UV light

[marinebiologist]

I recently put a UV light into my fish tank because of white spot. But I really don't know all of the stuff it does. Can someone please tell me? Thanks

 

[schwarzi88]

i want to hear about it tooo ............

 

[bitteraspects]

it will not kill whitespot on fish or algae on tanks and decor. the uv filter only effects free floating microorganisms.
basically, any free floating micro organisms that go through the filter are damaged by the light and either killed or damaged enough that its not able to reproduce/ grow. this goes for bacteria and algae alike.

 

[marinebiologist]

So it doesn't get rid of ammonia?

 

[Nyquil Junkie]

Nope, it wont get rid of ammonia or any chemical contamination.

Did you put in a UV-C sterilizer lamp unit?

UVC - shortwave UV, which includes germicidal ultraviolet at 253.7nm wavelength - is used for air, surface and water disinfection. Unintentional overexposure to UV-C causes skin redness and eye irritation, but does NOT cause skin cancer or cataracts.
UV-B - A small, but dangerous part of sunlight. Most solar UV-B is absorbed by the diminishing atmospheric ozone layer. Prolonged exposure could result in unhealthy effects on the skin and eyes.
UV-A - Long wave UV, also known as blacklight, responsible for skin tanning is also used in medicine to treat certain skin disorders.

The lamp has to be UV-C, in a housing made for water sterilization.

I've seen people set a poster blacklight (UV-A) beside the tank and say its sterilizing the water but thats not true. UV-A doesn't do anything but annoy the fish (or blind them).


as bitter sez, it only kills free floating algae, bacteria, and parasites.

 

[marinebiologist]

Thanks. I don't no wich one it is