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I have had lots of problem with disease with my live bearers. They have had Gill Flukes, Oodinium, Dropsy, unknown parastie, and camallanus worms. I started quratining them after the gill flukes and oodinium, I lost about 6 fish through them, my precious fancy guppies. And my little balloon molly who would blow you kisses buy opening his mouth extra big if you blew kisses at him.. After quarantining I still ended up with the other things. I thought it is coming through the water and there is nothing I can do about that. I lost another 2 fish aswell. So I am looking towards UV sterilizers. Can someone tell a bit about them? what do they exactly do?
How mcuh do they cost for a 10 gallon and 33 gallon?

thanks

Hi,
There are many sites that will give you detailed
information on these devices. Essentially, water
from the tank is pumped into the device where it is
exposed to Ultra Violet Light. That kills living
creatures (bacteria, algae, free swimming parasites,
etc.). How well it works depends upon how long a
given amount of water is exposed to the light.
To lengthen the exposure time, the water is run
through tubes back and forth inside the container
and then out the end opposite the input, and back
to the tank.

UV lights are run 24/7,365 and the tubes are generally
replaced at 6 month intervals. Like light bulbs, they
come in different wattages and require different flow
rates (pumps). If I were you, I would put the two
tanks on the same system and run the exposed water into
one tank, have that tank flow into the second, and then
back into the UV light. They do make them for small
tanks, (10 gallons or so) but I don't know how cost
effective it would be to run two and have to regularly
replace two bulbs when one slightly larger would work.

Here is one site: http://www.koivillage.com/uv_sterilizers/

Frank


-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--

Thanks! Teh light I have on my tank is Ultra Violet. It is a special aquarium plants light.

The longer it takes for water to pass the bulb, the greater the contact time. For this reason the longer the uv sterilizer bulb, the better. Also, this is a good reason not to use a pump that more powerful than is recommended--the water will pass the uv sterilizer too quickly to maximize the effectiveness of the UV sterilizer radiation.
The Age of the Bulb. The uv sterilizer bulbs need to be replaced every six months.
Light Blockage. The uv sterilizer bulbs are contained in quartz sleeves. These sleeves will need to be cleaned periodically to prevent light blackage

Hi,
I think we may have a "communications" problem.
We responded (two posts from me and another) about
a device called a UV sterilizer. This is a unit
that hangs on the back of the tank or sits on the
floor and will sterilize the aquarium water as it
passes through it.

The light you mention on your tank and comment that it
is a "plant friendly" bulb is a completely different
thing. The name ULTRA Violet, is simply a "brand" name
and does nothing as far as what we, in the posts, were
talking about. If this is the bulb I'm thinking of the
light from it is kinda pinkish or purplish in color.
I produces light spikes in the red and blue range, which
plants do like. However, they are not the best lights
for actually viewing the fish and plants. Many of these
"plant lights" are actually designed for terresterial
plants, and "oh by the way, they also work in an aquarium
fixture, so lets market them for aquatic plants too."

You can get the same "good" lighting, for far less money,
by simply going to a hardware store and purchasing a
flourscent bulb that is labeled DAYLIGHT, or SUNLIGHT.
These are rated around 6700K and give off a bright white
light similiar to the sun, allowing you to appreciate the
true colors of the fish/plants in the tank. Don't purchase
any bulb that has the word WARM or SOFT on it, these are
less "harsh" and are designed for reading.

Frank


-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--

Yes it is a purple light, I wouldn't think it would be real uv light. I just wanted to check.

Does a Uv steriliser kill beneficial bacteria? Does it burn your eyes if you look at it? can you cover the light up wiht something so you can't see it? So you don't hurt your eyes? How much do they cost for a 10 gallon?

Hi,
The UV sterilizer will damage your eyes if you look at
the light directly. That is why virtually all of them are
concealed inside opaque plastic, and there are warnings
throughout the instructions not to operate it outside the
sealed container, and that it requires a flow of water
through it to cool the bulb.

As for bacteria, Yes, it will kill anything like bacteria,
algae, parasites, etc., that flow through the device.
The bacterial colonies found in the tanks will not be
affected as they grow on the glass, and gravel surfaces.
They are not free floating to be caught up and run through
the device.

Frank


-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--