I believe the 40w is even longer!
The 57w can take some serious flow, thats why I chose it and used the manifold. I am running varios 10 pumps, lots of flow.

Was getting frustrated trying to get "serious flow" through my 57 watt through those 3/4 inch barbs that it comes with.... until I searched the forum and found everyone else seems to have the same problem. I think the physics are again you trying to get the recommended flow levels through those barbs no matter the size pump.... somewhat frustrating.

Oh yeah, you wont achieve what you are looking for through a 3/4 inch line easily. I use 2"pvc pipe for the manifold and 1.5" for my main lines. No restriction to the sterilizer this way. The smaller the pipe the more head pressure from friction as well as the bottleneck. These tubes are pretty large for smaller systems or pumps.