UV install opinion

[mmorrison55]

I am adding a new sump in my fish room, and I’m taking the opportunity to redo and clean up my plumbing. I was not planning to re-install the UV into a return line. I stumbled across an older BRS video where they said one of the mistakes people make is not installing into a return line and only using a closed loop in the sump.

This got me thinking if this really is detrimental to just have it on a closed loop in the sump?

Some of the high end sump makers such as MRC and deltec, have a chamber in the sump that just exposes sump water to UV light before it makes its way to the return chamber, So it’s not directly plumbed into the return line either, and is more or less behaving the same way a closed loop would if a pump or manifold feeding the UV goes from one sump chamber to another.

I am planning to exit the UV into the return chamber, so all the water coming out of the UV should make its way into the display anyways.

So interested if anyone has noticed a difference in water clarity, algae growth, or parasites when plumbing their uv via a sump closed loop vs return line installation?

 

[PhishEDELIC]

The whole idea with plumbing your UV inline with your return is that 100% of the water and therefore 100% of what is ever bad swimming around in your tank goes past the UV light. In theory, if your not bottle necking the water in a hose entering the UV all the bad stuff could either go around the UV or in the case of just a UV casting light into a chamber may not pass by the light close enough that the intensity is enough to kill said bad things. Hope I explained that right.

 

[petcellar]

Agree with @PhishEDELIC as to the reasoning. I plumbed my UV recently into my return for the same reason.

I think the real question is whether or not this theoretical concern makes a real world difference. I don't know.

I'm sure others will chime in.

 

[mmorrison55]

The whole idea with plumbing your UV inline with your return is that 100% of the water and therefore 100% of what is ever bad swimming around in your tank goes past the UV light. In theory, if your not bottle necking the water in a hose entering the UV all the bad stuff could either go around the UV or in the case of just a UV casting light into a chamber may not pass by the light close enough that the intensity is enough to kill said bad things. Hope I explained that right.

I wasn’t thinking about it in that regard, and can see where the mrc chamber style would contact all the water because it has to pass through that chamber to get to the return.

My next thought is, I have dual return pumps, so unless I had dual UV’s plumbed into each return pump, there would be 50% of the water not making it through the uv on that particular return cycle.

Im certain over time, all the water in the sump would pass over the uv light no matter how you have it plugged,bed, but I can see it being more efficient and potentially more effective if you had just one return pump that had everything going through it and the uv.

Before I even started this new sump, I had it only going through one return pump, but now I’m wondering if I was not being effective as I could have been had I had just the one pump feeding both return lines or if I should have had two uv’s plumbed in-line.

Im thinking I may now go dual uv’s. Added benefit of dual uv’s is I could run them at different speeds, one for parasites and the other for algae.

 

[UnnamedReef]

I have two return lines on the same return pump in the sump, and my inline UV is on only one of the returns so I get partial flow going through it.

I've found it's helpful for algae management and definitely effective for water clarity. I haven't had to test it out on parasite control (and hopefully won't). I think if you're using it for water clarity and algae help then partial flow is OK.

Two UVs would be great especially since you can control flow rate individually like you mentioned. Drawbacks would be cost and additional heat sources that you may need to factor in. Good luck with whatever you decide!

 

[mmorrison55]

The more I thought about it, the more the dual uv’s on each return pump/line sounded good. Being that I live in Florida, I already have a chiller running to deal with water temps.

I can sell my larger uv unit down the road to recoup some of the cost.

I almost went with one of the ice cap in sump units, but that sounds like it would have really been the least efficient option as the input and exit are within a 6inch radius. I guess those 7nits are for those who have no other option and any uv is better than none. idk…

 

[jonelder68]

I plumbed mine inline through return line. Happy as can be with how it’s running/working. I do let partial bypass uv and go direct from return to DT to keep the flow rate I run while also running proper gph through uv.

 

[mmorrison55]

I plumbed mine inline through return line. Happy as can be with how it’s running/working. I do let partial bypass uv and go direct from return to DT to keep the flow rate I run while also running proper gph through uv.

I have so many questions about your set up

 

[jonelder68]

I have so many questions about your set up

ask away. Theres a lot going on I know.

 

[BriDroid]

I put a 15W Aqua UV on my 40 breeder and I put it on the return line. It seems to function just fine. I was able to wipe out an ostreopsis dino outbreak with it there so it must be doing something.

 

[mmorrison55]

May be a few different replies, as I have a few questions based on the photo…

1. Is that an avast plank feeder im seeing? Do you drop the food into return pump chamber? If so, I assume no issues ?

2. What size plumbing is going into your UV and display returns? I’ve tried to find some of those 90 sweeps locally but I can’t find 1” at Home Depot or Lowe’s, only 1 1/4 and up. I didn’t want to order them online as its $6 a piece plus shipping, so thinking I will have to use two 45s to make a more gentle curve.

