Aqua Medic Helix Max UV Sterilizers

Superior spiral flow design boosts UV performance for cleaner, clearer aquarium water. Aqua Medic Helix Max UV Sterilizer employs an improved, helical contact chamber for more twists within the housing. Aquarium water "spins" around the UVC lamp to extend the time it's exposed to cleansing ultraviolet light. Longer exposure to UV light per single pass means more efficient UV sterilization.

The well-designed Aqua Medic Helix Max UV Sterilizer features inlet/outlet fitting collars that can be rotated 360° for easy mounting at any angle. Included Mounting Bracket provides secure mounting option to suit your specific aquarium setup. Used properly, UV Sterilizers help eradicate water borne parasites, bacteria, fungi, viruses and other pathogens as well as free-floating green water algae in freshwater and saltwater marine aquariums.

The 5W, 9W and 11W come with a 6-1/2 foot cable and wall plug transformer. The 18W, 36W and 55W come with a 32 foot rubber cable and high frequency electronic ballast, which increases the lifetime and the efficiency of the UV lamps.

Requires appropriately sized pump and tubing.

Downloadable Helix Max UV Sterilizer Manual PDF.
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Shop all Aquarium UV Sterilizers.

Please click on "More Information" for installation, operation, and maintenance instructions.

1. Remove all pieces from the box and inspect for damage.
2. Carefully unscrew end cap counter clockwise from the body. Make sure you do not damage the cord by twisting it at the end cap.
3. Push bulb in the end-cap socket with a slight wiggle until the bulb is fully seated and the keepers click into place. Wipe any oils off the bulb after handling. Inspect inner quartz sleeve for damage.
4. Attach the bulb protector to the end of the bulb.
5. Carefully slide end cap, with attached bulb, into the body. Both bulb and sleeve are very delicate. Make sure not to damage either while inserting the bulb and end cap.
6. Screw end cap back onto body by twisting the end cap clockwise. Do not damage the power cord by twisting it at the end cap. Do not over-tighten or cross-thread.
7. Locate a suitable position for the unit. The UV body has holding unit(s) with screw holes for permanent mounting on walls or cabinets. Unit is not waterproof. Do not submerge. Locate the unit away from the wet areas. Although unit can be oriented in any direction, horizontal mounting is recommended.
8. Attach graduated fittings to the inlet and outlet on the body of the unit. Do not over-tighten or you can damage the fitting O-ring resulting in leakage.
9. Plumb tubing from your pump to the inlet and outlet on the body of the unit. Do not restrict flow after the inlet. This restriction can result in pressure damage and leaking.
10. Begin flow through the UV and inspect for leaks. Repeat inspections until you are confident the installation is leak free.
11. Plug the UV into a GFCI to power unit up.

Operation Principle
The UV sterilizer Helix Max clears the water with the help of ultraviolet radiation. This radiation is emitted by a special lamp. The UV-C radiation kills all forms of life that are directly exposed to the radiation - microalgae, bacteria, protozoa and other parasites. The result is crystal clear water and healthy fish.

Connection
Helix Max are supplied with transparent connection pieces. This allows convenient visual confirmation of bulb function - blue light when the UV bulbs are on.

Depending on the installed pump and water flow, the connection pieces should be cut to the best size (metal saw). The connections of the Helix Max can be rotated 360°. This allows an easy adaptation to the mounting conditions. In any case, the units have to be set up in a way that the outlet connection is at the highest point to avoid air to be trapped in the unit.

Maintenance and cleaning

1. The UV-C lamps have a life span of approx. 8,000 hrs. After 5,000 hrs, the UV-C output of the lamps decreases to 85%. The lamps have to be changed regularly. We recommend cleaning the quartz tube whenever the lamps are changed.

2. Switch the power off, stop the water flow and drain the water from the unit (dismount the water connections).

3. Open the large screw cap. Careful: The lamp is fixed with the socket in the screw cap. If the screw cap is open, you can carefully remove the lamp.

4. To clean the quartz tube, it can be removed from the housing. Normally, it is very tight and has to be lifted up a little bit with a screw driver or a coin (careful, do not use too much force). Take it out by hand. The quartz tube can be cleaned with water and a soft cloth. If there are calcium deposits on the tube, it can be cleaned with vinegar or commercial decalcifiers. Afterwards, flush it with water. The plastic end part of the quartz tube can be fitted with grease for easy remounting.

5. The remounting is done in reverse order. The quartz tube is pushed into the housing, the lamp is fastened into the socket and both are carefully mounted in the housing. The screw cap is fixed tight. Finally, the connection pieces are remounted and the hoses are secured with the clamps.

6. The electronic ballast is maintenance-free. If the lamp stops working or does not start anymore, although a new lamp is mounted, the ballast has to be changed. This has to be done by a specialist using original parts, only.