needing a little help

[trble81]

So I'm putting together our first "big" tank (90 gallon) with a sump and need some help with what to do.

 

So the tank is already drilled and when the plumbing is re-attached (disassembled in order to get it to my house from a fellow WAMASer) they'll go down to the sump under the tank in the stand (I'm sure you'll see a post in the DIY for help on making a sump from an older tank we have soon). My question is what type of pump to use as the return.

 

My plan is that I've got a UV sterilizer that I'd like to plumb in-line with the return. So the idea is to go from the return pump, to the UV, to the tank (planning on using a sea swirl or something similar for the return into the tank). The inlet/outlet for the UV is 1/2" and 3/4", respectively. So I guess my question breaks down into parts:

 

--- What rated pump should I look for (GPH)? The pump will have to push the water 4.5' up to get back into the tank.

 

--- Is the idea even possible (taking into account the outlet of the return pump, what to work with on the sterilizer, etc, etc)? And if it's not possible, what's the best way to incorporate the sterilizer (25w Gamma UV that is listed as HOB or inline) into the sump....idea...plan...thing? As an FYI, I won't be putting a fuge in the sump...have an HOB one that I'm going to use.

 

Thanks in advance!

[st9z]

I am using a Mag 7 for my 90 gallon I think that is rated for 700GPH. I only have a ASM G3 skimmer in my sump, not sure if that effects the GPH being push around

Edited October 1, 2008 by st9z

[Buucca]

You'll need a return pump rated at 10x the tank volume, so at 900gpm minimum. UV sterilization occurs best when water goes past the quartz lamp at a slow rate(contact time). So IMO 900gph would be too fast for proper sterilization. I would add a small pump in the sump to return another line into the tank. I personally added a canister filter next to the sump with the output running through my UV.

[Coral Hind]

Here is my opinion. I would shot for a pump like a mag 9.5 (950gph). I would run the 3/4" pvc off this pump as the return. I would put a tee fitting in the 3/4" so you can add a 1/2" ball valve to one side. Use the ball valve to adjust the flow to your UV unit. Like Buucca said, you need the contact time, so you will have to see what the UV maker recommends for your model and adjust the flow to that. Hope that helps.

Edited October 2, 2008 by Coral Hind

[jason the filter freak]

Here is my opinion. I would shot for a pump like a mag 9.5 (950gph). I would run the 3/4" pvc off this pump as the return. I would put a tee fitting in the 3/4" so you can add a 1/2" ball valve to one side. Use the ball valve to adjust the flow to your UV unit. Like Buucca said, you need the contact time, so you will have to see what the UV maker recommends for your model and adjust the flow to that. Hope that helps.

 

I second this solution, you guys have come a long way from a hex tank with a cannister filter, congrats

[ctreptow]

My thought on this is to match my return with my skimmer. I have a Mag 9.5 feeding the skimmer so I keep my return at about 1000 Gph. This way must of the water returning from the tank goes through the skimmer before it gets to the sump. I use powerheads and closed loop to create the 10X flow in the tanks.

[trble81]

Yeah, I've got power heads lined up to create some good flow in the tank. I just didn't know what return pump was appropriate.

 

I like the idea with the ball valve to restrict the flow to the sterilizer. It'll probably take a little fooling around with but it's worth it to make using a sterilizer ACTUALLY do what it's supposed to do.

 

Thanks for all the suggestions.

[Brian Ward]

Yeah, I've got power heads lined up to create some good flow in the tank. I just didn't know what return pump was appropriate.

 

I like the idea with the ball valve to restrict the flow to the sterilizer. It'll probably take a little fooling around with but it's worth it to make using a sterilizer ACTUALLY do what it's supposed to do.

 

Thanks for all the suggestions.

