subject: Ultraviolet Light Via A UV Sterilizer [print this page] Ultraviolet Light Via A UV Sterilizer Ultraviolet Light Via A UV Sterilizer
Ultraviolet light is used to kill algae and disease organisms. A UV sterilizer or UV clarifier (UVC) can be used in ponds and water gardens to keep the pond healthy and clean. What's the difference between a UVC and a ultraviolet sterilizer and how do you set them up in your pond? I'm here to provide you with those answers.
Ultraviolet Light - What It Is And What It Does
A UV light is a type of sterilization equipment that kills the outer membrane and DNA of algae, protozoa, bacteria, fungus, parasites and other disease organisms. It looks similar to a PVC pipe with intake and output areas where water flows through. Inside this 'PVC pipe' is a UV sleeve and UV bulb. Powered by electricity, the UV bulb provides ultraviolet rays that penetrate through the passing water thereby killing the organisms in the water.
Ultraviolet sterilizers and ultraviolet clarifiers are two different sterilization units but work similarly. The water passing through a UV sterilizer runs slower than the water passing through a UV clarifier and kills 99% of floating algae, protozoa and disease organisms that it comes in contact with. The water running through a UV clarifier is faster than that of a UV sterilizer but kills less than 99% of the algae and disease organisms passing through.
Both UV sterilizers and UV clarifiers are commonly referred to as ultraviolet lights or UV lamps. Regardless of which unit you use, there are a few basics you need to know in order to set them up properly in your pond or water garden.
Setting Up A UV Sterilizer
The most ideal way to set up a UV light is to first connect your pond pump to a pre-filter. This will filter out most of the debris before entering the UV light. Then, connect the pre-filter to your pond pump, the discharge of your pump gets plumbed into the inlet of the ultraviolet light. The water that is discharged from the UVC should then be filtered through a mechanical filter which will collect the dead algae and fine debris and keep it from entering back into the pond. The filter's discharge would then allow the clean water to flow back into the pond.
This is how the water flow goes:
Pre-filter > pump intake > pump discharge > pump hose > inlet of UV Sterilizer > through UV Sterilizer > out discharge of UV Sterilizer > inlet of mechanical filter > out discharge of filter to pond.
