UV Plumbing

ojc48 · Jun 4, 2021

Hello, I am attempting to plumb my Waterbox 110. I am running an echo tech M2, 25W UV, pax bellum& carbon reactor.
building manifold and want to run UV from return to display. My concern is backflow where the two lines intersect @ manifold. Hoping someone can point me in the right direction. The photos are the two options I am considering.

rockdiver · Jun 4, 2021

I have the same tank and the same UV.
I tried thinking for 2 months how to do it and what I finally did was I didn't do a manifold for 2 reasons the tank was up and running and I didn't want to tear all the plumbing out and 2nd with out a flow meter you just don't know what is going thru the UV with the manifolds.
So I was able to go thru my wall with it plumbed from the pump to the UV I also have the same M2 pump as you do and I use the control on the pump to sorta keep the flow low.i run the M2 at about 40% but again it's all a guessing because I also have a long run to the UV
I also chose this way because I thought of putting the UV where you have yours but then seen it would be a big pain to change the bulb and I really wanted the UV vertical.
I dont want a Apex and it seems as advanced as we are in reefing they are the only ones with a flow meter and that was not an option for me.
Plus I have a skimmer in the sump and I split the center area.
Hopefully this weekend I'll add a carbon reactor next to the UV.
1 think I would of done is bought a larger UV to run my pump faster.
This way seems to work for me.
I think your going to have a hard time with all the stuff you will have in the sump with the uv hanging there.
Best of luck

rockdiver · Jun 4, 2021

Plus if your going to go horizontal need to tip it up towards slightly to the output so bubbles don't get in trapped in there.

ojc48 · Jun 4, 2021

rockdiver said:
I have the same tank and the same UV.
I tried thinking for 2 months how to do it and what I finally did was I didn't do a manifold for 2 reasons the tank was up and running and I didn't want to tear all the plumbing out and 2nd with out a flow meter you just don't know what is going thru the UV with the manifolds.
So I was able to go thru my wall with it plumbed from the pump to the UV I also have the same M2 pump as you do and I use the control on the pump to sorta keep the flow low.i run the M2 at about 40% but again it's all a guessing because I also have a long run to the UV
I also chose this way because I thought of putting the UV where you have yours but then seen it would be a big pain to change the bulb and I really wanted the UV vertical.
I dont want a Apex and it seems as advanced as we are in reefing they are the only ones with a flow meter and that was not an option for me.
Plus I have a skimmer in the sump and I split the center area.
Hopefully this weekend I'll add a carbon reactor next to the UV.
1 think I would of done is bought a larger UV to run my pump faster.
This way seems to work for me.
I think your going to have a hard time with all the stuff you will have in the sump with the uv hanging there.
Best of luck

Thanks for the input. I’m in the same boat. I’ve had the tank for almost 2 months as well. It’s empty so I’m gonna try to work it out. Not shown in pic is a skimmer. I got the uv to help w algae so it says to run around 1200 gph the slower rate ( from what I’ve read ) is for parasites. So I’m thinking if I’m running 1200 through UV I can plumb in series w manifold and make adjustments to carbon & pax and still end up w proper return to DT. Really don’t want return UV to sump.
It is crowded in there, but I ordered enough unions to simplify things. Hopefully I’ll get it figured out soon. Was gonna try this but the cabinet door doesn’t close right.

rockdiver · Jun 4, 2021

Gotcha
A few things I wish I knew before I set it up.. the sump put a union on both of the returns oh and where did you get them ? What size because they are metric and I have no idea what the size is. Anyway I say this because the water comes into that back space that's what 6 7 inches wide max BTW that is also where I keep 2 300w heaters great spot for them on a angle but back to that small long as long as the sump, it gets really dirty there and if your like me it will drive you crazy.
It is super hard to get in there to clean I folded over a sponge on a pc of wood to get it in there. Totally nothing I ever thought about but a real pita to clean. I mention the unions because I always hate messing with the bulkhead seals so if I had a union I can just unhook the emergency and the regular return and clean. Totally bad setup imo. Plus with the UV there it will be impossible to get to.. It's a good thought that space but should of been bigger.
That's my .02
Great tank but that space really annoys me lol I mean it's just slightly wider then the pipe ugh !