| A UV Aquarium Sterilizer is a natural and safe | | | | sterilizers. |
| way of reducing pathogens and algae which are | | | | 2. The Length of the Lamp |
| the main causes of Green Water. Ultraviolet is as | | | | The longer the lamp, the more water is exposed |
| natural as sunlight. Treating the water with | | | | to the Ultraviolet light, thus providing better |
| Ultraviolet light is safer than using chemicals which | | | | sterilization. |
| can harm the fish, plants and even the beneficial | | | | 3. The Physical Design |
| bacteria, Ultraviolet does not leave behind any | | | | The physical design of the UV aquarium sterilizer |
| residue in the water and because of this cannot | | | | water exposure chamber determines the distance |
| harm them. | | | | Ultraviolet light has to travel from the surface of |
| A UV aquarium sterilizer works alongside other | | | | the lamp to the inner wall of the UV's water |
| normal fish tank filters by reducing the green | | | | containment vessel and this will ultimately |
| water caused by algae that will indirectly limit the | | | | determine the unit's Ultraviolet dose rate at any |
| filter's efficiency and harm the aquatic life. | | | | given water flow rate. |
| Protecting Your Fish. | | | | 4. The Condition of the Water |
| For almost thirty years now, the UV aquarium | | | | Water conditions also plays a part. The term used |
| sterilizer has proven to be an excellent alternative | | | | to express the ability of a body of water to be |
| to harsh copper sulfate chemical treatments | | | | treated effectively by an Ultraviolet light source is |
| which people once used to control waterborne | | | | known as percent transmittance. This is a value |
| pathogens and kill algae. | | | | expressed in percent and this indicates the quality |
| Know The Truth About Ultraviolet | | | | of the water to be treated. Effective sterilization |
| Regardless of whether you choose to call | | | | happens on a body of water with a higher |
| Ultraviolet a water clarifier or a water sterilizer, | | | | percent transmittance. |
| the design, performance, and operating principals | | | | 5. Water Flow Rate |
| are still the same. The success of a UV aquarium | | | | How fast the water flows through the UV |
| sterilizer is measured by its ability to kill the | | | | contact chamber. How much water passes the |
| microorganisms it aims for. Here are five main | | | | UV filter will determine the unit's actual UV dose |
| conditions which will determine the ability of a UV | | | | rate, which is generally expressed in microwatts |
| aquarium sterilizer to achieve its goal. | | | | per second per square centimeter or (u-watts-sec |
| 1. The Lamp Type | | | | cm2). |
| The two lamp types are low-pressure or medium | | | | 6. Other Important Factors |
| high-pressure. It would be better to choose a | | | | These include how you position the lamp and a |
| low-pressure lamp to use as UV aquarium | | | | design that incorporates multiple lamps. |