How To Save Money And Choose The Right UV Clarifier Or UV Sterilizer
Garden Pond Clarifiers And Pond UVC Sterilizers Prevent Green Pond Water
In order to prevent excessive green pond water, caused by planktonic green algae you will need to use an ultraviolet sterilizer or UV garden pond clarifier. UV light is the only real solution to effectively controlling the build up of suspended algae types. The major advantage of both a UV clarifier and UV sterilizer is that it is impossible to overdose with UV light, unlike chemical pond algaecides that are easily over dosed.
Click here for unbeatable money saving offers on USA Pond Supplies and Pond Keeping Equipment in the UK, Guaranteed.
In order to correctly specify the wattage of the UV model to use you will need to know the volume of your pond, the quantity and type of fish stocked and the sunlight intensity.
What Is The Difference Between A UVC Sterilizer And A UV Clarifier?
Please note that these terms are often used by sellers to mean the same thing. I believe the confusion arises from the fact that they are both used to control green pond algae. There are however some differences in function and in cost.
The major difference between the two is that a UV sterilizer, as the name suggests actually sterilizes (sanitizes) the pond water by using ultraviolet light to kill parasitic pathogens and other water borne bacteria. UV sterilizers are generally used in large Koi ponds where these koi pond ultraviolet lights destroy the high levels of bacteria and other pathogens. Pond UV sterilizers are usually fitted with much more powerful UV bulbs. A UV sterilizer also rids the pond of unwanted suspended algae.
A UV clarifier has not really been designed to destroy bacteria and sterilize the pond water. It has been designed solely to destroy green planktonic algae. It destroys algae cells by bombarding the algae with ultra violet light, which breaks the cell walls. This kills the unicellular algae, causing them to flocculate (clump together). The clumps are easily removed by a biological pond filter, pond skimmer or by some other means. UV clarifiers are usually used in small to medium sized ponds and tend to have smaller wattage UV bulbs.
As a rule of thumb the following guidelines can be used to help you make an informed choice. Please note that I am talking about UV models fitted with a quartz sleeve. Quartz sleeves help keep up a higher temperature. Always go for a UV clarifier or pond UV sterilizer with a quartz sleeve. If the UV model doesn't have a quartz sleeve then it is less safe and chances are that the UV lamp will not be effective as it should be.
If your garden pond has a volume of approximately 250 gallons and is located in full sun and is highly stocked then a UV Clarifier with a 4 watt will do an adequate job.
If your pond is located in a shady spot, with only a few fish and they are mainly goldfish then a 4 watt UV clarifier will be ideal for garden ponds up to 700 gallons.
A medium sized pond up to 1200 gallons with an average fish load will require a UV clarifier with an 8 watt bulb.
Please note that the above is a guideline but will be ok in the majority of cases. If in doubt always choose a higher wattage UV unit. The bigger the pond volume the more powerful the UV clarifier or UV sterilizer will need to be. The vast majority of small to medium sized ponds will find that a 4 watt or 8 watt UV light is ideal.
The following factors will also influence the power of the UV clarifier or UV sterilizer needed. Remember that the longer the contact time between the UV light and the pond water, the more algae spores will be treated.
Warmer climates such as the southern states of the USA, Australia, South Africa that experience lots of sunshine will probably benefit from using a more powerful UV model.
Heavily stocked fish ponds, particularly those with Koi, that produce much more metabolic waste than an equivalent sized goldfish will benefit from more UV.
In fish ponds where the water temperature is maintained at 20C (68F) for long periods of time you should consider using a higher wattage ultraviolet clarifier or sterilizer.
When you have the above 3 factors in combination then you will definitely need more UV light in order to prevent algae blooms from developing and turning your pond water green.
If you already use a UV unit to remove floating algae but the algae blooms appear to be increasing then the following pointers will help you to get things back on track!
Have you been using the UV, continuously for some time? A typical UV bulb will last approximately 1 year (8,000 hours), if used 24/7. You may need to replace the bulb. Ideally if you are using a UV sterilizer you will want to change the UV bulb every very 6 months for disease prevention or once every year at the beginning of spring for green pond algae prevention.
