Uv Sterilizering Lamp

[heatwave]

Hey guys ...
Many of you have helped me out from day one & i fully appreciate all your tips & views as i enter month 2 with my wall aquarium.
I am now in the process of looking for a UV sterilizering lamp but not sure which bulb would be compatible with my tank ... http/www.aquavistainc.com/products_wallmounted_panoramic.html

My lighting is stated as a T5 lamp (2 bars) 45" long.
I was originally told that a UV bulb was included & it also states in the manual that a UV bulb is included as does on the control panel, but i have since found out that it is just a standard blue bulb

Can anyone send me a link to the apropiate bulb please?

Thanks again!

 

[elisew]

If the documentation states that the lighting is 'UV' lighting then you have every right to contact the company you bought the aquarium from and question the fact that you didn`t get what is advertised.

Is the bulb a flourescent strip? If so what wattage? An easier way of replacing it is to look at the replacement strip lights that your lfs will probably have. Googling shows the Aquavista to be produced by an American company is that right? If you`re in the UK you may have to pay in dollars and have a bulb shipped unless the company you bought from will replace with what was originally advertised and is stated within the specification documents.

Have a google for T5 lighting

 

[KittyKat]

You really don't want a UV bulb over the fish, UV is used externally to the tank, in a separate system where the fish can not get to.. also it's not that great an idea because you'd be keeping your fish in a sterile environment which would, in theory, weaken their immune systems.

 

[heatwave]

If the documentation states that the lighting is 'UV' lighting then you have every right to contact the company you bought the aquarium from and question the fact that you didn`t get what is advertised.

Is the bulb a flourescent strip? If so what wattage? An easier way of replacing it is to look at the replacement strip lights that your lfs will probably have. Googling shows the Aquavista to be produced by an American company is that right? If you`re in the UK you may have to pay in dollars and have a bulb shipped unless the company you bought from will replace with what was originally advertised and is stated within the specification documents.

Have a google for T5 lighting

I did contact the topdog of aquavista in US Scott Yenn. He said ... "The UV is an option we will be adding in the future"
I then made the same point to Aquavista UK from whom i bought it from. They did say they will contact me soon but to be honest, ive had that many problems with them i didnt think i was going to recieve the tank in the first place. They had that many negative comments on Ebay they ended up getting eliminated!

So, i thought sod it .... ill just but one. I just need a link

You really don't want a UV bulb over the fish, UV is used externally to the tank, in a separate system where the fish can not get to.. also it's not that great an idea because you'd be keeping your fish in a sterile environment which would, in theory, weaken their immune systems.

I understand what your saying but my tank originally supposed to have one. Further more, i do want to control the algae to a certain level.

 

[KittyKat]

..if you are talking about the light which is attached to the lid, it will probably kill your fish and bleach the colour out of everything inside the tank and probably everything in front of it too.

 

[heatwave]

..if you are talking about the light which is attached to the lid, it will probably kill your fish and bleach the colour out of everything inside the tank and probably everything in front of it too.

Wouldnt it depend on how strong the bulb is?
Where are UV lights usually situated?

 

[KittyKat]

Generally between an external filter and an aquarium. They look like this, note how the units are completely sealed so no light can get out.

No, UV is UV is UV, there is no "strength" measurement (as far as I know).

 

[elisew]

I`m still not sure what the wattage is but here`s a couple of links that may help:
http/www.allpondsolutions.co.uk/uv-bulbs-779-0.html

http/www.allpondsolutions.co.uk/t5-high-output-marine-fluorescent-bulbs-765-0.html

Maybe the UV side of things with these bulbs is just a standard aquarium description more than the actual 'bacterial/disease' killing agent that is used within the filter area?? If that makes sense??

 

[Timmy_Bee]

im pretty sure wattage is still an important part of UV (being that UV is still light, just off our visible spectrum). Otherwise lots of hippies would be sterile thanks to their UV lights (or 'blacklights' as they called them) in the 60's. (these people may well be sterile, but for other, more smokable reasons...)

Personally, i think adding a UV bulb above a fish tank would be a bit.... odd. But with a low wattage, i cant see it hurting the fish.

My opinion - stick with the blue light

 

[SlyPolak]

I understand what your saying but my tank originally supposed to have one. Further more, i do want to control the algae to a certain level.

If you have no problems with the tank (ammonia and such) you should have minimal amounts of algae(if any at all)...
so if you have problems with algae you should try to find out the cause and fix it.. not just try to "mask" it

 

[Twinklecaz]

I have algae and no ammonia problems!

 

[Vin Swords]

search ''UV'' in TFF..

in my point of view.. all tanks should have UV filters..

not lights.. they are dangerous. when using, blub should be fully coverd at all time.

 

[bodge99]

Hello,
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE be **very** careful here. UV lights are classified into 3 general types

UV-a, typically "black" lights.
UV-b, e.g. Reptile lights. Used by the reptile for the creation of vitamen D.
UV-c, aka germicidal lights. These are used in sterilisers. In these devices, the UV radiation is contained as by its nature it is dangerous to living organisms.

UV-b is this component of sunlight that causes sunburn et al. You don't want to be anywhere near a working UV-c lamp at all.

From Wikipedia:

An overexposure to UVB radiation can cause sunburn and some forms of skin cancer. In humans, prolonged exposure to solar UV radiation may result in acute and chronic health effects on the skin, eye, and immune system. However the most deadly form - malignant melanoma - is mostly caused by the indirect DNA damage (free radicals and oxidative stress). This can be seen from the absence of a UV-signature mutation in 92% of all melanoma.

UVC rays are the highest energy, most dangerous type of ultraviolet light. Little attention has been given to UVC rays in the past since they are filtered out by the atmosphere. However, their use in equipment such as pond sterilization units may pose an exposure risk, if the lamp is switched on outside of its enclosed pond sterilization unit.

/End quote.

Tubes are available in most fittings for all three types of UV emission. Hence it would be possible to fit a UV-c tube to your tank.
This would be a **VERY BAD IDEA**. In any power rating, a UV-c tube is potentially **VERY DANGEROUS** to you, anyone else irradiated and the live contents of your tank.

BTW, a UV steriliser will not distroy all microscopic life in your tank... think of them as a device which will "curb the excesses". There are other posts on this site which discuss the merits of UV.

Bodge99.

 

[SlyPolak]

I have algae and no ammonia problems!

that just means you have an excess of ammonia or some minerals.. phosphates,etc.

ammonia + lights = ALGAE

 

[Twinklecaz]

Could that be due to being heavily stocked?

When I say I have it I mean some, I have to clean the glass when I do a WC. But it's not overrun or anything.