Pond UV Truths; Sterilizer, Clarifiers

 

Pond UV Sterilizers vs. Aquarium UV Sterilizers; is there a difference?

Updated 7/29/13

The answer is yes AND no.
This said I have had persons over the years tell me that a store (or web site) stated that a UV sterilizer that is made for a pond is even better for an aquarium; the truth is this is generally false, however for clarification, please read on!



Here is what one might look for in a Pond UV Sterilizer:

*Heavy duty construction so as to withstand the sun light and other elements.
However any UV that is even indirectly protected form the elements (sun light, heavy rain or snow) will work fine for a pond, assuming otherwise good construction.

*Pre filtration of debris;
This is probably the most important aspect of a pond UV Sterilizer in that most ponds have higher amounts of organics in the water as well as general debris that will both clog a UV Sterilizer and significantly block UV effectiveness.

However even most of the UV Sterilizers specifically designed for ponds have no more ability to carry out this function than other UV Sterilizers.
This function must be added by way of a pre-filter or standard pond filter by which the water passes through before the UV Sterilizer.
See these resources: Hydro Pond Sponge Pre-Filters, Pressurized Pond Filters, & Submersible Pond Filters

It should be noted that some pond UV Sterilizers come with bulb/sleeve “wipers”, but these gimmicks do not keep the quartz sleeve much cleaner than simply one without. These wipers fail to remove hard water deposits well, which is the most common problem of UVC light blocking build-up on quartz sleeves.

Some claim that a quartz sleeve is necessary for pond UV sterilizers, this is only true for very cold ponds in which algae is not generally a problem anyway (this is not to say a Quartz sleeve is bad either as I have used many such as the Terminator or Premium TMC Pond Advantage UV Sterilizers that have quartz sleeves with good results). See these product resources: Premium TMC Pond Advantage & Vecton UV Sterilizers & SunSun Terminator Value UV Sterilizers

In truth, units with direct contact of water (such as the Custom 15 Watt UV Sterilizer or some Aquanetics models) actually clear many ponds in the summer just as effectively and are less fragile.

As an example, had a customer go through two Tetra UV Sterilizers until trying out the "custom UV" that I built, which performed much better (he lives in the warm summer climate of the Central Valley of California).
I should note that the design of my custom UV is similar to the TMC Advantage/Vecton line of Premium UV Sterilizers, minus the quartz sleeve.

Lets now look at what is really needed for both aquariums AND ponds for a UV to be effective:
*For algae control an average UV Sterilizer (some need slower flow rates due to poor design) require a flow rate of 40 -60 gph PER watt.
The compact UVs generally require a slower flow rate of 40-45 while the straight tube UVs can have higher flow rates of 45-60, with the TMC Advantage & Vecton UV Clarifier working well at flow rates of 60 gph per watt (or even higher) due to the exceptional flow design (dwell time).

* For bacterial control (Level One Sterilization) an average UV Sterilizer needs a flow rate of 20-30 gph PER watt (some need slower flow rates due to poor design, while others such as the TMC can get by with the higher flows of 35 watts per gph).
Reference: UV Sterilization; Level 1

* For Redox control an average UV Sterilizer (some need slower flow rates due to poor design) needs a flow rate of 25-30 gph PER watt

* For parasite control an average UV Sterilizer (some need slower flow rates due to poor design) needs a flow rate of 8-12 gph PER watt (generally almost ALL UV Sterilizers work to control parasites more by indirect means such as improved water conditions such as Redox and lower suspended bacterial counts).

Now lets look at the claims of the Tetra Pond UV Sterilizer:
9 Watt UV
• Maximum water flow:
900 gallons per hour
• Maximum pond size:
1800 gallons

5 Watt UV
• Maximum water flow:
330 gallons per hour
• Maximum pond size:
660 gallons

How do they get a jump of almost triple flow for less than double wattage increase?
Second the flow rate claims for both are outrageous for both algae and bacterial control. 900 gph calculates out to 100 gph per watt which is ridiculous, so someone who purchases this for a pond or aquarium thinking this will do a better job due to high flow rate claims are sadly mistaken.

The bottom line is do not buy a UV Sterilizer such as the one listed above for your aquarium or pond under the mistaken belief that it can handle more since it is called a pond UV. This is neither true for aquariums nor ponds.
This is also not to say that the above pond UV Sterilizer does not work, however it should not be purchased based on its claim of flow or simply because it is a "Pond" UV Sterilizer as that makes little difference in real world application.

If you are truly interested in high end UV Sterilizer for your aquarium that is primarily designed for ponds, consider a Pond UV Sterilizer with a high output (HO) UVC Bulb and longer exposure time based on a longer bulb (or quartz sleeve) and water contact via a UV with a design that utilizes this aspect of design.
See: High Output Straight Tube UVC Bulbs

A good example would be the TMC Pond Advantage 15, 25, 30, & 110 Watt UV Sterilizers or the Aqua HO UV Sterilizers (although the Aqua units generally cost much more with no more dwell/contact time as compared to the TMC units).
See: TMC Pond Advantage UV Sterilizers

In fact for larger ponds, you will not find a better UV Sterilizer/Clarifier in design, flow rate, durability, ease of obtaining replacement parts (which is where even many of the better UV Sterilizers fail), & over all effectiveness than the TMC line of UVs, which have long been recognized as a leader in Europe.
The picture above shows a breakdown of the TMC 110 Watt UV Sterilizer, Clarifier which is without equal for larger ponds (or even central aquarium systems), especially when price is considered.
See: TMC 110 Watt UV Sterilizer/Clarifier

For more about this subject please read this article about UV Sterilization:
Aquarium and Pond UV Sterilization; how it works, truths and myths

For other top quality UV product resources:
*UV Replacement Bulbs
*UV Sterilizer for Aquarium or Pond

UV Sterilizers Gimmicks; 'Turbo' Twists, Baffles Wipers

 

Aquarium and Pond UV Sterilizers Gimmicks; Baffles (Twists), Wipers, Filters with Built-In UV Sterilizers, Poor Ballasts, Proprietary UV-C bulbs/Lamps.
As well as simply over priced for the quality of the UV Sterilizer.

SECTIONS INCLUDED IN THIS ARTICLE/REVIEW:

• Overview
• Baffles, Twists; Coralife Turbo Twist
• Wipers, Such as Aqua Models
• Other Aqua Models
• Ballasts (such as Jebo, Aqua Medic)
• Built- In Pond Filter UV Sterilizers
• Use of Proprietary UV Bulbs, Lamps
• Summary

Updated 9/6/13

Overview

There are many gimmicks surrounding some UV Sterilizers currently on the market, some based in assumptions that are good, others not so much.

I will emphasize as I have in earlier posts as well as my full Aquarium and Pond UV Sterilization Article that flow rate is the most important parameter as to UV Sterilizer effectiveness. This flow should be under 20-25 gph per watt for sterilization and 40-50 gph per watt for algae control (aka Clarification).
http://www.americanaquariumproducts.com/AquariumUVSterilization.html

The other two important parameters are turnover rate and UV-C Penetration.

*Another often over rated UV part is the quartz sleeve (although not useless). Even though I use and recommend Via Aqua Terminator UV Sterilizers and others which have these. I have found little difference in units with and without quartz sleeves (the exception being cold water applications such as Trout). The quartz sleeve also needs to be cleaned upon changing the bulbs every six months to a year and sometimes more often. This said, most all UV Sterilizers are designed with Quartz Sleeves, both top notch UV Sterilizers and low quality UV Sterilizers.

Baffles, Twists

The gimmicks come into play with baffles and other ideas to slow the flow rate inside the unit. Unfortunately, these do little to help the flow and can even hinder UV light exposure (penetration) while in the unit. (This is based on my experience and measured flow results!)

*The Coralife Turbo Twist is a popular UV unit (as Compact UV Sterilizers go), however the purchase of this unit over another unit based on this configuration is a waste of the extra expense in my experience. While the baffles may allow for more time in the UV Sterilizer, these baffles also keep much of the water flow at a greater than desired distance from the source of the UV-C light energy for a major portion of the time the water passes through this unit (which is much greater importance for UVC dwell time.

For more information as to why it is more important: UVC dwell time.

My tested results (by using a dye) showed a very slight increase in time of water inside the unit with comparable non-baffle units. However, with tests for clarity (I dumped a measured amount of murky bacteria laden water), the Turbo Twist took a measurably longer time to clear than the non-baffle models (I used the Terminator) due to poor UV-C Penetration.

It is also noteworthy that the ballasts on the Coralife Turbo Twist are not the most durable UV due to severe ballast issues and this along with the twist/baffle feature often has me "baffled" (pardon the pun) as to why these UV Sterilizers are as popular as they are, especially when one considers that Coralife products otherwise have so-so quality reputation among many fish keepers (especially reef keepers).

