Aquarium UV Sterilization

[Carl]

I updated my Aquarium UV Sterilization article with more about turbidity, UV placement, more pictures, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY an equation I have been working on for two weeks.
I finally figured out for computing distance, wattage, flow vs mW/cm2 to explain how microwatts per cubic centimeter works at different flow, distance, bulb, etc.

I will expand on this equation in my UV Blog as time allows, but I have been pounding my head trying to get an equation to work for this.
I added a table/diagram to explain as well.

UV Sterilization; how it works

Carl

[jonv]

Good deal Carl, because if my plans work out right, I'm pinching things to save up money and this is something that should be put into play (use of UV in my tanks) by sometime this year. I'll need to know what I'd want to use by reading your research.

I really hate to say this, but UV isn't a big topic that comes up much in the other cichlid boards I tend to, but probably should. This kind of goes back to that thing about long time keepers being set in their way, but you know too, not to knock any research you did, if they aren't having problems....if it isn't broke why fix it? I want UV personally, but I think I start to see some of the logic or thought process of not jumping into it. A bit sad in that regard, but to understand someone, sometimes they say you have to put yourself in their shoes.

[Carl]

Feb 10, 2009 21:26:12 GMT -5 jonv said:

Good deal Carl, because if my plans work out right, I'm pinching things to save up money and this is something that should be put into play (use of UV in my tanks) by sometime this year. I'll need to know what I'd want to use by reading your research.

I really hate to say this, but UV isn't a big topic that comes up much in the other cichlid boards I tend to, but probably should. This kind of goes back to that thing about long time keepers being set in their way, but you know too, not to knock any research you did, if they aren't having problems....if it isn't broke why fix it? I want UV personally, but I think I start to see some of the logic or thought process of not jumping into it. A bit sad in that regard, but to understand someone, sometimes they say you have to put yourself in their shoes.

Thanks Jon!

You make a good point as to "if isn't isn't broke, why fix it"
I can definitely understand this view as to UV Sterilizers.
What really gets me irked is when some has issues that a UV Sterilizer can help with and these so-called experts blow them off or worse flame me for suggesting one (which has happened in many groups by unknowledgeable so-called experts).

Often otherwise successful aquarists miss the aspect of water quality improvement, as they are by virtue of their methods of maintenance keeping a healthy Redox or other aspects a UV can help with. However this is not to say that even a successful aquarist cannot do even better, and my tests 10 years ago with goldfish showed this quite well.

Carl