Michael Curtis
Community Member
Having suffered with dinos for about 9 months I decided to add uv sterilisers into my system in an attempt to see if it helps in anyway.
So thought id post it up here for others
Tank is a evolution aquatics 1200S (old style) 1200cm (L) 600cm (d) 500cm(h) so about 350L when running including sump
The big down side with this tank is its back fed from 2 return pumps not one and no weir box
Pros for 2 pumps setup if one fails the other will keep things ticking over till you can get a new one
Down side of this though anything that need plumbing inline needs to be dubbed 2 returns and 2 outlets
Ok so the manual for the tank says it have to have 2 x 2000LPH pumps
Now to me this seems like overkill for a 4ft tank but thats what I have installed and on know that the head hight is about 1m so even the output won't be 2000lph
So when it comes to uv slow is best but with these 2 pumps most won't cut it at that flow rate and as I need to add 2 the price would be hell in the pocket
So did little research and decided on 2 x EA evo15 but as said the flow rate was to high for the max even though the tank size would be fine (400L tank max flow 1500lph)
So went with the evo25s (600L tank flow 2000lph)
Plus at a only £5 difference on price whats there to loose.
So the specs are simple
Max 2000lph though put
25w T8 UV bulbs
Simple install so they say but will get to that in a sec
Ordered them on next day so delivered yesterday and nearly died when I saw the size of the box they were in these are bigger than I expected (540mm length x 170mm high x 120mm deep)
So set the first one up last night and as a unit its quite impressive for basically a tube with a quarts sleeve inside for the bulb to pass though
according to the instructions this only needs to be hand tight on all joints
so the top section is the uv its self both white ends hold the quarts tube in place with o ring seals between that and the casing/ sleeve so once its in unless cleaning never need removing
The black caps are the bulb connectors and covers sealed with a flat washer so changing the bulb is a snap undo the caps and ends and pull it out no need to stop pumps.
the bottom connections are for the inlet and outlet in no particular direction and are sealed with a foam like flat washer and can be rotated to any position.
its worth noting that EA say these can be positioned in any orientation you like although I have them upright.
so the fist thing I noticed was the inlets are below the tube and there's no way to blead trapped air from the upper chamber although if you inverted them this wouldn't be an issue I chose not to as I didn't want risk the electrical connections below the water connections so inverted the setup once I had made sure it was water tight and this bring me on to my biggest problems with the first unit getting it water tight.
1 hosed tails are 19mm I use heavy duty 20mm flexible pipe so had to clamp down on the end to seal them and this was a mission as unless I really clamped them down they wouldn't stop leaking
2 the "foam like" washer leaked and I had to tighten them up to stop them leaking but what I learned for the second one is to make all connections on the unit before connecting feed and return lines
3 these would be better upside down as empty there easy to move in a tight space when full its a little frustrating or you really need a bleed valve on top.
so having learned of the first today I did the second one and easy install no tools needed and no leaks.
all in all I'm impressed with both units and that fact I only have to remove 2 caps to replace the bulb was a defernite plus although I will still need to unhook them to get at the end caps even thought the sump section is 3/4 of the tank length.
so one was on last night and even though I'm not counting it as helping yet compared to the stringy long grass covering the scape its already having an affect and there is less brown and more rockwork visible today plus the water this morning looked clearer and brighter.
so the only question is 50w uv overkill for a 350L system ?
So thought id post it up here for others
Tank is a evolution aquatics 1200S (old style) 1200cm (L) 600cm (d) 500cm(h) so about 350L when running including sump
The big down side with this tank is its back fed from 2 return pumps not one and no weir box
Pros for 2 pumps setup if one fails the other will keep things ticking over till you can get a new one
Down side of this though anything that need plumbing inline needs to be dubbed 2 returns and 2 outlets
Ok so the manual for the tank says it have to have 2 x 2000LPH pumps
Now to me this seems like overkill for a 4ft tank but thats what I have installed and on know that the head hight is about 1m so even the output won't be 2000lph
So when it comes to uv slow is best but with these 2 pumps most won't cut it at that flow rate and as I need to add 2 the price would be hell in the pocket
So did little research and decided on 2 x EA evo15 but as said the flow rate was to high for the max even though the tank size would be fine (400L tank max flow 1500lph)
So went with the evo25s (600L tank flow 2000lph)
Plus at a only £5 difference on price whats there to loose.
So the specs are simple
Max 2000lph though put
25w T8 UV bulbs
Simple install so they say but will get to that in a sec
Ordered them on next day so delivered yesterday and nearly died when I saw the size of the box they were in these are bigger than I expected (540mm length x 170mm high x 120mm deep)
So set the first one up last night and as a unit its quite impressive for basically a tube with a quarts sleeve inside for the bulb to pass though
according to the instructions this only needs to be hand tight on all joints
so the top section is the uv its self both white ends hold the quarts tube in place with o ring seals between that and the casing/ sleeve so once its in unless cleaning never need removing
The black caps are the bulb connectors and covers sealed with a flat washer so changing the bulb is a snap undo the caps and ends and pull it out no need to stop pumps.
the bottom connections are for the inlet and outlet in no particular direction and are sealed with a foam like flat washer and can be rotated to any position.
its worth noting that EA say these can be positioned in any orientation you like although I have them upright.
so the fist thing I noticed was the inlets are below the tube and there's no way to blead trapped air from the upper chamber although if you inverted them this wouldn't be an issue I chose not to as I didn't want risk the electrical connections below the water connections so inverted the setup once I had made sure it was water tight and this bring me on to my biggest problems with the first unit getting it water tight.
1 hosed tails are 19mm I use heavy duty 20mm flexible pipe so had to clamp down on the end to seal them and this was a mission as unless I really clamped them down they wouldn't stop leaking
2 the "foam like" washer leaked and I had to tighten them up to stop them leaking but what I learned for the second one is to make all connections on the unit before connecting feed and return lines
3 these would be better upside down as empty there easy to move in a tight space when full its a little frustrating or you really need a bleed valve on top.
so having learned of the first today I did the second one and easy install no tools needed and no leaks.
all in all I'm impressed with both units and that fact I only have to remove 2 caps to replace the bulb was a defernite plus although I will still need to unhook them to get at the end caps even thought the sump section is 3/4 of the tank length.
so one was on last night and even though I'm not counting it as helping yet compared to the stringy long grass covering the scape its already having an affect and there is less brown and more rockwork visible today plus the water this morning looked clearer and brighter.
so the only question is 50w uv overkill for a 350L system ?
