Options for a flow meter for UV sterilizers

Fish Fan · Sep 13, 2023

Hi all! I have been toying with getting a UV sterilizer and I'm learning that the flow rate is very important. I searched for some kind of flow meter and all I found was one that works with the Apex controllers. I don't have an Apex and don't see myself getting one anytime soon, so does anyone know another flow meter that I can use if I get a UV sterilizer?

Thank you for your help!

FishTruck · Sep 13, 2023

What I do is buy a DC adjustable pump - find one that clarifies at full power (high flow = 99% of the time for me)… and kills protozoans at low flow / low power (when I can’t sleep because I thought I saw a spot on a tang… about 1% of the time).

JonoH · Sep 13, 2023

Fish Fan said:
Hi all! I have been toying with getting a UV sterilizer and I'm learning that the flow rate is very important. I searched for some kind of flow meter and all I found was one that works with the Apex controllers. I don't have an Apex and don't see myself getting one anytime soon, so does anyone know another flow meter that I can use if I get a UV sterilizer?

Thank you for your help!

Would a Mechanical Flow Meter on the PVC be enough?
Thats what i was planning on running with (see link below - sorry for the AUS website!)

https://aggiesaquariums.com.au/product/din-union-mechanical-flow-meter-32mm/

Fish Fan · Sep 13, 2023

FishTruck said:
What I do is buy a DC adjustable pump - find one that clarifies at full power (high flow = 99% of the time for me)… and kills protozoans at low flow / low power (when I can’t sleep because I thought I saw a spot on a tang… about 1% of the time).

Thank you for your reply! But how do you know what the flow rate is? Are you just estimating by what the pump is supposed to output?

JonoH said:
Would a Mechanical Flow Meter on the PVC be enough?
Thats what i was planning on running with (see link below - sorry for the AUS website!)

https://aggiesaquariums.com.au/product/din-union-mechanical-flow-meter-32mm/

Thank you for the link. I guess something like that might work. Is it reef safe?

JonoH · Sep 13, 2023

Fish Fan said:
Thank you for your reply! But how do you know what the flow rate is? Are you just estimating by what the pump is supposed to output?

Thank you for the link. I guess something like that might work. Is it reef safe?

Sanking PVC is designed for Reef Tanks

JonoH · Sep 13, 2023

JonoH said:
Sanking PVC is designed for Reef Tanks

Should clarify though - i am not sure on what flow rate it measures, so it may not be suitable for a UV system.
A mechanical meter would be limited to what it is set up to measure, wheras a Digital one would be universal.

JonoH · Sep 13, 2023

Here is another link - it actually looks like it may be ok (shows a better shot of the measurements)
https://newlifekeys.com.au/sxs-grey-din-flowmeter/

DocMcC · Sep 13, 2023

I have done this using a flowmeter from Amazon (very cheap and loads of different sizes, only issue is they HATE chaeto!) and a raspberry pi and a little coding in python - using Tuya I push the data to my phone, currently monitoring:

Cooler/UV Flow
Total flow (main pump and cooler pump combine in case of failure)
Scrubber flow (seperate pump)
RO in flow
RO waste flow
mains to RO filter flow
TDS Mains
TDS RO in
TDS RO Resevoir
PH tank
PH Kalk mixer
ORP
Dissolved O2
Atmospheric CO2 (in Sump)
Humidity Sump
Temperature
Salinity

Toying with the idea of using "sonar" to do sump water depth sensing

All being pushed to Tuya to my own app. Flow meters are from Amazon, most of the rest are Atlas Scientific (PH & temp is their gravity range using a ADS1115, the rest use i2c)

Whole lot was relatively cheap (about €800) - considering Neptune charges €1,000 for their dissolved O2 probe!, Salinity, Dissolved O2 and ORP were the most expensive, cost would have €300 without those.

W.

Gundy · Sep 13, 2023

I am only aware of flow meters that work with apex. Without a flow meter, it’s trial and error. Measure how much water flows into a bucket and measure how much water in a given amount of time, then calculate for a per hour amount. Unfortunately this can take some time to figure out. If you are wanting to control Protozoa, it’s advisable to get an oversized UV as the flow will need to fairly slow. You will also want about 3 times turnover per hour and it’s hard to achieve these criteria without having an oversized unit. Plus, even if only controlling algae, you might want to treat Protozoa later. Also, get a quality unit.

Reef Stallion · Sep 13, 2023

Sounds like someone has an excuse to buy a Hydros controller LOL.

