Correct UV Sterilizer/Clarifier Applications

 

I often get questions or even complaints about the use of UV Sterilizers/Clarifiers for Aquariums & Ponds.
I will answer a couple of questions that indicate the improper of UV Sterilization for Ponds or Aquariums.



Indepth Information on UV Sterilization:http://www.americanaquariumproducts.com/AquariumUVSterilization.html

Updated 9/24/13

(1) Question; "My Pond turns pea soup green as soon as my UV Sterilizer UV-C Bulb burns out or is removed"

Answer; This certainly shows that you have a correctly installed and functional UV Clarifier.
However this also tells me that you depend too much on your UV Clarifier/Sterilizer as although I certainly recommend these devices, a pond keeper should not have a system that is all or nothing as per the UV Clarifier.

I strongly suggest increasing filtration, especially bio filtration that removes many of the nutrients necessary for an algae bloom.
A Bio Falls Filter (either purchased or DIY), a Pressurized Pond Filter can either be added or even duplicated.
Another type of Filter I set up in over 90% of my ponds is the "Veggie Filter". Properly constructed, these plant filters can really "scrub" many nutrients otherwise utilized by free floating algae.

I have found in ponds with good mechanical/bio filters such as a Pressurized Pond filter along with a Veggie Filter rarely got overly green in summer when the UV Clarifier was disconnected or broken down.

For further information about pond veggie filters, please see:
DIY Veggie, Plant Filters.

Sources for Pond Pressurized Filters & UVs:
UV Pond and Aquarium Clarifiers
Pressurized Pond Filter


(2) Question: "I have been told a UV Sterilizer does not really help a saltwater or freshwater aquarium other than clarity. I did not see any difference than this when I added a 9 Watt UV Sterilizer to my aquarium sump (a pump rated at 900 gph)"

Answer: This answer is much more complex than the last, so I will first state that a thorough reading of this blog and even more the UV Sterilization article below should be done:
"UV Sterilization; Facts and Myths"

A few points: First of all, 900 gallons per hour is much too fast for a 9 Watt UV to perform Sterilization, and likely little clarification either.
*Many persons who slam UV Sterilizers for aquarium use, have them incorrectly installed or are utilizing Sterilizer/Clarifier devices of poor quality for anything other than clarification, such as the Green Killing Machine".
Please see: UV Equipment to Avoid

Here are three parameters required for effective UV Sterilization that are often missed:

• Flow Rate; this should be 45-60 gph per watt for Clarification, 20-35 gph per watt for level 1 Sterilization, & 8-12 gph per watt for level 2 Sterilization.
  For more in depth exposure time information, please see “UV Sterilization; UVC Penetration (Microwatts second/cm2)”.
  See the sections dealing with UV-C Penetration gives a more detailed explanation of the time required to kill pathogens based on wattage & distance for the UV-C source.
  For example the bacteria Vibrio requires a UVC exposure of 6500 mW/cm2 or more, this means an exposure time of 5.68 seconds for a 9 watt UV lamp is required to kill this pathogen.


• Aquarium (or Pond) Turnover rate; this should be Once per 2-3 hours for Clarification, 1.5 times per hour for level 1 Sterilization, & Up to 4 times per hour for level 2 Sterilization


• UV-C Penetration; in simple terms this is often a problem with the equipment itself with too much distance from the bulb to the outer wall of water containment resulting in much of the water not being properly irradiated even with proper flow rate or turnover rate.
  Examples are Canister/Pressurized filters equipped with built in UV-C Lamps, internal UVs such as the before noted Submariner/Killing machine, or even otherwise good UVs with baffles to slow water flow but in turn keep much of the water at too great a distance form the UV-C Irradiation.

Aquarium or Pond Green Water Control; UV Sterilizer

 

Pictures of an UV Sterilizer System for the Clarification Green or Cloudy Water in Aquariums
Updated 1-2-19

This is a basic post that more entails the use of pictures that were provided to me courtesy Paul Phillips to demonstrate via photos the progress of tank water clarification with the use of an AAP Custom 15 Watt UV Sterilizer/Clarifier (no longer built).
Premium Aquarium/Pond UV Sterilizers

Before I proceed, I should note that this is not limited to the use of the custom 15 Watt UV, as any well made UV can perform green water control, however level 1 UV Sterilization (what I recommend) and level 2 UV Sterilization often requires better equipment, installation and flow rates.
Levels of Sterilization

Sadly much of the UV equipment now being sold can at best perform green water control, not the more effective level one sterilization. Besides the before mentioned UV Sterilizer, consider the premium TMC Vecton/Pond Advantage line of UV Sterilizers as these not only are durable, but bluntly the best non commercial Pond Green Water Control UV Clarifiers at any price.
What is noteworthy is even if green water clarification is all you are looking for, a true UV Sterilizer will clear and maintain green water much more quickly. It is also noteworthy that most UV Clarifiers are of much lower quality build and only use medium pressure UV lamps which have only a 7% UVC output; so when one compares the price and effectiveness over just three years, the savings for one of these cheapie Amazon or eBay UV Clarifiers quickly fades away compared to a true quality True UV Sterilizer such as the Vecton or Advantage!!

TMC Vecton, Advantage Aquarium, Pond UV Sterilizer

Please Click on all Pictures to enlarge for a better view

The first picture demonstrates his aquarium system showing the intake adapter, return adapter, the power head/pump, and the TMC UV Sterilizer under the aquarium.

I would also suggest the use of a Pre filter such as the API Filter Max #3 (or a Sponge Filter such as the API Hydro Sponge #3) for improved UV Sterilization as this lowers debris/turbidity in the water column which in turn improves the effectiveness of the UV Sterilizer. Other than the lack of a form of pre-filtration, this is an excellent set up.


This second picture demonstrates a before and after of this aquarium with the application of the UV Sterilizer:


This final photo demonstrates a day 1 through day 7 view of this same aquarium when viewed from the side panel (this view is through a 48 inch column of water and thus will show any cloudy/green water more readily):


As a final note, to maintain the effectiveness of this or any UV Sterilizer, the aquarium keeper should change the UV Bulb every six months; in this particular UV Sterilizer the required bulb is the G15T8 UV Bulb

I would also suggest reading this article in the section dealing with Cloudy & Green Water for other suggestions and causes of Green/Cloudy Water in freshwater aquariums:
Basic Freshwater Aquarium Care

Further Reading for dealing with sick aquarium fish:

Fish Diseases | How to Treat Sick Fish

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