Which is better for clearing up water? I need something to clear up a few of my tanks. I have no experience with either of these items. I have heard that the UV sterilizer also kills parasites and such. Any additional input would be much appreciated.
UV Sterilizer vs. diatom filter?
- Thread starter greenearthlawns
- Start date
What are you trying to accomplish?
UV sterilizers are good for killing algea in the water and killing desease causing micro organisms. They will not kill algea stuck to surfaces in/on your tank. I consider them like insurance. When choosing a UV unit, take bulb replacement cost into consideration. Prices vary wildly for replacement bulbs.
Diatom filters are good for polishing the water and removing (not killing) through filtration desease causing micro organisms. A diatom filter will also not remove algea stuck to surfaces in your tank. A disadvantage (for me anyway) is the frequent cleaning of the filter element.
So, they both do the same thing but in different ways. The UV kills things dead while the Diatom removes them by micro filtration. For my needs, a UV sterilizer was the answer to keeping the water clear and keeping the fishes healthy. I chose a 36 watt Coralife Turbo Twist. It is virtually maintenance free other than changing the bulb when it goes out.
You must have a pump to push water through the UV sterilizer. Flow rate is important here. You must choose a pump that pumps slowly enough to kill micro organisms and is still fast enough to move enough water to be effective. Most UV manufacturers will give an optimum gph for their unit.
UV sterilizers are good for killing algea in the water and killing desease causing micro organisms. They will not kill algea stuck to surfaces in/on your tank. I consider them like insurance. When choosing a UV unit, take bulb replacement cost into consideration. Prices vary wildly for replacement bulbs.
Diatom filters are good for polishing the water and removing (not killing) through filtration desease causing micro organisms. A diatom filter will also not remove algea stuck to surfaces in your tank. A disadvantage (for me anyway) is the frequent cleaning of the filter element.
So, they both do the same thing but in different ways. The UV kills things dead while the Diatom removes them by micro filtration. For my needs, a UV sterilizer was the answer to keeping the water clear and keeping the fishes healthy. I chose a 36 watt Coralife Turbo Twist. It is virtually maintenance free other than changing the bulb when it goes out.
You must have a pump to push water through the UV sterilizer. Flow rate is important here. You must choose a pump that pumps slowly enough to kill micro organisms and is still fast enough to move enough water to be effective. Most UV manufacturers will give an optimum gph for their unit.
Thanks for the response. I was kind of leaning toward a UV sterilizer. If you know, how exactly does it work? How often do you have to change the bulb? Are the bulbs expensive? And is the unit easily transferable between tanks?
greenearthlawns;2816935; said:
The UV sterilizer works by killing algea and disease causing micro organisms with exposure to ultraviolet light. My bulbs have lasted around a year. The bulbs can be expensive depending on what wattage and manufacturer you select. Go somewhere like Big Al's and compare their UV replacement bulb prices to get a good idea. For mine, a 36 watt Coralife Turbo Twist, bulbs are around $50.
As far as transfering the UV from tank to tank, it's not impossible. But personally, I would get a dedicated unit for each tank. It can get expensive, but think of it like insurance. It will be one less thing to worry about in taking care of your fishes. Peace of mind is worth the cost, especially if you have a big collection or some expensive specimens.
You'll never know the true value of a UV sterilizer unless you need it and don't have it. It's the silent unsung hero part of your equipment. Can you treat parasites and diseases with special foods and meds? Of course you can, but I feel it's much better for our fishes to prevent a problem rather than treat it.
What about tapping into an output line from a canister? "T" and a flow control valve..UV.."T" back to the canisters line to the tank.
Got a really good deal on a 9wt unit. Space in the stand is small, so need to get the most out of available space, equipment.
I just wanted to say that I've had my UV light in my 125g for over 2 years now and I LOVE it. Keeps the water clean as we had a really bad algae problem (water itself was so green we couldn't see the fish). We never have to quarinitine fish anymore as I've seen firsthandedly how it kills ICK and such without medicine.
At my lfs, they set me up with a UV sterilizer for ponds that uses a 5wt bulb. for $99. The replacemant bulb is only $25, which you should replace yearly. I use the same size of UV sterilizer in both tanks, and they work great.
We recently got a 54g tank and put a UV light into it. It's a corner bow front and we had limited space on hooking everything up and was very hard to do....you need to buy a power overhead, lines, etc to hook up the UV sterilzer. I came really close to giving up and buying a cannister filter and hooking it up to it, but remembered that the flow rate is VERY important for it to do the job.
I"ve heard of people rigging their UV lights up to the cannister the way you said, I just never went that route
At my lfs, they set me up with a UV sterilizer for ponds that uses a 5wt bulb. for $99. The replacemant bulb is only $25, which you should replace yearly. I use the same size of UV sterilizer in both tanks, and they work great.
We recently got a 54g tank and put a UV light into it. It's a corner bow front and we had limited space on hooking everything up and was very hard to do....you need to buy a power overhead, lines, etc to hook up the UV sterilzer. I came really close to giving up and buying a cannister filter and hooking it up to it, but remembered that the flow rate is VERY important for it to do the job.
I"ve heard of people rigging their UV lights up to the cannister the way you said, I just never went that route
Thanks everyone i put one on the tank today so hopefully it will be cleared up soon!! how long should it take? I was only able to get the 9 wt turbo twist as they were out of the 16... It cost me 130 for the sterilizer and 30 for the powerhead...