Uv In A Filter?

[simonas]

My new filter has a UV Light that goes down centre of canister. the filter is running but I haven't switched lighton. what is it for exactly and how often should it be switched on. My first guess was to kill bacteria but I want bacteria in a filter don't I?/

 

[T1KARMANN]

it should be turned on 24/7

if its a pond filter not for a tank then the UVC is a waste of time

what filter is it

 

[chesterscot]

i no its not the same lol but inm my pond filter the uv has to stay on all the time

 

[simonas]

it should be turned on 24/7

if its a pond filter not for a tank then the UVC is a waste of time

what filter is it

Its a Resun 280U External

Its just a basic exteral with the UV tube down the middle. I shall turn it on then but what benefit do you get from UV filter on top of the external filter. If I used it without then it can't do anything to harm the water quality surely?

 

[Davo86]

The UV will help to prevent algae growth and also helps to illiminate parasite infections

 

[T1KARMANN]

mmmmmm i chant find any english info on that filter

just plug it in

you have to change the UV bulb every 6 months or they dont work im not sure how easy its going to be to find a new UV bulb for this filter as its made in china

 

[Davo86]

looks like the filter takes a universal 11 or 13W bulb so provided the fittings are the same they should be easy to get hold of

 

[T1KARMANN]

standard UV bulbs for a tank hear in the UK are 8w,15w,25w and 30w

 

[Davo86]

standard UV bulbs for a tank hear in the UK are 8w,15w,25w and 30w

yeah those you've mentioned are the standard Linear Germicidal tubes, However some filters require compact Fluorescent Germicidal tubes which i presume the one above uses. (image below)

compact bulbs usually have a much lower wattage

OP: I presume the one in the filter looks like this?

 

[simonas]

funny enough that looks like the bulb I need for my sons night light....

No its a clear long bulb like a 8 inch single tube..

 

[Davo86]

In that case you may indeed find it hard to find replacement bulbs, The wattages stated in an earlier post by T1KARMANN are the commonly sold single tubes

 

[rossyt99]

A friend of mine recently had horrible green water > he got a UV filter and within 8 hours it was crystal clear!! It's on always, kills algae growth/parasites.
(he ordered it online and was surprised at how big it was>fitted it to wall behind tank (just!), with External filter tubes attached to it.)

'Exxon' was the make, I believe.

 

[T1KARMANN]

just be careful when fixing anything to the tank base wall you dont want to make it weak or let water in if it MDF

 

[three-fingers]

In that case you may indeed find it hard to find replacement bulbs, The wattages stated in an earlier post by T1KARMANN are the commonly sold single tubes

We sell those filters where I work, replacement bulbs are easy enough to get hold of - they are the one's davo mentioned.

The shop you got it from will probably have replacement bulbs in stock, arcadia makes uv bulbs that fit.
Though it's very hard to open up the bit the bulb goes in... and be very careful you don't break it in trying, a couple of weeks ago I had to deal with a customer who had broken his filter trying to use a vice grip to remove the bit that covers the bulb.

I can't really say I'd reccomend these filters . But they are a very good price if your lucky and have no problems.