3. I think you already touched on, but wasn’t sure the purpose of the two y’s that look to be on the entrance and exit of your uv line. How much does that reduce the flow by bypassing? Could the same been accomplished using the two ball valves?

 

[jonelder68]

May be a few different replies, as I have a few questions based on the photo…

1. Is that an avast plank feeder im seeing? Do you drop the food into return pump chamber? If so, I assume no issues ?

2. What size plumbing is going into your UV and display returns? I’ve tried to find some of those 90 sweeps locally but I can’t find 1” at Home Depot or Lowe’s, only 1 1/4 and up. I didn’t want to order them online as its $6 a piece plus shipping, so thinking I will have to use two 45s to make a more gentle curve.

3. I think you already touched on, but wasn’t sure the purpose of the two y’s that look to be on the entrance and exit of your uv line. How much does that reduce the flow by bypassing? Could the same been accomplished using the two ball valves?

Yes that’s an avast plank feeding into return. I also now have an Ind AF4 frozen food feeder into same spot. I made a funnel using larger pvc to drop the food into. Running over a year with no issues. Flows through return and then broadcast out into DT. Will do it on every other tank in the future.

The pipping is 1 1/4 size. The fittings aren’t available local so ordered through supply house online.

The bottom and top wyes are for if I want to take uv offline or remove to service. I just close both ball valves at uv inlet & outlet and can open middle/lower ball valve to full flow to keep system running without skipping a beat.

 

[BriDroid]

I use a aF4 frozen feeder and feed it into the return pump, so it goes through the UV. No issues at all.

 

[Nordy]

I wasn’t thinking about it in that regard, and can see where the mrc chamber style would contact all the water because it has to pass through that chamber to get to the return.

My next thought is, I have dual return pumps, so unless I had dual UV’s plumbed into each return pump, there would be 50% of the water not making it through the uv on that particular return cycle.

Im certain over time, all the water in the sump would pass over the uv light no matter how you have it plugged,bed, but I can see it being more efficient and potentially more effective if you had just one return pump that had everything going through it and the uv.

Before I even started this new sump, I had it only going through one return pump, but now I’m wondering if I was not being effective as I could have been had I had just the one pump feeding both return lines or if I should have had two uv’s plumbed in-line.

Im thinking I may now go dual uv’s. Added benefit of dual uv’s is I could run them at different speeds, one for parasites and the other for algae.

That’s a cool idea of two, I would go with that and each UV having different flow rates through the light. Less glass cleaning, better management for parasitic pests that are undesirable.

 

[Nordy]

If after water clarity, I’ve reduced all my fancy filtration down to a roller mat, refugium, skimmer, and the Bash Sea bacteria media canister. Haven’t done much work on this tank lately or water changes, and the picture of tank is 5 minutes after feeding from my aF4 feeder. UV sterilization I am for, mostly for parasitic pests , but biology filtration is top notch with the Bash Sea bacteria media reactor for great clarity also, so my UV has been offline 6 weeks. Also dose phyto regularly, not a lot of algae and biofilm accumulating on the glass. Nice that it’s simplified for that tank, used to be a maniac with all sorts of filtration devices. Good post, hope to see the work and progress you put in and its effectiveness!

 

[mmorrison55]

@Nordy Plan to add something similar to your bash sea reactor down the road. Glad you like it, and it’s working out for you.

 

[mmorrison55]

Yes that’s an avast plank feeding into return. I also now have an Ind AF4 frozen food feeder into same spot. I made a funnel using larger pvc to drop the food into. Running over a year with no issues. Flows through return and then broadcast out into DT. Will do it on every other tank in the future.

The pipping is 1 1/4 size. The fittings aren’t available local so ordered through supply house online.

The bottom and top wyes are for if I want to take uv offline or remove to service. I just close both ball valves at uv inlet & outlet and can open middle/lower ball valve to full flow to keep system running without skipping a beat.

Very cool set up with the feeders.

I’ve got the plank, but it sets up on my display eurobrace.

The wyes make more sense now.didn't think about as a bypass for when you are cleaning the uv.

 

[jmaneyapanda]

I plumbed mine inline through return line. Happy as can be with how it’s running/working. I do let partial bypass uv and go direct from return to DT to keep the flow rate I run while also running proper gph through uv.

How do you know the flow rate through the UV?

 

[jonelder68]

How do you know the flow rate through the UV?

it’s a rough estimate/calculation off return pump specs.

 

[jmaneyapanda]

it’s a rough estimate/calculation off return pump specs.

And how much the valve is closed, and how much of the flow that restricts. Which Ive always found to not be linear.