Home-Made Uv Sterilizer

[Zander89]

Would using a uv bulb and desk lamp and having it on behind a fish tank have the same effect as a company made uv sterilizer?

 

[OldMan47]

A UV system consists of a high intensity light at very low water flow rates to accomplish the sterilization. By having the bulb almost in contact with the water, the light intensity as it strikes the water is very high compared to anything you could do from outside the tank. The low flow rate means that "contact time" is greatly increased and allows the light time to work on that small volume before it is replaced by the next bit of water. Normal water movement inside your tank would probably remove that time in your DIY setup.