UV-C clarifier for clean, clear water in the aquarium
Table of contents
What is a UV-C clarifier and how does it work?
A UV-C clar ifier works effectively for clear water in the aquarium, against greenish and whitish water turbidity caused by algae blooms or bacterial blooms or by suspended algae in the aquarium water. The water clarifier uses a bulb that emits short-wave UV-C radiation to sterilize the water, which is why it is also called a UV-C burner. The UV-C radiation is extremely high in energy. It kills anything living that it hits, which is why it is also tightly sealed in a light-tight enclosure. The water passes through the UV-C clarifier and is irradiated in the process. Thus, the UV radiation kills algae, algae spores, microorganisms, bacteria and fungi.
A UV-C clarifier without its own pump is installed in the filter circuit of the external filter, so that the filter flow directs the aquarium water past the UV-C lamp. Please always follow the installation instructions of the manufacturer! If you do not operate an external filter on the aquarium, you can unfortunately not use this type of UV-C clarifier.
A UV-C clar ifier with its own pump can simply be operated additionally at the aquarium and is not installed in the filter circuit. It can also be used without an external filter.
The water in the aquarium and aquascape will become crystal clear within a few days if you let the UV-C burner run continuously for a few days.
Disadvantages of a UV-C clarifier for aquarium
However, the very high-energy UV-C radiation not only breaks down bacteria, fungi and other pathogens, as well as algae and algae spores, but does even more. To avoid problems that a UV-C clarifier can cause in the aquarium during continuous operation, the burner is therefore not operated permanently on the aquarium, but only until the problem has been eliminated.
Nutrients for the plants
The strong UV radiation in the UV-C burner not only destroys protozoa and small multicellular organisms, but can also break down chemical compounds and chelate compounds in the aquarium water. This can render chelated-based plant fertilizers ineffective because the nutrients are broken down into a form that the plants can no longer absorb.
If a UV-C clarifier runs in the aquarium for a long time, you will see clear signs of deficiency in the aquarium plants. The colors become pale, the leaves begin to disintegrate, the new shoots are crippled and discolored, leaves are shed and the aquarium plants grow significantly worse overall.
Increase of the nitrite content in the aquarium water
If the UV-C clarifier has killed a lot of bacteria or algae, the dead organisms can severely pollute the water in the aquarium. UV radiation only affects bacteria in the open water - filter bacteria remain unaffected. However, a large increase in dead organic matter in the aquarium can greatly overload the filter bacteria, resulting in an increase in nitrite (NO2) levels in the aquarium water.
If you are using the UV-C clarifier in very turbid water, you should therefore be sure to monitor the nitrite level with a good aquarium water test and immediately perform a large water change if NO2 increases.
Effects on humic substances
Humic substances can be degraded and affected more quickly by a UV-C clarifier. The aquarium water decolorizes much faster, so that the helpful humic substances are no longer available to the aquarium animals.
Chelate-based water conditioner
We already know that the UV rays of the UV burner in the UV-C clarifier for the aquarium destroy chelates. Of course, this also applies to the chelates used in EDTA-based water conditioners. Here it can happen that pollutants bound by the chelates are released again by the irradiation in the UV-C clarifier, which in extreme cases can lead to problems with the aquarium animals.
Important: This only applies to clear-transparent water conditioners that contain EDTA for chelation. Milky zeolite-based water conditioners work physically and are not affected by this phenomenon.