Okay daryl..... how did you fit everything on your tank?

You have the uv hanging underneath the stand, correct? So then you must have added extra pvc piping from a hardware store otherwise the original tubbing for the 25watt uv unit from goldfish connection would be too wide to just hang on the back and the glass tank cover get's in the way.

I'm not Daryl but I have a Eheim 2028 with a UV and my UV is under my tank stand hooked to my Eheim, then a Penguin 330 on the back of the tank....

Yes, I added extra flexible tubing from the hardware store to bring it to the top from under the stand. I ran the intake over one corner side and the outlet over the other. The outlet from the UV and one 280 is on one side, the outlet from the Eheim spray bar is under the other 280 on the other side.

It is a tight fit, but with some finagleing, it all fits. I like the flexible water hosing for the extension - it allows you to futz it into place.



Sorry - I have a bad fever and flu - and I have been a bit scare for the last few days. I did not mean to leave you in the lurch!

Thanks Koko and Daryl,

Glad your feeling better Daryl,

I tried for 2hrs friday to fit that uv on my tank Getting all wet because my shirt kept getting in the water as I was leaning over the tank to get to the back. I finally gave up and decided that I was probably going to have to add some piping. I kept thinking, since our tanks so similar...how did Daryl get everything on????

Looks like, I'm going to have to wait till I can get to the hardware store to get it. (now that my son is off easter break and well from his chicken pox..It was a nice 2weeks off work while it lasted ) (sorry, I'm rambling.....back to the topic) I added my Eheim on thursday and my uv came friday. I was so excited that I was on my way to make better water conditions for my gfish.

It's a shame that extra elbow's and piping isn't included with the uv unit.

Koko, how did you hook your uv to your eheim...does that mean that the water passes through it at the same time it goes to/from your tank to/from your filter?

Oh...and glad to hear you are feeling better too, Koko.

I was talking to Rick this morning - I am still having difficulties with my fish Rocky- and I asked him about the UV. He feels that there may be some difficulties in getting the proper flow if the unit is too far under the tank - the low power pump is designed to be slow, but having to lift water from much more than the original few inches as the device was designed, can significantly slow the gph. I have an oversided base under that tank - and I placed the UV unit right up under the tank, on the "celing" of the stand (mostly because one of my cats likes to go in through the back and sleep in the base under the tank and I did not want her messing with it).

Rick suggested that this will work because the slow water will still acheive the kill, but not as much gph. The lower you place the pump, the slower the water, however, for the harder it will have to work to lift the water.

He felt that in the future, the best solution he would recommend for tanks 55 gallons and less would be the 9W "clarifier' - for that size tank and smaller, it will achieve thekill rate of the 25 W - not just algae. He had listed as an algae cleaner because people commonly use them on much larger tanks (150gallons is the one he mentioned) and it would not work on that size of tank. The 9W also hangs vertically, and would be easier to smooosh into a small area on the back and not have to place it under the tank.

It looks like you already have it, though. I am pleased with mine, I think it may be slow, but I am assuming it works. I never had a problem with algae, but I wanted it as a backup for bacteria/virus/fungus/parasites.



I am sorry that I have been less than clear and "here' mentally - this stupid bug has really gotten a hold of me and it does a number on my brain! I guess I need to run myself through the UV unit a bit - I wish we had more sunshine here - it might help!

You should have come to where I live...we had 65* and SUNNY for a change. That might have helped your bug.

I was thinking that since there is enough space between my tank and wall, I could hang the uv unit just underneath one of my Emperors. I actully had it there at one point but that is when I discovered that the glass cover was in the way. This way I would need to get just enough tubing to fit the intake & outlet pipes on each side of that Emperor. AND it wouldn't be that far from the top of the tank. I'm not that handy, so I'm not sure I could rig up something that would take the unit under the stand.

So how much more current did the uv unit add to your tank?

Thanks for all the info. I'm beginnging to think I need a degree in "tank equipment & management" though.

Thanks hun, Im getting much better

This is how mine is hooked up its just right to my Eheim canitster with hoses.

