Need Some General Info About Uv Sterilizers...

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ikon

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Are UV sterilizers meant to be kept on 24/7 or should they be on a timer? Also what is the best method to plumb it into the system? thanks
 
24/7 usually supplied via a small pump, or a T off a larger flowing line. You want a very slow flow through the sterilizer to control parasites, and a faster flow to control bacteria. The sterilizers usually come with a diagram showing how fast to flow water through it to control what type of bad organism :)
 
thanks...i got mine second hand and there are no instructions..i will search the internet but i was wondering about the plumbing...

would you stick a pump in the sump with a line to the inlet of the uv sterilizer, then the outlet line would run to the main tank?

or just run it from the sump to the uv and back to the sump?
 
Sump-UV-Sump, way easier :). Remember the sump is part of your entire system, so you can sterilize there :good:

Dunno what brand you have, but I just looked up the values in my manual for my Coralife Turbo Twist. They say about 55GPH is ideal for parasites, 121GPH for water-borne algaes, and 253GPH for Bacteria. Most people (myself included) use it for parasite inhibition so a very low flow is desireable. Something around a 100GPH pump would be suitable (since it will loose flowrate going through the device and be near 55 when all is said and done)
 
thanks for the info, will do..in fact i have the coralife turbo twist 9watt..
 

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