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Home: KOI Talk: Pond Water Quality:
UV Sterilizer/clarifier

 





 


tikifrog
Koi Lover

Nov 2, 2007, 10:31 PM

Post #1 of 15 (3227 views)
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UV Sterilizer/clarifier Can't Post
Greetings All,

Since a UV has already cleared my pond of green water, does it need to stay on 24/7?


brianhegney
Koi Lover


Nov 8, 2007, 11:25 PM

Post #2 of 15 (3125 views)
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Re: [tikifrog] UV Sterilizer/clarifier [In reply to] Can't Post
Hi Tiki,
I was told that it needed to be on 24/7, but I think that a happy medium of some algea to eat the nitrates and a clear pond combination is best. You should be able to grow algea on the sides and bottom of the pond with the UV on which in turn should take care of the nitrates. Also you didn't mention if you have plants. I would buy a nitrate tester kit and keep an eye on it along with all the other parameters in the water.


wrxsti
Koi Lover

Nov 10, 2007, 1:17 PM

Post #3 of 15 (3097 views)
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Re: [tikifrog] UV Sterilizer/clarifier [In reply to] Can't Post
No you don't need on 24/7 because the UV kills other important organisms that help keep the kois healthy. What I do is when it clears up I put the UV away usually the water won't turn green again, but if it does put it back on then pull it out.


tikifrog
Koi Lover

Nov 11, 2007, 1:21 AM

Post #4 of 15 (3074 views)
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Re: [wrxsti] UV Sterilizer/clarifier [In reply to] Can't Post
Thanks for the replies,

My UV's are plumbed in so I'm thinking of just unplugging them. I also heard that the bulb life was limited so wouldn't partial, (seasonal), usage extend their life?

John


wrxsti
Koi Lover

Nov 11, 2007, 3:11 AM

Post #5 of 15 (3070 views)
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Re: [tikifrog] UV Sterilizer/clarifier [In reply to] Can't Post
Well they claim that the UV bulb has a 10 year life span, which is longer than our normal bulb, and partially using it can probably allow you to use the bulb forever. Which is a good thing since a UV bulb cost much more than our normal bulb. I had my UV for a good 5 years already.


Roger89
Koi Lover


Nov 12, 2007, 9:15 PM

Post #6 of 15 (3011 views)
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Re: [wrxsti] UV Sterilizer/clarifier [In reply to] Can't Post
I guess the UV light bulb would still be functioning for many years. But its effectiveness(UV output) wont last long.

http://www.sankyo-denki.co.jp/e2_01.html

That ordinary fluorescent UV lamp(20W) is only useful for 1 year if left on 24/7, based on my calculation.


(This post was edited by Roger89 on Nov 12, 2007, 9:16 PM)


tikifrog
Koi Lover

Nov 15, 2007, 3:04 AM

Post #7 of 15 (2936 views)
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Re: [Roger89] UV Sterilizer/clarifier [In reply to] Can't Post
I was told that the effectiveness of the bulb would only last a year. I imagine that longevity is based on the bulb being on 24/7. It should be safe to believe that if the bulb is not continuously on it would last longer. Correct?

John


Roger89
Koi Lover


Nov 15, 2007, 12:32 PM

Post #8 of 15 (2923 views)
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Re: [tikifrog] UV Sterilizer/clarifier [In reply to] Can't Post
Hmm.. hard to tell unless we were to experiment. Fluorescent light bulb has the lifespan also depending on the frequency it gets switch on. Unlike incandescent light bulb it's not sensitive to the amnt of times it gets switch on but it's more sensitive to fluctuation in voltage, that's why it gets burnt out once a while.

Maybe switching on alternately might be better since UV light might kill free floating bacteria in the water, thus reducing nitrification? ..


Koi38
Senior Member


Nov 16, 2007, 12:56 PM

Post #9 of 15 (2889 views)
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Re: [tikifrog] UV Sterilizer/clarifier [In reply to] Can't Post
In Reply To
Greetings All,

Since a UV has already cleared my pond of green water, does it need to stay on 24/7?
Just a little confused here, do you have clarifier or sterilizer ? cos these 2 units are totally different and use in different waysSmile

"DuKu Friendly"
_____________________________________
"No one is ever too old to know better"

http://s3.photobucket.com/albums/y63/Koi38/


tikifrog
Koi Lover

Nov 16, 2007, 10:47 PM

Post #10 of 15 (2865 views)
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Re: [Koi38] UV Sterilizer/clarifier [In reply to] Can't Post
Sorry for the confusion,

I thought the only differences between a "clarifier" and a "sterilizer" is watts per gallon and gph passed the bulb(s). All that I've read thus far states that if you use X amount of watts for your application and X amount of plant coverage your water will not be "pea soup" but may have a green tinge to it and not be crystal clear when used as a clarifier. Then, If you have about 3 times the wattage with the same parameters, you can achieve "clear" water and kill more bacteria as a sterilizer. I have not come across information regarding this bunch of PVC with a bulb is only used as a clarifier and this bunch of PVC with a bulb is only a sterilizer.

Please elaborate upon the differences between the two.

Thanks,

John


Koi38
Senior Member


Nov 19, 2007, 6:03 PM

Post #11 of 15 (2805 views)
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Re: [tikifrog] UV Sterilizer/clarifier [In reply to] Can't Post
Hi John,

Sorry mate, just getting a bit rusty but from memory a "sterilizers" is use to remove/eliminate all harmful bacteria for human consumptions. But for our koi we do need some of it to provide a healthy environment/water. And a UV clarifier is to clamped suspended micro algae for our filter to trap and be flashed.

I use 55watt UV clarifier in my 10K pond and I only turn it ON during summer months and OFF during winter. They said to change the tube after 12months but if still works................why change itWink

"DuKu Friendly"
_____________________________________
"No one is ever too old to know better"

http://s3.photobucket.com/albums/y63/Koi38/


tikifrog
Koi Lover

Nov 22, 2007, 1:20 AM

Post #12 of 15 (2751 views)
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Re: [Koi38] UV Sterilizer/clarifier [In reply to] Can't Post
I'm going to turn off the UV's and see what happens. If I can extend the life of the bulb and save a few watts per month, I thinks its worth a try.


gogsard
Koi Lover

Jan 1, 2008, 12:51 PM

Post #13 of 15 (2271 views)
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Re: [tikifrog] UV Sterilizer/clarifier [In reply to] Can't Post
QUick question. Do you put the UV before or after the filter ?


tikifrog
Koi Lover

Jan 5, 2008, 1:07 PM

Post #14 of 15 (2171 views)
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Re: [gogsard] UV Sterilizer/clarifier [In reply to] Can't Post
Ideally you would want to place the UV after the filter. The "clearer" water after the filter would allow greater UV penetration through the water. I have two UV's. One is after a skimmer/pre-filter before a water fall, so it is before the "biological" filter. A second UV is on the outlet of a "mechanical" filter.


JWELLY
Koi Lover

Jan 12, 2008, 12:30 AM

Post #15 of 15 (2082 views)
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Re: [tikifrog] UV Sterilizer/clarifier [In reply to] Can't Post
No, you don't need 24/7 for UV. Once your pond is clear, u can switch it off. If algae starts again and before it turns green, u can switch it on again.

as long as your pond is properly designed, you should not have algae in your pond actually even at full sunshine hit in a tropical country.

 
 
 



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