Eh=Eheim
UV=Uv filter
PE= Penguin

Thanks for the diagram Koko, that might be a thought, if I can rig it up. That way there is only one set of intake and outlet tubing rather than one each for the filter and uv unit. Since I am keeping the hob filters with the eheim on the tank, there isn't much left in the back of the tank to add alot of tubes. The corner bow's are nice because they don't take up alot of wall space but they don't leave you much room in the back after the cover goes on.

sorry for the second post but I thought of this later and couldn't edit

Koko....If you have it hooked up to your Eheim, then you don't need the pump that comes with the uv unit????........ because the filter is pumping the water through everthing??? Which might also resolve the problem that Daryl mentioned:

"I placed the UV unit right up under the tank, on the "celing" of the stand. Rick suggested that this will work because the slow water will still acheive the kill, but not as much gph. The lower you place the pump, the slower the water, however, for the harder it will have to work to lift the water."

thats right hun. I only have 2 hoses going into the tank, the intake and out tank of the eheim but the UV is in the middle of the outgoing hoses of the Ehiem. I dont have any extra pumps running anything.

TOday, I ordered a piece of plastic - super duty - to mill another lid for my 56 corner tank. When I was using Vicadin a little over a year ago, I dropped the lid closed and cracked the front glass. It has bugged me ever since. I have decided that I want more room to add hoses and inputs and such to the tank. I am going to see if I can raise the UV unit higher. So I will mill a new lid - adding in extra holes for the input/outlet of a UV unit just behind the light on the right side. I also found a new plastic hinge just like the ones they sell -so the lid should be great!

I will let you know how it works.....

Great! Thanks Koko. It sounds like a nice solution to all the hoses for my tank.

Daryl, you must be pretty handy to be able to make your own cover!!!! Keep me up on how it works, once you have it fitted.

The lid worked wonderfully - I cut the holes to fit the tubes closely so the tank supports them well.

The polycarbonate is going to need a stiffener bar down the center for support for I suspect it will sag over time, but that will be easy. I have not done it yet for I was eagar to get the UV up and running.

The lid is indistingishable in looks from the glass lid that came with the tank - except it is lighter, unbreakable, and I can cut the custom holes I want.

It works!!!!!

Now I hope the UV really kills that nasties!!!!!

Congratulations, daryl. That must feel great!! What are you going to use to support the top with?

I think I have found a solution to my uv problem. My husband gave me the go-ahead on a new 140g tank!!!(he says that this it the LAST tank! We really wont have room for more) My lfs was getting rid of their display models and had them on sale for a reasonable price. I have the tank and stand in the back of our two cars but I have to wait till my husband can get a friend to help him get them into the house, this Friday. My goldies will be the lucky ones to inhabit it. Since, it's a long tank the uv shouldn't have a problem setting on the back of that one!!!

My son is trying to claim the 55g but I don't think he's going to win. My 36g is slightly overstocked with tetras so I think they will be moved into the 55 and, since my son has been so patient we have agreed to let him get a couple for the 36. (He always seems to pick out the aggresive fish eatting ones )

And to think a year ago I never would have guessed I would have ONE fish tank How we do get attached to these little guys!!!

WOW! 140 gallons! I hope you have a Python! I could not lift that many buckets!!!!

I wanna see pictures when it is up! That is a real find!

(WHat is is with boys and chiclids? )

I am very pleased with my UV. I am going to order one of those clarifiers that Rick has - the 9W ones. He said they will clear bacteria from tanks 55 gallons and under easily. I want it for my 38 gallon tank, now.

I am going to stiffen the lid by glueing a strip of 1/2 X 1/2 inch polycarbonate down the underside just behind the hinge - The glue is clear, too.

Oh that would be good....to glue the strip to the lid. My 36g bow has a support strip in the middle-front to back- but it's part of the tank ?trim?. So it really gets in the way when I'm trying to catch one of the fish in that tank with a net.(those danio's are FAST!!) But if your support is on the lid itself, you shouldn't have that problem. I still thinks it great how you're able to rig this up yourself.

