UV Sterilizers for Aquarium Maintenance

If you have an aquarium at home, chances are you have several filtration units taking care of the water. A UV sterilizer is a good addition to an aquarium, even if it should be the last stage filtration process. It is important that the aquarium water passes through the mechanical filter before passing through the UV unit. Or mechanics bogus filter removes solids so that any water that passes through the UV unit is then cleaned with optimal results.

UV sterilizers continue to work well as long as the bulb wattage is sufficient and the bulb is not too old. The effectiveness of the device also depends on the cleanliness of the quartz sleeve and the flow of the unit.

The bulb

Over time by UV bulb will begin to lose its effectiveness, that is why you must replace every 6 months. You can buy vials of 8 watts and 130 watts - greater power does a better job of cleaning water. Devices with low wattage bulb needs a lower speed to work well.

Flow

The flow is also an important factor to consider - a slower speed is more effective to kill parasites, in addition to algae and bacteria. The flow is measured either in gallons per hour or liters per hour. A 15-watt appliance bulb has no problem to control algae and bacteria to 120 gph flow, but it will not kill parasites unless the rate drops to 75 gal / h.

Clean the Quartz

The quartz sleeve where the UV bulb is the device. Many people forget about this part of UV sterilizer and not give it a good cleaning from time to time. Cleaning eliminates the accumulation and ensure that the UV sterilizer continues to work at top capacity. More expensive sterilization are designed with a handful wiper placed outside the unit for quick and easy cleaning of the bag without having to take off.

Fortunately, it is easy to find UV sterilizers these days in local stores and online. These devices make a wonderful addition to any aquarium, but they come with a price to pay heavy, especially when you factor in the cost of replacement bulbs.

Lovers of saltwater aquarium are more likely to buy UV sterilizers, because they improve water quality and provides another layer of protection for expensive saltwater fish.

Even if a UV sterilizer is not a necessity, many aquarium enthusiasts can find that the device is effective in maintaining clean water and keeping fish and other aquatic species healthy and happy. It all depends on personal choice and what works best for your aquarium.