final set up

two questions:

is anyone running a uv sterilzer for their return to the main?
and
i dont want to use a spounge to block the debrie from getting sucked up throught my return and into my main. any ideas?

 

First The return pump may be too powerful for a UV light I have no idea how many gph you are pushing but you want to have slow flow through your UV .

Seccond, I wouldn't use any filter media on your sump return pump at all you will be trapping beneficial creatures like copepods and amphipods in your sump instead of being returned into your display as a great food source.

 

i dont use uv or ozone since it kills all bacteria, good and bad
i also dont use sponges since they are a pain to clean and attract NO3. i use a filter sock

 

U/V's are to varying for my taste to this day no one can tell you a proper flow rates as for killing Bacterias ? if the bacteria can pass through it could care less if its alive or dead . Bacteria don't float around in the system like many would think or have you to think. They tend to need a surface to attach to and grow on. Like the Petri dish.. As for killing algae and protozoan ? again all depends on exposer time to bulb and the bulbs strength and flow rates pass the bulb. It will help kill off algae spores . And make the water much clearer.
But I would rather use Ozone myself longer lasting better oxidation and no 40.00 bulbs to change out every few months. None of the U/V bulbs I have ever used lasted much past 4 month before starting to fade away. So if you are looking to U/V as a magic Bullet won't happen. I'd not waste my money on one.. Connect a Ozone to the skimmer if thats what you want to do to help control any water parameters and run higher ORP level on the tank .

 

i just dont want the fragments of culurpia getting into my main, and i want to ditch the spounge in the return. i looking for good ideas that will keep big stuff out and let the good things go by


and i didnt want to use a uv sterilzer because they kill everything, that is what i wanted to hear. thanx guys karma...

 

i use a 200 micron media bag on my sump inlet. collects crap and doesnt strip everything out