Adding UV to Fluval Flex 32.5?

[Kilman805]

I'm just setting up a new tank (My Tank Thread) and I would like to add a UV sterilizer at some point ahead. What I have in mind is to place a second return pump down opposite the stock pump, run tubing from it over the edge of the tank down to the UV unit in the base. Then run the UV return line back up into the tank and connect it to a second return nozzle.

Before I get the tank filled, I was considering drilling a hole in the filter bulkhead for a second return nozzle. The stock return nozzle is on the right size of the middle AIO filter section. I was going to make a second hole on the left side of the middle section. Does that sound like a reasonable plan? One downside is that it will leave me less room in the center section for a protein skimmer if I want to add one later. But I don't want to run the return directly into the tank (e.g. like one of the back corners) because, 1) I plan to use the stock cover for now and that would require drilling another hole or notch, and 2) The filter intakes are in the back corners, so I don't want the UV flow "short circuiting" the tank by going right back into the intake.

I searched and could not find any examples of UV added to this tank. Any feedback please?

In the photo, "X" marks the spot of the intended return nozzle. For those not familiar with the Flex AIO filter, water enters from both the left and right sides through slots and goes through the filter media in the two chambers next to the center chamber (I'll be using the InTank media baskets). A return pump in the bottom of that center section pulls the water through that path and goes back into the tank through the nozzle shown.

 

[Rach77]

sounds like a good plan. My approach was not for aesthetics. I just put in the main tank a filter with UV along the side. I'm the only one looking at my tank. It is a 20 gal AIO Tideline, which is a different set up.

 

[Kilman805]

Has anyone else added a UV sterilizer to the Fluval Flex 32.5 gallon tank?

Would be great to get some feedback before I start drilling holes.

 

[peterat33rpm]

In the same boat trying to find some info on this topic. Right now leaning towards just dropping the little aqua shield 8W desktop sterilizer into the main filler compartment.

 

[Kilman805]

It looks like that unit is meant to take the place of a filter sock. It has no integrated pump, so I’m not sure how that would work in the center pump compartment. And it looks too tall to fit in one of the side filter compartments. Of course it depends on your goals, but I suspect it’s also undersized for parasite control.

 

[peterat33rpm]

I ended up getting a 9W green killing machine to just put in the display part in the corner. I have a little bit of dinos right now so the goal is to get ahead of that, we’ll see how it goes.

 

[Kilman805]

Quick update here. I have a spare tank that was broken in shipping, so I decided to test drilling a hole through the plastic pump compartment bulkhead. As it turns out, the plastic is extremely hard and brittle. I started with a new 13/16" Forstner bit and it grabbed, ripped and cracked the plastic as it was cutting through the backside of the panel, despite me clamping a block of wood behind it. What ended up working quite well was a step bit, which I initially thought would be worse. You need to drill at slow speed and moderate pressure and take your time. But I got a nice clean hole. It does make a mess of plastic chips, so I don't recommend trying it on anything but an empty tank. The hole is plugged for now. I'll let the bank account recover a bit before buying the UV filter. Live rock is just going in next Monday, so I still have some time before the tank gets its first fish.

My plan is to use a TMC Vecton Titan 850 25W UV Sterilizer mounted below in the cabinet and circulating at around 250 gph for long dwell time. I could probably get by with a 15W unit and ~150 gph and still get good turnover of the tank volume, but the 25W is only a little more expensive.