UV Installation Question

[jasonrusso]

I thought the top was supposed to be the inlet. I have mine set up the other way. I could see bubbles before I put the sock over my skimmer outlet, but none since

Scratch that, I have mine the same way.

 

[Balanje]

I thought the top was supposed to be the inlet. I have mine set up the other way. I could see bubbles before I put the sock over my skimmer outlet, but none since

Just FYI - I contacted customer support and they said the following:

"This simply indicates a poor seal with your gasket at the elbow (which is quite common)
I would add several windings of Teflon Tape around the nipple where the gasket seats, as it is likely you are not getting enough compression with the gasket, and you would not want to have to over tighten"

Worked like a charm. However, it did specifically say not to use teflon tape in the instructions. Whatever works.

 

[bh750]

How's it going with this unit? I'm in the market and saw this thread.

@Lasse, wondering what specifically makes you like this UV and how would you compare it to others?

But you bought yourself a very good UVC sterilizer - something you did right at least :)

Sincerely Lasse

 

[Lasse]

Main reason why I like it is in post 13

The TMC product line is based on low-pressure mercury-vapour lamps and these lamps emit most of their radiation at 254 nm. Its also emit some radiation in the 185 -186 nm range – also known as the ozone producing wavelength. This makes them a pretty nasty germ killing machine (especially if you combine them with a little hydrogen peroxide) but they need a certain residence time to be effective.

I have also experiences with their more professional line and they doing their job in a very good way

I can´t compare with other brands - no experiences of them

Sincerely Lasse

 

[bh750]

Main reason why I like it is in post 13



I have also experiences with their more professional line and they doing their job in a very good way

I can´t compare with other brands - no experiences of them

Sincerely Lasse

Thank you Lasse! Yea should read your post 13 better. I have a 300g system and am looking at their 110w model. This is very helpful!!

 

[jasonrusso]

Thank you Lasse! Yea should read your post 13 better. I have a 300g system and am looking at their 110w model. This is very helpful!!

I have the Tmc 600 (25 watt) and that is good for level 2 on my 210 according according to them. 110W may be of overkill.

Not sure why, but my tank hasn't dropped below 79 since I installed it, and the heaters don't turn on anymore.

 

[bh750]

I have the Tmc 600 (25 watt) and that is good for level 2 on my 210 according according to them. 110W may be of overkill.

Not sure why, but my tank hasn't dropped below 79 since I installed it, and the heaters don't turn on anymore.

Thanks jasonrusso that's good intel. Actually I'd like to overkill it a bit. But yea that 110 might be too much. Don't know yet. That would be nice to help with keeping the tank warm!

 

[KhahnOkc]

Feed the UV should be from he cleanest water available, which in your case is the skimmer our feed side, before your refugium. Do not put after you refugium or in your return section as any critters on the way to your main display will be killed. I also suggest putting the output of the UV to the skimmer section. This allows at least a chance that anything the UV kills may be picked up by the skimmer. While you might think it will be filtering the same water over and over, the inflow/outflow will ensure enough new water is always available. I would also not suggest running the UV all the time unless you have a problem. UV kills everything, including the good stuff in the water column. You want to give the refugium and your live rock a chance to have that good stuff and not strip the water too much.

 

[bh750]

Feed the UV should be from he cleanest water available, which in your case is the skimmer our feed side, before your refugium. Do not put after you refugium or in your return section as any critters on the way to your main display will be killed. I also suggest putting the output of the UV to the skimmer section. This allows at least a chance that anything the UV kills may be picked up by the skimmer. While you might think it will be filtering the same water over and over, the inflow/outflow will ensure enough new water is always available. I would also not suggest running the UV all the time unless you have a problem. UV kills everything, including the good stuff in the water column. You want to give the refugium and your live rock a chance to have that good stuff and not strip the water too much.

Interesting approach KhahnOkc. I was initially against putting the intake near the skimmer b/c of microbubbles -- heard thats not good. So I thought the UV wouldnt kill actual live critters. Is that not the case?

 

[jasonrusso]

Interesting approach KhahnOkc. I was initially against putting the intake near the skimmer b/c of microbubbles -- heard thats not good. So I thought the UV wouldnt kill actual live critters. Is that not the case?

There isn't a whole lot of good stuff in the water column.

I agree that you don't want the intake after the fuge, but I don't necessarily agree that you need to immediately skim the outlet.

 

[Balanje]

How's it going with this unit? I'm in the market and saw this thread.

I’m liking it a lot. Runs quietly and seems to be doing its job quite well.

This is how I set it up:

Intake in the skimmer compartment

Output into the bubble guard right before the return compartment

 

[bh750]

cool, thanks for the update. Right now I'm thinking of getting a Vecton based on this thread and some others. Thinking of oversizing it for my 300g system with this one:

http://www.americanaquariumproducts.com/TMCUVSterilizer.html#110watttmc

 

[jasonrusso]

cool, thanks for the update. Right now I'm thinking of getting a Vecton based on this thread and some others. Thinking of oversizing it for my 300g system with this one:

http://www.americanaquariumproducts.com/TMCUVSterilizer.html#110watttmc

Dude, I personally think you are crazy if you are going to use something like that! It's rated for a 19,000 gallon pond or a 3300 gallon aquarium.

