MikeTheNewbie
Active Member
Hello,
I'm planning to build a closed loop UV system to help combat dinos. My sump is already plumbed and I don't have space left in my cabinet so I will need to attach it to the display tank. It is going to be more of a portable / standalone system rather than a permanent solution unless I can make it look seamless.
I've been searching the forums and YouTube. I found some pictures and videos of systems and people helping others with design problems but I haven’t seen complete showcases of closed loop UV systems or people sharing why they designed their systems the way they did.
I'm hoping the community can help showcase their closed loop UV systems, share if they had to fix something or would have done something differently. I think collectively we can continue improving and learning from each other's UV systems the way we have done with DIY 2x4 Tank Stands or Water Mixing Stations.
Examples:
• Installing the UV in a vertical position will help reduce air being trapped in the UV contact zone and improve effectiveness.
• When installed vertically, flow should go from bottom to top. (Don’t remember the reason for this).
• Intake side should not be too restrictive, should be at least as big as the outtake. Pump cavitation occurs when there is insufficient water pressure at the inlet. This can cause microbubbles.
Some questions / conversation starters:
• Is it better to place the pump before the UV (pushing water into the UV) or after the UV (pulling water from the UV)?
• Keeping the pump outside the tank will greatly help with aesthetics but I'm worried about priming the system. What's the best/easiest way to fill the system when the pump is outside the tank? Does it need to be full or will partial fill allow the pump to start.
• How critical is to have a drain? How did you implement it?
• Hard vs soft plumbing? What are the pros and cons?
I'm planning to build a closed loop UV system to help combat dinos. My sump is already plumbed and I don't have space left in my cabinet so I will need to attach it to the display tank. It is going to be more of a portable / standalone system rather than a permanent solution unless I can make it look seamless.
I've been searching the forums and YouTube. I found some pictures and videos of systems and people helping others with design problems but I haven’t seen complete showcases of closed loop UV systems or people sharing why they designed their systems the way they did.
I'm hoping the community can help showcase their closed loop UV systems, share if they had to fix something or would have done something differently. I think collectively we can continue improving and learning from each other's UV systems the way we have done with DIY 2x4 Tank Stands or Water Mixing Stations.
Examples:
• Installing the UV in a vertical position will help reduce air being trapped in the UV contact zone and improve effectiveness.
• When installed vertically, flow should go from bottom to top. (Don’t remember the reason for this).
• Intake side should not be too restrictive, should be at least as big as the outtake. Pump cavitation occurs when there is insufficient water pressure at the inlet. This can cause microbubbles.
Some questions / conversation starters:
• Is it better to place the pump before the UV (pushing water into the UV) or after the UV (pulling water from the UV)?
• Keeping the pump outside the tank will greatly help with aesthetics but I'm worried about priming the system. What's the best/easiest way to fill the system when the pump is outside the tank? Does it need to be full or will partial fill allow the pump to start.
• How critical is to have a drain? How did you implement it?
• Hard vs soft plumbing? What are the pros and cons?
