125 Build Update & Chiller/Canister Filter/UV Sterilizer Question

Cuda · 06-24-2006, 11:41 AM

Hi Everybody,

The new jobs been kicking my but, but I just got back from a Buiness trip to Seattle and started filling the 125 last Monday. Good thing too, because when I got home from work Thursday night and went to top off my 20 gal, I found it leaking all over the carpet.

It appears to have just sprung a leak after being up and running for three months. It must have been the three years it sat empty.
Anyway, the 125 is filled, mixed and warmed. The rock is well cured and I'll start stacking it when I finish this post. I'll send pics tonight.
My questions on the other equipment are? I've got a SeaLine SL-300 1/4 hp chiller, (I think they're also called Pacific Coast chillers, but it's not on the box, chiller or inst manual). It runs at 264-660 gph, so I bought a Mag 5 to run it. Now it also says you must filter the water first so you don't clog the coils, but allmost all the canister filters I can find have their own built in pumps and they are at the low end gph and are usually rated for less than 100 gal. The one exception I found is the RedSea In-line Ocean Clear 340 or 375, (the 375 adds an 18 watt UV sterilizer which I planned on getting anyway) which are rated for 100-260 gal tanks, but requires an 800-1,600 gph pump.
Do you think it requires that big of a pump to force the water through all the filter media. I'd like to use it inline on the way to the chiller, but I don't want to under drive the canister/UV or over drive the chiller.

Any suggestions would be appreciated. I'll check back later, but for now it's time to aquascape.

Wiskey · 06-24-2006, 12:26 PM

Personally I would just save your money and put a sponge filter on the intake side of the Mag5, then you can save your money for a better UV. I don't think a 18W would do much of anything, look into the Emperor Aquatics models, like the 40W one.

HTH,
Whiskey

Cuda · 06-24-2006, 08:15 PM

Hi Wiskey, I thought about just using the sponge on the Mag but it doesn't seem like it will capture enough of the small particles. Have you heard of any cases of people clogging their chillers? The 18 watt UV says it's supposed to handle up to 1000 gallons. What make and models of UV have you heard good or bad things about? Thanks

By the way here's a couple of pics. Of course I "thought" I had rinsed the sand well enough, but as you can see I'll have to wait until tomorrow for clearer pics.

is_that_a_fish · 06-24-2006, 08:26 PM

To tell you the truth most pumps/skimmers/filters etc...are overated. Thats my 2 cents...sorry i cant help you on the rest of the stuff.

Cuda · 06-25-2006, 08:58 PM

Well, the dust had settled by morning so I finished my aquascaping. Here's the promised pics. I also added all the animals rescued from the leaking 20 gal tank. Tom, you may recoginze the corals you gave me at your BBQ, (Thank you again) as well as the ones rescued from the frag swap tank that nobody else wanted because they looked like they were all dieing. They are all recovering and beginning to encrust their old skeletons. There are some pretty blues and pinks. After they grow a little more I'll get some close ups.

Anybody else got any comments on the canister filters and chiller quandry?

Cuda · 06-25-2006, 08:59 PM

More pics

Cuda · 06-25-2006, 09:01 PM

And finally.

is_that_a_fish · 06-25-2006, 09:06 PM

Looks really good, thats a lot of rock

, but i wouldnt have it any other way...real nice bro.

skeety · 06-26-2006, 08:33 AM

Very nice!!

Loverotties · 06-26-2006, 09:40 AM

Looks GREAT!

zxcv123 · 06-26-2006, 10:07 AM

the rock scape is just

amazing!!! great job!!

Viv · 06-26-2006, 10:19 AM

Hey Cuda, Nice looking Tank! I always had my UV just before the water returned to the tank (that way I was told it would kill off anything that survived through the sump and skimmer, it also would allow for the cleanist water to be further purified) I have also been told this was not the way to do it... that the UV should be before the sump, that way whatever it kills will settle out in the sump and never reach the display tank. Truthfully what I have found is that the outer tube of the UV gets cover in calcium deposit which frequently should be cleaned...I didn't leave a way to do this, just joined it in line. So whatever you choose, I would suggest that you make a way to unhook everything for servicing, ie. Ball valves/gate valves at either end of your UV and chiller, that way if you need to take them off line for murphys' law, you'll be ready! Again, Great looking Tank!

Wiskey · 06-26-2006, 10:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cuda

Hi Wiskey, I thought about just using the sponge on the Mag but it doesn't seem like it will capture enough of the small particles. Have you heard of any cases of people clogging their chillers? The 18 watt UV says it's supposed to handle up to 1000 gallons. What make and models of UV have you heard good or bad things about? Thanks

By the way here's a couple of pics. Of course I "thought" I had rinsed the sand well enough, but as you can see I'll have to wait until tomorrow for clearer pics.

Nice pics!

Honstilly, I have never heard a single report of somebody clogging their chiller, and I don't think most people use any filter before the coils. I have heard reports of fried compressors, leaking freon, ect, but never clogging.

Emperor aquatics 40W, running at 500GPH will kill parasites. That 18W is rated for 1000G to kill green water, but would do nothing for any deasease.

Think of this, after a year your UV bulb looses 1/2 it's effectiveness, so if you get one that is more than you need, and run it at less then it's rated flow, you will have to replace the bulb less often.

You never want to skimp on a skimmer! If you are going to get a UV, you should not skimp on that either.

HTH,
Whiskey

Cuda · 06-26-2006, 06:43 PM

Thanks everyone, I really appreciate your comments. Since I have an immediate need to chill the water, I'll go with the Mag 5 and sponge filter as you suggest Wiskey, while I try to narrow down the UV price vs performance vs quality choices.