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UV steralizer UV steralizer, how it works A uv steralizer does not really sterilise at all, popular misconception has called it a sterilizer when in fact it isn't. They are an ultraviolet light source in a quarts tube, which is then mounted in a "container" of some description, usually a tube, with an inlet and outlet port.
The above is a typical looking UV, other brands are available What it does If you have a pond after some time (depending on conditions and sunlight) the water will turn green (pea soup) Now if you have fish in a pond, you will not be able to see them through the pea soup, so you install a U.V. How it works You pump water from the pond to you U.V. all the passing water is exposed to a very bright ultra violet light, the light causes the micro organisms that make the water into pea soup flocculate (Clump together) these clumps are then big enough to be caught in your filter system. The tube surrounding the lamp although it looks like glass is infact quartz, this is because glass does not let as much UV light through as quartz does. Being as the U.V. lamp is electric you can not have it in direct contact with the water, hence the need for the quartz sleeve. Points to note The U.V. Lamp must be changed once a year minimum, the average life of a lamp is 6 -9 months (bear in mind you should leave it on 24 /7 ) The quartz sleeve should also be cleaned when the lamp is changed as it too is susceptible to general grime and calcium deposits which make the lamp less efficient. The quartz tube can be broken very easily, so take care. Ideally the whole UV should be mounted a very slight angle and water enters from the bottom port and exits from the top port, this is to prevent an airlock being created. A. U.V has no effect blanket weed, since blanket weed is a different plant.
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