Actual UV-C Emission from a UV Bulb; Aquarium or Pond

[Carl]

I have updated the Aquarium/Pond UV Sterilizer Review Article; "Actual UV-C Emission from a UV Bulb; Aquarium or Pond"

Here is a snip from this article:

"In a premium low pressure true UV bulb, the actual UV-C emission of the bulb is about 35%. If you have a 30 watt UV bulb, it will emit 10.5 watts of germicidal UV-C.
Nail curing UV Bulbs, commonly sold on Amazon & eBay for aquarium pond use at a lower cost, these are usually medium pressure UV bulb with a low 10% output of useful UV-C irradiation.
As well the Halogen UV bulbs sold in some mini UV Sterilizers also have little of the peak UVC irradiation, more in the UVB range (these too are sold at discounters such as Amazon, not quality professional UV Sterilizer sellers). A good example of a UV Clarifier sold with these UV lamps is the Cobalt Aquatics Micro-UV which besides using the lower output Halogen UV lamp/bulb, it has very poor dwell time.

Both of these types of these low cost UV bulbs are marginal for clarification at best, certainly NOT level one or higher UV Sterilization!!"

Reference:
www.uvsterilizerreview.com/2013/10/actual-uv-c-emission-from-uv-bulb.html

Carl

[Carl]

This article was updated to make for a more clear/expanded response to the trolls that haunt forums such as nano-reef.com

Here is an updated snip:
"In a premium low pressure true UV bulb, the actual UV-C emission of the bulb is about 35%. If you have a 30 watt UV bulb, it will emit 10.5 watts of germicidal UV-C.
Nail curing UV Bulbs, commonly sold on Amazon & eBay for aquarium pond use at a lower cost, these are usually medium pressure UV bulb with a low 10% output of useful UV-C irradiation.
As well the Halogen UV bulbs sold in some mini UV Sterilizers also have little of the peak UVC irradiation, more in the UVB range (these too are sold at discounters such as Amazon, not quality professional UV Sterilizer sellers). A good example of a UV Clarifier sold with these UV lamps is the Cobalt Aquatics Micro-UV which besides using the lower output Halogen UV lamp/bulb, it has very poor dwell time.

Both of these types of these low cost UV bulbs are marginal for clarification at best, certainly NOT level one or higher UV Sterilization unless used at very high wattages per water flow!! When combined with the lower dwell time that most of these Sterilizers that utilize these medium pressure lamps have (generally compact UVs), you are looking 1/4 the killing/sterilization/clarification power!!
An example would be comparing a TMC Vecton 15 Watt to a Jebaeo 55 watt that is commonly supplied with medium pressure UV lamps/bulbs (15 x 4 = 60). "

Reference:
www.uvsterilizerreview.com/2013/10/actual-uv-c-emission-from-uv-bulb.html

Carl