Post by Carl on Jun 22, 2021 10:51:01 GMT -5
I have updated the in depth article about aquarium/pond UV Sterilization in the AAP library of aquarium/pond care information.
www.americanaquariumproducts.com/AquariumUVSterilization.html
Here is an excerpt:
"As a Clarifier; For Algae Control (Green Water and some Cloudy Water), 40-50 gph per watt is effective to maintain effective exposure for effective UVC sterilization/radiation (depending on model UV’s design).
High Efficiency (High Dwell/Exposure) UV Sterilizers such as the TMC Pond Advantage with long contact time as per the wattage and lamp can easily run as high as 50-60 gph per watt. The even higher efficiency (& dwell time) Pro Clear UV 30 can go 70+ gph per watt.
Generally even the lower end models commonly sold at discounters such as Amazon can perform Clarification, albeit at much lower flow rates, which is why many of these models are incorrectly named and inappropriately come up in Google Searches as UV Sterilizers when in FACT these are UV Clarifiers ONLY, NOT Level 1 or Higher UV Sterilizers!
Simply put, in clarification, algae cells are not killed (as the UVC strength and dwell time is not enough to kill), rather they are clumped by the UV energy, which causes the algae "clumps" to either fall out of the water column into the substrate or get picked by the filter(s).
For this reason, this is why in my controlled tests, I have had Level 1 Sterilizers clear and aquarium in less than an hour that it took a UV Clarifier as long as ONE DAY TO CLEAR!!
It should be also noted that the TMC Advantage and Pro Pond UVs are designed first as a pond UV Clarifier, not just as a UV Sterilizer such as the Vecton models. This difference is these pond models are designed to allow higher flow volumes conducive to UV Clarifcation, not level one or two Sterilization.
This does not mean at the proper flow rate that this article demonstrates that these cannot be used as a UV Sterilizer, it simply means if run at "manufacturer flow rate numbers" you will only be achieving UV Clarification.
This is also what sets the TMC UV line apart from others as most all other UVs are designed for higher flow volumes and often advertise this to sell product, but if run at these volumes and in many cases even if throttled back, they will not and do not provide UV Sterilization. TMC gives you a choice with the either the Vecton or the Pond models (the Vectons technically can be used in a pond too, but just not at the high water volumes most would use as the design will simply not permit this flow rate)."
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www.americanaquariumproducts.com/AquariumUVSterilization.html
Here is an excerpt:
"As a Clarifier; For Algae Control (Green Water and some Cloudy Water), 40-50 gph per watt is effective to maintain effective exposure for effective UVC sterilization/radiation (depending on model UV’s design).
High Efficiency (High Dwell/Exposure) UV Sterilizers such as the TMC Pond Advantage with long contact time as per the wattage and lamp can easily run as high as 50-60 gph per watt. The even higher efficiency (& dwell time) Pro Clear UV 30 can go 70+ gph per watt.
Generally even the lower end models commonly sold at discounters such as Amazon can perform Clarification, albeit at much lower flow rates, which is why many of these models are incorrectly named and inappropriately come up in Google Searches as UV Sterilizers when in FACT these are UV Clarifiers ONLY, NOT Level 1 or Higher UV Sterilizers!
Simply put, in clarification, algae cells are not killed (as the UVC strength and dwell time is not enough to kill), rather they are clumped by the UV energy, which causes the algae "clumps" to either fall out of the water column into the substrate or get picked by the filter(s).
For this reason, this is why in my controlled tests, I have had Level 1 Sterilizers clear and aquarium in less than an hour that it took a UV Clarifier as long as ONE DAY TO CLEAR!!
It should be also noted that the TMC Advantage and Pro Pond UVs are designed first as a pond UV Clarifier, not just as a UV Sterilizer such as the Vecton models. This difference is these pond models are designed to allow higher flow volumes conducive to UV Clarifcation, not level one or two Sterilization.
This does not mean at the proper flow rate that this article demonstrates that these cannot be used as a UV Sterilizer, it simply means if run at "manufacturer flow rate numbers" you will only be achieving UV Clarification.
This is also what sets the TMC UV line apart from others as most all other UVs are designed for higher flow volumes and often advertise this to sell product, but if run at these volumes and in many cases even if throttled back, they will not and do not provide UV Sterilization. TMC gives you a choice with the either the Vecton or the Pond models (the Vectons technically can be used in a pond too, but just not at the high water volumes most would use as the design will simply not permit this flow rate)."
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