UV sterilizers exists in several designs. Due to this constructural differences, several setups for the installation of UV sterilizers exists. This article shows pictures which show for every of the installation the several components. Every type of UV sterilizers has advantages and disadvantages which are also be described for each type.
UV sterilizer with internal filter and pump
This type of UV sterilizer is an all in one solution. You have a internal filter, a pump and a UV sterilizer in one tool. The advantage is the reduced installation effort for installing such integrated UV sterilizer. In most cases the power supply is the only interface you have to deal with. No additional tubes are necessary. These kind of UV sterilizers are often very smal and compact and are the best solution for smal and new aquariums. If you have already a filter and a pump, these kind of UV sterilizer will double your equipment and destroy a lot of these advantages. Other disadvantages are that they are limited in their performance in the meaning of wattages. For larger aquariums you will not find not such kind of integrated UV sterilizers.
 |
Picture: UV sterilizer with internal filter and pump
|
Installation: It is a plug and play system. Please read the manual instruction of the manufacturer. Normaly you only to bring the UV sterilizer into the aquarium and connect the power supply. Be carefully: Most of them have to be installed in the aquarium water, but one of them have to be installed outside the aquarium. In this cases they are no internal filters, they are external filters as described below.
UV sterilizer setup with external filter and pump
If you have an equiped aquarium and would like to install an addional UV sterilizer you have all fredom to choose an pure UV sterilizer. You have not to buy an additional pump becaus you can use the pump of the external filter to bring the water through the UV sterilizer.
 |
| Picture: UV sterilizer setup with external filter with pump |
Installation: The UV sterilizer should continue to be installed so that no air in the UV sterilzer can accumulate. Therefore the UV sterilizer should be installed edgewise. The inflow should come from below and the outflow should be located on the upper end of the sterilizer. You can optimized the installation by following to aspects: If possible install the intake and outlet ports of the UV sterilizers in the cross directions of the aquarium. This will also optimize the performance of the filter. The second suggestions is too bring the ports of the UV sterilizers in cross directions, which will increase the performance of the UV sterilizer itself. The following picture shows the principles of the two tricks.
 |
| Picture: UV sterilizer setup with external filter with pump - optimized |
 |
| Picture: UV sterilizer setup with external pump |
 |
| Picture: UV sterilizer setup with external pump - optimized |