 

The mag 9 will not produce 950 gal/hr after you have it hooked up due to head pressure. It's not a pressure rated pump and the flow rate will drop considerably. Take a look at the head/flow calculator over on RC (left side, under calculators. Lots of useful things there.) My rough guesstimate of what you'll have hooked up says you'll actually see about 165 gph. Here's the link so you don't have to search:

 

http://www.reefcentral.com/calc/hlc2.php

 

The Gamma UV you mentioned has a max GPH of 1200. I think it is a good size for your tank. You need to consider what you are looking to get out of the UV. At the higher flow rates (1000 - 1200 gph) you will mostly be killing the free-floating algae. The exposure time isn't enough to have much effect on more complex organisms such as ich. The ball valve is a good idea so you can adjust the flow based on your needs - if you have an ich outbreak, valve it down to slow the flow and kill the free-floating organisms, but run at a higher flow rate for algae and water clarity on a regular basis. With 1/2" in and 3/4" out, the flow is going to slow significantly through the UV. I don't think you should connect this through your return - at least not where everything goes through the UV and then you branch to go back into the tank. I would do 1 of 2 things: have a separate pump to feed the UV (preferred option) and just loop the water through the UV and back into the sump. OR connect a Tee off of the pump output - send some water directly to the return and send the rest through the UV - from the UV, you can either go into the sump, or output from there to one of your returns. Either way, you need a much larger pump than a mag 9.

 

I have personally never been impressed with the mag pumps as the main pump for your aquarium. I use them to move water around during maintenance and to mix saltwater for water changes, but that's about it. You didn't mention if you need a submersible or if an external pump is acceptable. For an external, I'd get a Reeflo Dart. One of the best pumps in production, hands down. For internal, I'd look at the Eheim 1260 or 1262. Either way, definitely check out the head pressure calculator to see what kind of flow you're actually going to see. The Mag 9 is nowhere near enough.

Edited October 2, 2008 by Brian Ward

[dschflier]

I must agree completely with Brian on this one. If you decide to use a mag pump(which I wouldn't really recomend either) and you plan on attaching other equipment to it as well I would up the pump to a mag 12 or even an 18.

 

My preference would be using an external preasure rated pump. They are a bit more expenive when, new but often you can find used ones at good prices. I have a couple of setups at home that could give you some ideas. I will try and take some pictures to give an idea as to setting up external pumps.

 

As to water movment a SCWD is a good way of doing this but they have a tendency to last no more then 6 months to a year. We have a local WAMAS member who is building the WAV I will be setting two of them up on my tanks. I saw them on his tanks and his tank is beautifull. They seem to work very well. I would suggest speaking with him(bbyatv, bruce). He is currently giving WAMAS members a discount off the regular price. Just my 2 cents.

 

David

[trble81]

Just checked out the WAV....pretty cool....pretty cool indeed.

 

 

Thanks for the info regarding the pumps. I was wondering about the decrease in flow and I'm surprised how dramatic it is. I'll def look into the Eheim submersible/internal and the Reeflo Dart (3600 GPH, right?). David, if you could post some pictures of the external pump set up, I think that would really help me out (and I'm sure many others too).

 

I'll go with a separate pump for the UV. What I want to do is to make sure I don't get ich outbreaks. What pump would be a good idea to use?

 

Thanks again!!

Edited October 3, 2008 by trble81

[Brian Ward]

Just checked out the WAV....pretty cool....pretty cool indeed.

 

 

Thanks for the info regarding the pumps. I was wondering about the decrease in flow and I'm surprised how dramatic it is. I'll def look into the Eheim submersible/internal and the Reeflo Dart (3600 GPH, right?). David, if you could post some pictures of the external pump set up, I think that would really help me out (and I'm sure many others too).

 

I'll go with a separate pump for the UV. What I want to do is to make sure I don't get ich outbreaks. What pump would be a good idea to use?

 

Thanks again!!

 

If ich control is your primary purpose for the UV, you want to be at the low end on flow to maximize exposure time. If you haven't purchased it yet, I'd consider stepping up maybe as high as a 54W unit so you can get adequate turnover while still getting enough radiation exposure. But assuming a 25W unit, I'd probably say a mag 5 or one of the smaller Eheim pumps is plenty if you're just going to circulate it from the sump, through the UV and back to the sump. 300 - 500 gph is probably what I would shoot for.