Reviews for the Coralife Tubro Twist

• Review of the Coralife Turbo Twist
• Coralife Turbo Twist UV Sterilizer/Clarifier
• Weak or Poor UV Sterilizer Ballasts; Including Turbo Twist

I have achieved better UV Sterilization results with the better value Via Aqua Terminator UV Sterilizers and Custom UV Sterilizers.
Or for best results bar none, with the longer exposure time "per watt" and long term durability; the TMC Pond Advantage, Vecton UV Sterilizers for Aquariums or Ponds are second to none.

• Via Aqua Terminator UV Sterilizers
• Custom UV Sterilizers
• TMC Pond Advantage, Vecton UV Sterilizers

Wipers

*The new Wiper models that I have seen also do a poor job of removing calcium and other buildup and again are not worth the extra $. If you have a quartz sleeve make sure and clean it with acetone when you change your bulb to truly have a clean quartz sleeve (unlike wipers which are one of the biggest gimmicks to hit UV Sterilization in recent years IMO). The rubber gasket that is pulled across the quartz sleeve simply does not remove all the deposits and sometimes leave its own “trail of debris”. These also are easily torn or broken with regular use.
Bottom line, DO NOT spend the extra money!

Other Aqua Premium UV Sterilizers

This is not to knock the Aqua or similar UV Sterilizer/Clarifiers; these are excellent units with otherwise good designs. In fact their designs are industry standards for efficiency, however for less money, better yet design, and no wiper gimmicks you can have the same industry standard design in the TMC Pond Advantage/Vecton UV Sterilizers, which is recognized by many aquarium and pond keepers especially in Europe as the best for both residential and industrial/commercial use!

As well the HO UV Bulbs used by the TMC 110 are superior to the Aqua Ultraviolet UV SL 100 in that they are less expensive to replace, less fragile, and along with the UV design, allow for much more UV-C Exposure time!
Based on my years of Aquarium and Pond design and maintenance, the Aqua is one of the better UV Sterilizers, but when you factor in their extremely high price and the fact that the TMC Pro line of UV Sterilizers are much less expensive for an arguably better designed and less expensive to maintain UV, the decision of which one to purchase is a "no brainer"

Cheap Electronic Ballasts

*Other poor UV attributes are the low quality electronic ballasts that many low end companies now use that are often only good for 6 months (such as Garden Treasures, Jebo, Aqua Medic).

Pond Filter "Built-In" UV Sterilizers

*One other UV gimmick is the UV Sterilizers that come built into many pond filters including a brand I highly recommend which is the SunSun Pond Filter. However I personally only recommend the purchase these pressurized pond filters for their pond filtration abilities, NOT because these filters may also include a built-in UV Sterilizer.
The problem is that most come with UVs ranging from 5 to 18 watts, the 9 watt is being the most common, so when you install this filter to a water pump that moves 2000 gph through a 9 watt UV you are effecting a 222 gph per watt rating which is TOTALLY useless.
Sadly these Pressurized Pond Filters with built-in UV Sterilizers are growing in popularity, with many otherwise excellent companies such as Via Aqua Pro Pond, Nursery Pro, and many many others building and selling these to uninformed pond keepers!

Please read this article which has a diagram that demonstrates how to correctly connect a UV Sterilizer to your pond filtration system:
A Clear Pond, Pond Information and more

Proprietary UV Bulbs/Lamps

Also, although this is not a gimmick rather a scam IMO, and that is the use of proprietary UV-C replacement bulbs by some companies to force the UV purchaser to buy replacement bulbs from them at often triple OR MORE the cost of standard UV bulbs. Tetra is one of the biggest offenders here and should be ashamed of themselves! (Cal Pumps also has taken to this tactic with vastly more fragile G24 UV Bulbs).
A couple of resources for high output UVC bulbs/lamps: UVC Replacement Bulbs & for a reference/ guide, UV Bulb Reference Guide

Summary

FINALLY, be aware that many UV Sterilizers sold are made of very cheap material and have extremely low end electronic ballasts that have burned out in as little as 6 months (or even less) as per our own and others in the Aquarium/Pond maintenance business experience. A few of the brands I have tried, used and REJECTED are; Aqua Medic, Jebo, JBJ and Garden Treasures. Avoid these brands unless you enjoy throwing money away!

For further information about UV Sterilization, please read my full article: Aquarium and Pond UV Sterilization; How UV Sterilizers works and more

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