FX5 and UV Sterilizer

[slipgate]

Sorry if this has been addressed already but I could not find anything.

I have an FX5 on a 135 gallon tank. I want to get a UV Sterilizer that hooks up to the filter output. I am concerned about the large size tubing (1") and flow rate of the FX5. Can anyone suggest a UV filter that works well with the FX5? Also is there a T fitting that would connect inline with the FX5 to divert some but not all the flow into the UV filter?

I looked at and like the Coralife 6x.

Thanks!

Robert

[CWO4GUNNER]

Your concerns over the high rate of flow past any UV bulb are most important. UV is sort of like the analogy for a toaster oven with passing bread on a conveyor (Quiznos), If that conveyor is set too fast it doesn't do a thing, set too slow and it burns the bread.

In the case of a UV we want to burn the bread and since the slower GPH past the bulb the more effectively the UV does its job the mind set should be what is the minimum amount of GPH turn over past the UV for a 135 tank I can live with? I say 100 GPH should be more then enough, but 300-600 is way to fast to do anything.

So If you must use the FX5 you need to find a way to have a branch off circuit with valves to slow the water way down or get your self a vary small power head. I use a 100 GPH power-head pushing water past a 12 inch, 24W bulb on my 244 tank which only gives me a turn over of 9 times in a 24 hour period but because the GPH is so slow the UV is very thorough so the turn over rate is more then enough.

In general the higher your UV GPH the less effective the damage to pathogens and algae, the slower the GPH the more damage or sterile the water treatment.

[nc0gnet0]

It can kill algae at faster flow rates but not bacteria. I think your much better of with a dedicated pump for the UV. What wattage is the uv bulb?

Rule of thumb is 25 GPH per watt maximum flow rate.....

FWIW, you can do alot better for less money than the coralife:

http://cgi.ebay.com/2010-Version-36-Watt-Koi-Pond-UV-Sterilizer-UV-Light_W0QQitemZ310198818223QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_D efaultDomain_0?hash=item48394a55af

A UV bulb is a UV bulb.........

[The Zigman]

I have an Fx5 plumbed into a Turbo twist UV sterilizer. the internal parts if the TTUVS slows the water and wraps it around the bumb like a screw. Unfortunately I have replaced the ballast ont he sterilizer 3 times, and wouldnt reccommend it to anyone because of this.

As far as the T fitting goes, I used regular PVC pipe, and clear beverage hose that fits OVER the 3/4" Pvc. Its been running for about 3 years now. You can see pix in my 125 gal thread linked in my signature below.

[nc0gnet0]

I get a kick out of the "turbo-twist" technology......what a bunch of marketing hoopla. The only thing it accomplishes is to slow down (restrict) the flow of water. You can do this just as easily by reducing the size of the hoses, fittings, etc. question is, why would you want to reduce the flow rate of your fx-5? Seems a bit counter-productive to me.

[slipgate]

I get a kick out of the "turbo-twist" technology......what a bunch of marketing hoopla. The only thing it accomplishes is to slow down (restrict) the flow of water. You can do this just as easily by reducing the size of the hoses, fittings, etc. question is, why would you want to reduce the flow rate of your fx-5? Seems a bit counter-productive to me.

No I do not want to reduce the flow rate of the FX5, I just want to plumb in the UV filter without having it be too complex.

I have decided to get the Pentair Aquatics Lifegard Aquastep 15 Watt UV Sterilizer instead since it comes with everything accept a pump. I'll tee it off the output of the FX5 and use a ball valve to restrict flow to maybe 100 or so gph. Does that sound ok?

[nc0gnet0]

Sounds fine but I still prefer the 36 watt one I linked to on ebay, that can handle the full flow of the fx5 without a T and its less than 100 bucks.....

[slipgate]

Sounds fine but I still prefer the 36 watt one I linked to on ebay, that can handle the full flow of the fx5 without a T and its less than 100 bucks.....

Well crud, I looked at your link yesterday but just now actually read the description. I did not realize that this one could take such a high water flow and had inlets/outlets that are the same size and larger than the 1" FX5 hoses. The main reason that I got the one that I did was because it came with hangers and a lot of setup parts. :swear: