Are UV Sterilizers Good for an Aquarium?

[Greg H.]

My article:

https://aquariumopinions.com/2012/10/02/are-uv-sterilizers-good-for-an-aquarium/

"Are UV Sterilizers Good for an Aquarium?"

Here is a copy & paste from my article:

    

Question; Are UV Sterilizers Good for Aquariums?
As a generalization, this is a question that really should not be asked anymore based on research of the benefits of Level 1 Sterilization that includes disease prevention & control, fish immunity based on redox balance, and water clarification.

However while there are few reasons not to have a UV Sterilizer on your aquarium, most of the reasons NOT to have one of these devices is based on myths that simply will not go away despite verified controlled use of these devices.
The other reason to NOT have a UV Sterilizer is the plethora of low cost quality “Category C” UV Sterilizers which in truth are only UV Clarifiers made by companies such as AquaTop, Jebo, Green Killing Machine, and others that simply do NOT provide level 1 sterilization; ONLY clarification.
You need to look for a “Category A”, or at the very least a “Category B” UV Sterilizer if you want to see some actual Sterilization results beyond clarification.

Social media and internet users need to beware that most supposed UV Sterilizer Review web sites are nothing more than Amazon Affiliate sites where by publishers write web pages reviewing products sold via Amazon. These writers have NO professional experience whatsoever and in many cases have absolutely no idea what they are talking about!!
An example would be “7 Best UV Sterilizer for Aquarium – Top Picks (2019 Reviews)” [aquariumadviser.com/best-uv-sterilizer-reviews/].
5 of the 7 reviewed are not even true UV Sterilizers, rather Category C UV Clarifiers.
Even more worthy of note is the fact that the AAP Terminator/Advantage Category A UVs are missing. Why is this? the reason is quite simple, the AAP Terminator/Advantage IS NOT ALLOWED TO BE SOLD BY DISCOUNTERS INCLUDING AMAZON!!!

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Back to the subject of this article, I will then look at based on my aquarium service business observations, as well as feedback from others I know in the business as to what are the positives and the negatives. With the negatives I will also look at negatives that are caused by UV Sterilizers of poor dwell time design, poor over all construction, poor quality, and simply poor installation.

[Carlrs]

Excellent article!

Point well taken as per the many sites now shilling for Amazon that have no idea what they are talking about.

Sadly Google's corrupt search engine brings this BS to the top of searches

[Carlrs]

This article from "Aquarium Aquarium Information" is an in depth MUST READ, especially when one considers that most UVs sold are not even Sterilizers, rather just cheap clarifiers:

http://www.americanaquariumproducts.com/AquariumUVSterilization.html

Here is an excerpt:

FACTORS DETERMINING THE BEST UV STERILIZER FOR LEVEL 1 STERILIZATION:

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Understanding the following points is ESSENTIAL prior to purchasing ANY UV Sterilizer regardless of brand or stated capacity (as most stated capacities are incorrect, even by the better units).
It is also noteworthy that many UV Sterilizers CANNOT achieve these points & in Fact are ONLY clarifiers and thus are a waste of money if one desires TRUE level 1 UV Sterilization (or higher)!!

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• Flow rate
• Dwell time (related to flow rate)
• Water Turnover in pond or aquarium per hour
  *As well the circulation pattern can affect UV Sterilization effectiveness
• Distance of UV Lamp from UV Sterilizer containment 'wall'
• Temperature of water
• Pre-Filtration including Turbidity of water & a healthy bio filter.
If turbidity is high and bio filtration is low, you could require double rated UV. In ponds in particular, it often takes double the normal rated size UV Sterilizer if bio filtration is poor and turbidity if high just to clear green water.

On Wednesday, October 16, 2019 at 9:57:59 AM UTC-7, Greg H. wrote: