Turning a UV sterilizer on and off on intervals

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
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nixson

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Jan 16, 2011
16
0
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Caribbean- Trinidad
I was wondering if any of you knew if it's bad for a UV sterilizer to to be placed on a switch that turns it on and off regualary. For example, the Uv is connected to a pond pump outlet... if the pond is circulated every 4 hours for 30 mins. Would it be bad for the UV bulb if it was to be switched on and off at this frequency as well?

The purpose of this would be to prolong the need to change the bulb, save some money.
 
nixson;4939413; said:
I was wondering if any of you knew if it's bad for a UV sterilizer to to be placed on a switch that turns it on and off regualary. For example, the Uv is connected to a pond pump outlet... if the pond is circulated every 4 hours for 30 mins. Would it be bad for the UV bulb if it was to be switched on and off at this frequency as well?

The purpose of this would be to prolong the need to change the bulb, save some money.
Click to expand...

I have a 13W on my 120 gallon that I have on the same timer as my lights for the tank. 12 hours on, 12 hours off. Haven't had it for a year yet, but I'd like to know if this will save the bulb, too.
 
You shouldn't have a problem doing this at all since the recommened replacement duration for the bulb is much shorter than the effective lifespan of the bulb. Only thing you might have a problem with is if the bulb heats up an area of the sleeve to quickly and then the colder water hits it, the sleeve could crack. If the sleeve is exposed to water constantly then you shouldn't have a problem.
 
RedDwarf;4939434; said:
You shouldn't have a problem doing this at all since the recommened replacement duration for the bulb is much shorter than the effective lifespan of the bulb. Only thing you might have a problem with is if the bulb heats up an area of the sleeve to quickly and then the colder water hits it, the sleeve could crack. If the sleeve is exposed to water constantly then you shouldn't have a problem.
Click to expand...

Mine is in sump, so it's submerged all the time.
 
thanks
so we agree that switching it on and off is not an issue with the bulb, what about the ballast? i'm only worried because there used to be a myth out there that fluorescent bulbs shouldnt be turned on and off often.

not worried about the cracked cylinder. the UV will turn on at the same time as the pump. they will be hooked up to the same timer.
 
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