UV steriliser filter in a Tropical aquarium

UV Clarifier in  Tropical aquarium ?

UV clarifiers are accosiated with Marine tanks and Koi Ponds for clearing Green Water, but why are they not popular with Tropical ?

If your serious about keeping your tropical tank in tip top condition and your fish as healthy as possible, an ultraviolet steriliser is a potentially smart addition to your filtration armory.

In a Tropical tank, the aim of fitting a UV steriliser is to reduce the incidence of disease. Water passing through a properly-sized and fitted UV steriliser will be treated by UV light in such a way as to kill bacteria, parasites and other pathogens. A UV can therefore reduce the incidence of disease in the aquarium.
If you’re breeding your tropical fish, the UV steriliser will have a secondary benefit of reducing the chances of the eggs being attacked by bacteria and fungus.

Don’t worry about the UV steriliser killing the bacteria in your biological filter. It only kills bacteria that is in the water column that passes the UV, so the filter population is quite safe.
Here are a few more tips on UV sterilisers:

• A small ultraviolet sterilizer costs less than losing fish or spending money on disease treatments
• Make sure your UV steriliser is the appropriate power for the flow of water being pumped through it
• If you can’t turnover the tank volume through your UV steriliser at a fast enough rate (because it is too low-powered) then you won’t kill parasites sufficiently quickly to affect the incidence of disease
• In short, buy the right UV unit for your tank size and pump rate!
• Clean water is a must, to stop the UV light being blocked by particles
• UV bulbs age, and need to be replaced as per the manufacturer’s instructions. You can keep pumping water over an old bulb but it won’t be effective
• A UV sterilizer should not be seen as a substitute for proper filtration, water changes, and other essentials!

OK so UV Filters aren’t essential for your Tropical set up, but if you're serious about Tropicals and have expensive fish or into breeding, why not give one a try it will only do your system good.

Happy Fishkeeping !

Holiday Aquatics