Actually, my son wants either a blue shark or one of those dragon eels or a rock cat etc... Someone posted a picture of the eel in the tropical forum a little while back. I haven't been able to find much info on the eel and the blue shark that the one lfs had was sold, but they did say that they could special order one if he wanted one.....I'm hoping he forgot that part!! Both of these eat small fish or the brine shrimp, or freeze dried foods.....I guess. But I think I'll be putting my foot down on the "live" fish meal.

I will probably go for a smaller uv too for the 55g. I'll just have to see how much $$ I have left after setting up the new tank THe fish store suggested a python too. I'm used to carrying the buckets...5g at a time.....that could take a looonng time to fill the new tank. Now how would that python work after the tank has cycled and the fish are in it? I'm thinking that you can't run tap water directly into the tank with fish in it.. the chlorine and chloramine etc.. so is it really sensible to buy one just for the first intial tank filling

SOmeone with a Python should tell you more about them. You use them at every water change - they syphon the water out, directly into you sink or drain, and back in again. From what I understand, though, is that you treat the entire tank's water before you add more, and then the water is filled from the tap. I am told that many love their pythons - could not do without them!

Since I have nasty well water, I cannot use tap water - I use RO only. So a Python will not work for me. I am not capable of lifting 5 gallons of water high enough to pour it into the tank. I am limited to about 1 12/ gallons per bucket. I can still change 25 gallons very quickly - clean the whole tank algae and all in about 30 minutes, but much more than that - like your new tank - would be.....well, whew!


My 9 W clarifyer arrived in the mail yesterday. It is really easy to put on a 38 gallon tank. I just teflon taped the joints, screwed it together in my choice of configuration and dropped it over the back. It has been running all night. I, of course, do not see any difference, but after the problems I have been dealing with with my fish, Rocky, I decided to add UV to all my tanks, a tank at a time, as I can afford it. Rick Hess says the the 9W should deal with all nasties in a tank 55 gallons or less as well as the 25 w. I turned the power head down to about 60gph, though.

I wish I could have one or two really large tanks and not so many litttle ones. But with the way I have to make water and the way I have to lift water, not to mention the places I have for the tanks, I am fairly limited.

Hi daryl,

I am interested in getting a UV sterlizer. I'm not very familiar with the set up but it seems that the 9w is the way to go? I have a 29 gal tank with very bad algae blooms- green water- that I want to clear up.

How much was the 9w sterilizer, what brand, where did u purchase
(online?) Thanks for the info!

Hi BlackStripe...

Rick Hess, who daryl has mentioned, is from gold fish connection or www.goldfishconnection.com There are some other fish supplies/info on that site too, so it may be worth your while to check it out. Seems like quite a few on this site go there for supplies.

Well, daryl here is my new tank... ready for setting up. I can't believe how tall it is. I'm going to need a step ladder/chair to get to the top. Wont my goldies be happy!!

Oh by the way...BlackStripe

You'll find a lot of nice people here on Koko's !

OOOOOHHHHH that is beautiful!!!!

I look forward to seeing it all set up!

The smaller UV unit from Rick Hess is what I got. He calls it the clarifyer, for, in larger tanks it does a great job of clearing green water and such. In a tank much bigger than a 55, it does not hold enough water to sterilize enough per hour to do an good enough job on bacteria or parasites. So it is not reccommended for that on the larger tanks. The 25W jobbie is the one for that.

As I understand it, though, according to Rick, the little clarifier should do a great job for your size tank. It is really easy to install - you can do it vertically, also. Everything was supplied - even the teflon tape!

Since I have a load of parasites I am trying to kill in a 55, I calculated out the gph of the power head supplied with it, and turned it down to the correct flow to make sure that all the water remained in the unit for 7 seconds. That is judged long enough to kill even the nastiest of buggies.

Take a look - lcwinne gave the link. Rick is a good guy - he will be happy to talk to you for as long as you wish to help you work out any difficulties. If you have any questions, just call him.