UV plumbing help

iGotJokess

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I am setting up a UV and could use some advice. I have a 180 gallon display and an 80 gallon frag all plumbed to sump. I have attached a pic of where the UV will be receiving water from my return pump but am unsure on where to route the “sterilized” water. I can attach more pictures if needed but any advice is helpful.

IMG_0497.jpeg
 
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ShakeyGizzard

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I am setting up a UV and could use some advice. I have a 180 gallon display and an 80 gallon frag all plumbed to sump. I have attached a pic of where the UV will be receiving water from my return pump but am unsure on where to route the “sterilized” water. I can attach more pictures if needed but any advice is helpful.
all return water needs to go through the UV, it needs plumbed into the return line , this will have the frag and DT water going through it.
 

ShakeyGizzard

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I am setting up a UV and could use some advice. I have a 180 gallon display and an 80 gallon frag all plumbed to sump. I have attached a pic of where the UV will be receiving water from my return pump but am unsure on where to route the “sterilized” water. I can attach more pictures if needed but any advice is helpful.
try this

IMG_0497.jpeg
 

Freenow54

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I am setting up a UV and could use some advice. I have a 180 gallon display and an 80 gallon frag all plumbed to sump. I have attached a pic of where the UV will be receiving water from my return pump but am unsure on where to route the “sterilized” water. I can attach more pictures if needed but any advice is helpful.

IMG_0497.jpeg
To me all water will eventually be treated but the first advice would be best. All water to go through it however you again to me pay attention to the UV light flow rate recommendations and match everything to that
 
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iGotJokess

iGotJokess

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Appreciate all the reply’s. With all the feedback about plumbing directly into UV, how am I supposed to plug this 1” pvc barb? Is there any other way around?
 

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iGotJokess

iGotJokess

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To me all water will eventually be treated but the first advice would be best. All water to go through it however you again to me pay attention to the UV light flow rate recommendations and match everything to that
I don’t need much flow going to tanks as my power heads take care of that so most would be going through UV. My thought was this could work I just didn’t know where to route the “sterilized” output of the uv so I’m not just recirculating the same water. I understand that not all water will be “treated” but would have to imagine over time it would be
 

malacoda

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I agree with @Freenow54 — not all water from the return needs to pass thru the UV. As long as some of the return water passes thru the UV, eventually all of the system water will pass thru it.

For example, due to space/plumbing limitations, I'm only running half of my return water thru the UV on my 120. But the tank turnover is enough that it is still effective.

The problem with running 100% of return thru UV is the flow rate will likely be too high to get parasitic level performance/benefits out of the UV.

Best option is one of the following...

A) new split off the main return line --> valve to control flow --> UV --> exit to DT or Frag tank (or back into DT or Frag line)

B) Pump out of first sump chamber --> thru UV --> exit into sump return chamber
 
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iGotJokess

iGotJokess

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Better shot of the room so you can get a better view of flow direction.
 

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Freenow54

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I agree with @Freenow54 — not all water from the return needs to pass thru the UV. As long as some of the return water passes thru the UV, eventually all of the system water will pass thru it.

For example, due to space/plumbing limitations, I'm only running half of my return water thru the UV on my 120. But the tank turnover is enough that it is still effective.

The problem with running 100% of return thru UV is the flow rate will likely be too high to get parasitic level performance/benefits out of the UV.
The only reason I changed my mind is you have to consider how often you do Water changes. This would to me not allow all the water to be processed but its a stretch . Myself I use a UV filter in series on my RO unit. I had a discussion with Randy Holmes about this. I have a Watts zero waste RO system . Randy Found a friends RO system had a bacterial blockage which was obviously harmful as drinking water. I only use mine for the Aquarium , but did notice odour from my hot water in my home, You could as Randy pointed out still drink out of the hot water without thinking. I added a UV light to mine which is 24 gallons a day RO filter. The odour is gone
 

Freenow54

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Algae, looking to probably run about 2000 gph. I have Aqua UV 57 watt and my system is approx 300 gallons
Try to control lights first. I did no algae on back at all. now also not sides. Use plastic shielding and simple directional control to achieve it.
 

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