What are the Categories of Aquarium/Pond UV Sterilizers?
Carlrs
- What are the Categories of Aquarium/Pond UV Sterilizers?
Simply put, there are three categories of UV Sterilizer:
Category A, which have the highest dwell time, the highest UVC efficiency and output, and often are the longest lived too. These UV Sterilizers can most readily ‘hit’ level one or two sterilization and do so with higher flow rates than a Category B UV.
Few UVs now sold are Category A, which was not the case a couple decades back, but with social media, discounters, etc. the lower cost Category B & C units have come to dominate. Examples of Category A UVs include the AAP/TMC Vecton & Advantage UV Sterilizer and the Aqua Ultraviolet UV Sterilizer (the AAP being the better value). Category B, these are still a “True” level one or even level two capable UV. These UV Sterilizers simply take lower flow rates to do so, often resulting a highest wattage unit to do the same job as a Category A. These Category B UVs also tend to me much less durable
There are still a few Category B available. Examples of Category B UVs include the AAP/TMC Terminator & Submersible UV Sterilizer, Tetra, and the Coralife Turbo Twist (the AAP being the better value).Category C, These are now the dominant UV Sterilizer on the market now and in fact these are not True UV Sterilizers, rather UV Clarifiers since they basically have no real ability to ‘hit’ level one or two sterilization, rather just Clarification
Examples include the popular Aquarium Killing Machine, AquaTop Hang on Back UVs, and most all submersibles.For further reading: UV Sterilization; Facts & Information; Categories