UV Sterilizer Install Freakout!!

[Goldie Lox]

Being a newbie to Aquaria Central AND to somewhat unecessary but interesting equipment..... I have a problem/dilemma/question: I have a 55 gallon FW heavily planted tank (not to mention many happy algae and algae-eating inhabitants) & purchased a Coralife Turbo Twist 3X UV sterilizer. I also happen to have a couple of Aquaclear 50 powerheads, which I use the quick filter attachment on for producing crystal clear water. My LFS said the 50 is perfect to use as the "pump" with a small adaptation needing to be made to the powerhead nozzle (must cut off a small tube sticking up. Okay, sounds fine so far. Now comes the confusion. I have looked everywhere on the internet for a picture/photo of how this unit looks installed. I would assume that the powerhead will hang in the tank underwater as usual, using the prefilter so as not to clog the sterilizer. I would then attach the proper size clear tubing I bought and attach to the powerhead nozzle, and connect that to the appropriate end of the sterilizer. Then I guess I would attach another length of tubing to the otherend of the sterilzer, mount it on top of the tank horizontally (outside the tank) and fire it up. Please somebody, tell me it's this easy. Because, according to the drawings in the instructions, that ain't the way it works. HELP!:huh:

 

[DarkSoul]

that seems like an ugly and disorganized way of doing things.

if your using a canister filter, you can just hook up the sterilizer inline with the outlet side of your filter, and run it on a timer.

 

[Goldie Lox]

Not sure what you mean by ugly and disorganized. However, I failed to mention - and this IS ugly, that I DON'T have a cannister filter. I have a hang-on-the back type (an Aquaclear 50 - actually 3 of them). I think this is where I am "dead in the water" so to speak. UV sterilizers apparently must be operated with a cannister filter and of course a pump (in this case, my Aquaclear powerhead). Since I've never seen a UV sterilizer in operation, I can't say that it would be ugly. Certainly, you could tuck the NEW cannister filter and UV sterilizer in the cabinet below, for a beautiful, clean, uncluttered look. Despite your dark, negative persona, you just cleared up any questions I had - see? You do have a bright side to yourself, oh Mad Scientist

 

[TEL]

using a internal pump with a prefilter is a good idea just sit the uv on top of the tank and place the pump near the bottom of the tank and put the uv retun the same as the retun from the filter so you can do the hole tank.If you have the room under the tank putting the uv after the canister would be neater and you only need a canister that will turn the tank over once an hour to give good sterilizing

 

[DarkSoul]

Not sure what you mean by ugly and disorganized. However, I failed to mention - and this IS ugly, that I DON'T have a cannister filter. I have a hang-on-the back type (an Aquaclear 50 - actually 3 of them). I think this is where I am "dead in the water" so to speak. UV sterilizers apparently must be operated with a cannister filter and of course a pump (in this case, my Aquaclear powerhead). Since I've never seen a UV sterilizer in operation, I can't say that it would be ugly. Certainly, you could tuck the NEW cannister filter and UV sterilizer in the cabinet below, for a beautiful, clean, uncluttered look. Despite your dark, negative persona, you just cleared up any questions I had - see? You do have a bright side to yourself, oh Mad Scientist

I wasnt trying to be mean , i simply meant having that powerhead in your tank and feeding a line out of the tank to the UV sterilizer, would put more stuff in the tank, that IMHO, would distract away from the actual beauty of the tank.

Ive made my own background, and spent extra cash making sure I have as few things as possible in my tank (not setup yet though) and at this point, I have only an intake, and spraybar, as well as a thrmometer probe.... and they sit behind my background.

plumbing now, thats MY big huge problem lol.

 

[kw0me]

in the LFS i goto they just have there uv's in the tank like a heater with a power head and sponge to prefilter it. but check that it can be fully submerged befor you go drown it and electrify the tank.