I get that you want some extra power, but it is a waste of electricity and equipment.

It uses 2" Pvc and it is 40"x15." Where are you going to mount it?

 

[bh750]

Dude, I personally think you are crazy if you are going to use something like that! It's rated for a 19,000 gallon pond or a 3300 gallon aquarium.

I get that you want some extra power, but it is a waste of electricity and equipment.

It uses 2" Pvc and it is 40"x15." Where are you going to mount it?

LOL. I saw that on the American Aquatics website. This is all so confusing. Looking on the MFG TMC's site it says the 110 is suitable for systems up to 1000L (or 264g).

http://catalogue.tropicalmarinecentre.co.uk/Detail.aspx?sku=7000-55&lang=en

I'm so confused. Maybe I'll contact the AA people since they seem really helpful.

 

[Balanje]

LOL. I saw that on the American Aquatics website. This is all so confusing. Looking on the MFG TMC's site it says the 110 is suitable for systems up to 1000L (or 264g).

http://catalogue.tropicalmarinecentre.co.uk/Detail.aspx?sku=7000-55&lang=en

I'm so confused. Maybe I'll contact the AA people since they seem really helpful.

Definitely reach out to them. I asked a bunch of random questions before and after I purchased and they got back to me really quickly. Like within the hour every time.

 

[bh750]

I hope this isn't bad thread etiquette but (thanks to this thread and everyone it it) I decided to buy the same UV as the OP. For that reason I figured it might be a good idea to post questions and progress here...

My setup:
I have a 220g system with sump and separate fuges. Total is about 300g

My needs:
1) disease prevention
2) water clarifier
3) help battling cyano and the dreadful dinos

My choice:
As noted above I thought I'd go overkill with the 110W unit. I contacted TMC and they too agreed it probably wasnt needed, recommended two 600s on opposite sides of the system if I wanted overkill.
Thanks to Balanje's progress I will go with the same Sicce 1.5 pump.
I'll have the input come after the skimmer but I'll have to do something to reduce the microbubbles (I like the idea of a nylon stocking). Or maybe put a filter pad before the pump too, to prevent debris.
The output will go right to the main return pump section in my sump.

Will post more as well as pics. Any of course take any advice as I havent made a purchase yet.

 

[PhilT]

Anyone have a vecton mounted inside a Red Sea reefer tank? I have a 425xl and it’s 21” from front to back which is exactly the length of the uv. Also depending on which side of the sump section I mount it on, I may be bumping into the door hinge or the plumbing down pipes from the weir.

Also how are you mounting the unit to any inside wall? Heavy duty Velcro? Is there anything on the body that a screw would grab onto to hang it?

 

[jasonrusso]

Anyone have a vecton mounted inside a Red Sea reefer tank? I have a 425xl and it’s 21” from front to back which is exactly the length of the uv. Also depending on which side of the sump section I mount it on, I may be bumping into the door hinge or the plumbing down pipes from the weir.

Also how are you mounting the unit to any inside wall? Heavy duty Velcro? Is there anything on the body that a screw would grab onto to hang it?

You can take the covers off the Vectrons and use small self tappers to screw them to the wall.

 

[jporter17]

Most important issue to solve when your plan where your intake will be being that the UVC needs a very clear water and a water free of microbubbles in order to work properly. Microbubbles (of all sizes) and particles with a size over 5 microns will diffuses and reflects UVC radiation. Its never wrong with mechanical filtration before an UVC chamber.

According to flow rate – follow the recommendations from the manufacturer – different brands solve different problems in different ways – therefore there is no universal flowrate/watt. Normally – it’s a good idea to have the flow in the middle of their recommendations


Sincerely Lasse

Lasse, I installed my UV sterilizer in between the overflow and sump. I wanted to insure all the tank water passed through the UV and it wasn’t on the return where it might kill any pods or life from my chaeto reactor that feeds into the return pump section. Thought I was being smart but after reading your posts about it needing clean water and no bubbles has me second guessing that location. I know I do get some bubbles from the return. Should I relocate it? Thanks for any advice and sorry if I’ve hijacked the OP’s thread. JP

 

[Lasse]

Lasse, I installed my UV sterilizer in between the overflow and sump. I wanted to insure all the tank water passed through the UV and it wasn’t on the return where it might kill any pods or life from my chaeto reactor that feeds into the return pump section. Thought I was being smart but after reading your posts about it needing clean water and no bubbles has me second guessing that location. I know I do get some bubbles from the return. Should I relocate it? Thanks for any advice and sorry if I’ve hijacked the OP’s thread. JP

What type of overflow? Full siphon ?

It is the small bubbles that cause the most problems. If you have full siphon and an oversized UV-C - it maybe works - but it is not optimal.

Sincerely Lasse