FishTruck · Sep 13, 2023

Fish Fan said:
Thank you for your reply! But how do you know what the flow rate is? Are you just estimating by what the pump is supposed to output?

Exactly… I just trust the specs on the pump and pick a pump that covers the range. Close enough for my purpose.

Fish Fan · Sep 13, 2023

DocMcC said:
I have done this using a flowmeter from Amazon (very cheap and loads of different sizes, only issue is they HATE chaeto!) and a raspberry pi and a little coding in python - using Tuya I push the data to my phone, currently monitoring:

Cooler/UV Flow
Total flow (main pump and cooler pump combine in case of failure)
Scrubber flow (seperate pump)
RO in flow
RO waste flow
mains to RO filter flow
TDS Mains
TDS RO in
TDS RO Resevoir
PH tank
PH Kalk mixer
ORP
Dissolved O2
Atmospheric CO2 (in Sump)
Humidity Sump
Temperature
Salinity

Toying with the idea of using "sonar" to do sump water depth sensing

All being pushed to Tuya to my own app. Flow meters are from Amazon, most of the rest are Atlas Scientific (PH & temp is their gravity range using a ADS1115, the rest use i2c)

Whole lot was relatively cheap (about €800) - considering Neptune charges €1,000 for their dissolved O2 probe!, Salinity, Dissolved O2 and ORP were the most expensive, cost would have €300 without those.

W.

Thank you for your reply, but but huh??? I think you may be describing a more complex install than I;m looking for.

Reef Stallion said:
Sounds like someone has an excuse to buy a Hydros controller LOL.

LOL, no! right now the only controller I’m interested in is ReefPi. But thank you for your reply!

Fish Fan · Sep 13, 2023

FishTruck said:
Exactly… I just trust the specs on the pump and pick a pump that covers the range. Close enough for my purpose.

I was hoping to be a bit more exact, but maybe it’s not possible. Thank you for your reply!

Fish Fan · Sep 13, 2023

Gundy said:
I am only aware of flow meters that work with apex. Without a flow meter, it’s trial and error. Measure how much water flows into a bucket and measure how much water in a given amount of time, then calculate for a per hour amount. Unfortunately this can take some time to figure out. If you are wanting to control Protozoa, it’s advisable to get an oversized UV as the flow will need to fairly slow. You will also want about 3 times turnover per hour and it’s hard to achieve these criteria without having an oversized unit. Plus, even if only controlling algae, you might want to treat Protozoa later. Also, get a quality unit.

Thank you! This is pretty much what I was thinking. I was hoping to get a flow meter that works independently from an Apex, but short of that the amount of water pumped into a bucket over a period of time is pretty much the best estimate. I am looking at a UV for a QT system, and primarily interested in controlling parasitic Protozoa. And yeah, I would get a quality unit, not a cheap eBay unit.

Waters · Sep 14, 2023

I think you are over complicating it........just buy any adjustable pump (even ones with a flow control valve). You know the maximum GPH.......you can guestimate from there based on what percentage you are running (or how open the flow control valve is).

DCR · Sep 14, 2023

I would look into this non-contacting ultrasonic flow meter if you really want to measure the flow. Should be much better than an Apex paddle wheel.

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/ultrasonic-flow-meter-the-tuf-2000b.924733/#post-11648468

Fish Fan · Sep 14, 2023

Waters said:
I think you are over complicating it........just buy any adjustable pump (even ones with a flow control valve). You know the maximum GPH.......you can guestimate from there based on what percentage you are running (or how open the flow control valve is).

Of course I’m over complicating it, I wouldn’t know any other way to do it ;-)

I definitely can guesstimate the output of the pump and get pretty close, I can even measure it out with a bucket and a timer. I was just hoping there was a little more precise way.

DCR said:
I would look into this non-contacting ultrasonic flow meter if you really want to measure the flow. Should be much better than an Apex paddle wheel.

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/ultrasonic-flow-meter-the-tuf-2000b.924733/#post-11648468

Thank you, I’ll take a look at that link.

Waters · Sep 14, 2023

Fish Fan said:
Of course I’m over complicating it, I wouldn’t know any other way to do it ;-)

I definitely can guesstimate the output of the pump and get pretty close, I can even measure it out with a bucket and a timer. I was just hoping there was a little more precise way.

Thank you, I’ll take a look at that link.

There ARE more precise ways......the precision just really isn't needed :)