Using A UV Aquarium Sterilizer for Aquariums Maintenance

A UV aquarium sterilizer makes use of an ultraviolet bulb to kill algae

, parasites, viruses and bacteria. This sterilizer does a great job at cleaning the aquarium water to pristine conditions. So effective is an ultraviolet sterilizer that many companies use this method to purify drinking water on a commercial scale and even to kill algae growth in outdoor ponds.

If you have a fish tank at home, you would most likely use several fish tank filters cleaning the water. A UV aquarium sterilizer can be a great addition to any aquarium, but the point to remember is that you should be using a UV aquarium sterilizer as an add on with your normal fish tank filters and needs to be the last stage of the filtration process. It's important that fish tank water passes through the normal fish tank filter before moving through the UV aquarium sterilizer unit. In this way, your normal aquarium filter will remove solids so that when the water passes through the UV aquarium sterilizer unit later, it is purified to the best results.

A UV aquarium sterilizer will continue to function well as long as the bulb wattage is sufficient and the bulb isn't too old. Then, you will have to maintain the flow rate of the water and clean the quartz sleeve to ensure that it remains efficient.

The Bulb

With time, the UV bulb will start to lose its effectiveness, which is why it should be replaced twice a year. You will be able to buy bulbs between 8 watts and 130 watts - the higher the wattage, the better it does at cleaning the water. Devices with a lower wattage bulb need to have a lower flow rate in order to work well.

Flow Rate

The flow rate is also an important factor to think about. Slower flow rates are more effective to kill algae, in addition to parasites and bacteria. You would measure the flow rate in either gallons per hour or liters per hour. As an example, a sterilizer with a 15-watt bulb has no problem to kill algae and bacteria at a 120 gph flow, but it won't kill parasites unless you reduce the flow rate to 75 gph.

Clean the Quartz

You can find the quartz sleeve where the UV bulb fits into the device. Many people forget about this part of the UV aquarium sterilizer and do not clean it enough. {By cleaning it, you will remove|Cleaning the sleeve removes] build up and ensures that the UV aquarium sterilizer works at optimum levels. You can buy more expensive sterilizers which have a wiper handle positioned outside of the device for fast and easy cleaning of the sleeve, without having to dismantle everything.

These days it is easy to purchase a UV aquarium sterilizer, whether in local fish stores or online. These devices make a great addition to any fish tank, but they can be expensive, especially if you consider the cost to replace the bulbs.

People who own salt water aquariums are more likely to purchase a UV aquarium sterilizer because it will improve the water quality and provides extra protection for expensive salt water fish.

Even though a UV aquarium sterilizer is not really that necessary, many aquarium hobbyists do find that this device is great at maintaining clean water while keeping fish and other aquatic life healthy and happy. At the end of the day, it all comes down to personal choice and what you want to work well for your aquarium.

Using A UV Aquarium Sterilizer for Aquariums Maintenance

By: Timothy Kessler

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