UV-C against algae plagues and bacteria - for clear conditions in the aquarium

The principle of a UV-C clarifier is simple. UV C radiation has a strong damaging effect on bacteria, small parasites, viruses and algae in the open water. Germs, other microorganisms and algae spores are thereby reliably physically killed. There is no resistance to this disinfection method.

The water is passed through the UV C sterilizer, which is connected to the filter circuit of the external filter. For this purpose, the pipe is connected to the hose coming from the outlet of the external filter. Usually, an arrow on the sterilizer indicates the flow direction. For AquaEl internal filters, the manufacturer AquaEl offers a different solution. The Mini UV Sterilizer is equipped with a LED diode, which also emits UV light. Each UV sterilizer requires its own power supply.

The water from the filter is irradiated by the UV burner, thus killing all bacteria, viruses, small parasites, even swarming stages of spot disease, algae spores, unicellular fungi and floating algae present in it. The slower the flow, the more effective the UV radiation. Sooner or later, the killed microorganisms end up in the filter, where they are broken down and utilized by the filter bacteria. Fine filter material such as filter fleece or filter wadding helps remove water turbidity.

As useful as it sounds - a UV clarifier should not be operated permanently on the aquarium, but only in case of acute problems. The UV radiation can destroy the chelation of fertilizers, so that the nutrients from the liquid aquarium plant fertilizer can no longer be absorbed by the plants. Deficiency symptoms in the plants can then be the result. Especially in aquascapes, a UV clarifier should therefore not run permanently, but really only be used temporarily - and when problems occur.

If there are large amounts of germs or algae and algae spores in the water, which are killed by the UV sterilizer, the nitrite level may increase as a result of the many dead organisms. You should counteract this in any case with sufficiently large water changes.