Clean the quartz tube, making sure that it is transparent. A pond environment contains lots of fine particles. Some of these particles will stick to the quartz tube. When this happens the UV is unable to subject circulating pond water to the full UV intensity available. The quartz tube is easily cleaned by submerging the quartz tube in dilute acid; vinegar which is acetic acid will suffice.
Have you added more fish to your pond, or have the fish grown in size? Perhaps the UV clarifier or UV sterilizer you originally purchased is no longer powerful enough for your situation. The following options are open to you: You can get rid of some fish, replace the existing UV with a more powerful one or buy another UV with the same wattage as the original and pipe it in series with the existing UV unit.
In the colder northern states of the USA and Northern Europe it is ok to shut down the unit in winter. In fact in places where ponds freeze over it is a good idea to remove it and store it away until spring.
A word of warning! Ensure that you place your pond pump and UV sterilizer or UV clarifier on the same electricity circuit. If the power goes and your pump stops working this will prevent the UV from running without water circulating through it. This will prevent deposits from forming on the quartz tube surface, due to the water evaporating.
Please note that a garden pond clarifier or pond UV sterilizer will not destroy filamentous string algae such as blanketweed. In fact the opposite is often the case. Blanketweed grows best in crystal clear water, as sunlight is able to penetrate the water much more easily. If you are looking to control the build up of filamentous string algae then click barley straw blanket weed control products for further information.
ARE YOU LOOKING FOR A REVOLUTIONARY CURE FOR THE REMOVAL OF BLANKET WEED, STRING ALGAE AND GREEN POND WATER? IF SO THEN VIRESCO AQUA and VIRESCO KOI BLANKETWEED BLASTER AND STRING ALGAE STRANGLER IS THE GUARANTEED CURE ... THIS UK BLANKET WEED SOLUTION CAN BE SHIPPED TO ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD, AT A VERY LOW COST.
Recommended UVC Products To Control Suspended Floating Algae
There are different types of UV rays, including UVA, UVB and UVC. The type used in garden pond sterilizers and pond UV clarifiers is UVC light. This Blue Light Miracle Worker, correctly specified will remove algae blooms within a few days. Without a shadow of a doubt a UVC clarifier or UVC sterilizer is one of the best inventions ever for pond keepers.
Pond
UV Sterilizers - Best For Koi Ponds
A UV sterilizer is a great invention for large Koi ponds. An ultra violet sterilizer utilizes UVC light to destroy harmful pathogens in the pond water. UV disinfection has been used for many years in hospitals, the food industry and in water purification. It is only in recent years that pond keepers have been given the opportunity to use this miraculous product ... Click here to see a review of the Pond UVC Sterilizers reviewed on this site.
Garden
Pond Clarifiers - Best For Small To Medium Ponds
A pond UV clarifier that has been correctly installed and specified will remove suspended planktonic algae from your pond water within 3 to 5 days. It will continue to keep your pond water free from algae blooms on an ongoing basis, providing it isn't turned off. A UV clarifier is 100% safe for aquatic fish, nitrifying beneficial bacteria and pond plants ... Click Pond UVC Clarifiers for product reviews on this site.
Pressurized
Pond Filters - UVC Pond Filtration In One Unit
Many modern pond filters incorporate a UV into their design. This means that you have the money saving advantage of biological pond filtration and UV clarification from a single piece of pond keeping equipment. Another advantage of a combined UV pond filter is that the filter and UV have been designed to work together. You do not have to worry about incompatibility issues ... Click Gravity Discharge UVC Filters for product reviews on this site.
Pressurized
Pond UVC Filters - Compact And
Versatile
Pressurized UVC pond filters are extremely efficient and compared to gravity discharge filters are also much more compact, which is great when space is an issue. The major advantage is the ability to locate them away from the pond, buried up to the lid. Pressurized bio pond filters do however require a higher pressure pump than with a gravity type filter and very often the unit is sold with a suggested pump. ... Click Pressurized UVC Pond Filters for product reviews on this site.
Please note that a UV sterilizer or UV clarifier is 100% safe for all aquatic pond life and will only destroy suspended algae cells. It will not destroy filamentous string algae, sometimes referred to as blanket weed or hair algae ... If you are looking to control blanketweed then click Filamentous String Algae Solutions to review the barley straw products reviewed on this site.
Click here for unbeatable money saving offers on USA Pond Supplies and Pond Keeping Equipment in the UK, Guaranteed.
