External Filter With Built In Uv Steriliser

[Twinklecaz]

I know these exist but need advice on where to find them and which one's are good?

Cheers

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

Here's the largest of the All Pond Solutions, not a bad deal at all for £75...
http/cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=400098641607&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

 

[star4]

The allpond solutions filter is excellent, I have one running on my coldwater tank in the conservatory, although I got algae on the glass in the summer (to be expected with a tank getting sunlight) but the water was crystal clear with running this filter with the uv.

UV light lasts about 6 months with continuous use and replacements are only about £8, which is cheap!

 

[scotty]

i agree with star,great filter i have had no problems,they are so popular you can only pre-order them with all pond solutions

 

[star4]

It is funny, I asked about the allpond solutions filter got to be 18months plus ago and I was told to get a tetratec as they were better!, I never have any problems with the allpond solutions filter, yet the tetratec last night after cleaning it out took me nearly an hour to keep re-fitting the lid to stop the darn thing leaking!!! and it has a new seal!

 

[coldcazzie]

The All Pond Solutions one is the one I'm buying

 

[Twinklecaz]

Hi guys,thanks

Is it noisy?

 

[star4]

No noisier than other filters, I have the 2000l/hr one, its not as quiet as the tetratec, but I find that is a very quiet external.

 

[coldcazzie]

I ordered mine today - I'll let you know once it arrives and I've got it setup! (so excited! Happy birthday to me!! hehehe)

 

[elisew]

Sorry to jump on your thread Twinkle, I just wanted to ask if the UV filters are really as good as they`re cracked up to be? Hubby actually considered one over the FX5 we ended up buying.

What are the advantages and disadvantages (if any) of them?

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

Providing there is enough water movement to make sure all water is filtered and your UV is powerful enough, it will kill bacteria outright, increasing the odds of healthy fish. It can also reduce the likelihood of algae.

I think it was suggested to me by Aquajardin staff that my Rio240 would need ~30W of UV to have an appreciable effect.

 

[curlyriff]

From what I have read you need way more wattage of UV than that on the external filter type to kill 99% of bacteria. Even then you can never get 100% as you would need to cover your tank with UV light not just run it through the tube (Don't Do It, It Is Harmful).

There have been a few threads recently which has made think this isn't worth the cost of the unit.

It will however mean that your water would look more crystal clear to the naked eye. So that is a plus if that is what you want and destroy allot of the water born particles that you can see.

Other disadvantages are the flow rate won't be as great as the longer the contact time the better they work for the UV. The bulbs need replacing every 6 months as stated and although £8 doesn't seem allot can start to add up. Power consumption is greater.

With the unit in question I can't see how it works all that well, for example:

There is no way a 9watt UV bulb will be effective to kill of all bacteria unless it is running at less than about 500lph turn over so it stating that it is 2000lph is not a plus if you want the full benefits.

If you really want to kill bacteria then you would need around 20watt for around 250-500ltr tank with a turn over based on 2-4x an hour which would put it at 1000 to 2000lph. If you had 10x flow rate you would need something around 50watt for a 250-500ltr tank.

That would mean you need something like D-D UV Steriliser for the full UV benefit based on the tank size above. That is the problem of the cost of these units at £400+ they are expensive if you want effective.

Also if you put in liquid plant fertilisers and medicines the unit will also break these down. It will kill the ammonia and Nitrite for example if you are running one but should you have a long power cut 8 hours plus or a bulbs goes and you can't get one for a few days then you could end up with a spike that will mean extra maintenance as your filter is working harder to process than before.

Hope that gives some input. I don't want you to be put off this is just my understanding and what I have read and seen over the last month or so that I have been looking at the units.

I am still considering one like the one the OP linked but mainly as just a water clarity unit and separate from my main filter. I will then also be looking at something that has a lower flow rate to make sure that it helps to keep the water crystal clear.

Kind Regards,

Adam

 

[Liam50]

From what I have read you need way more wattage of UV than that on the external filter type to kill 99% of bacteria. Even then you can never get 100% as you would need to cover your tank with UV light not just run it through the tube (Don't Do It, It Is Harmful).

There have been a few threads recently which has made think this isn't worth the cost of the unit.

It will however mean that your water would look more crystal clear to the naked eye. So that is a plus if that is what you want and destroy allot of the water born particles that you can see.

Other disadvantages are the flow rate won't be as great as the longer the contact time the better they work for the UV. The bulbs need replacing every 6 months as stated and although £8 doesn't seem allot can start to add up. Power consumption is greater.

With the unit in question I can't see how it works all that well, for example:

There is no way a 9watt UV bulb will be effective to kill of all bacteria unless it is running at less than about 500lph turn over so it stating that it is 2000lph is not a plus if you want the full benefits.

If you really want to kill bacteria then you would need around 20watt for around 250-500ltr tank with a turn over based on 2-4x an hour which would put it at 1000 to 2000lph. If you had 10x flow rate you would need something around 50watt for a 250-500ltr tank.

That would mean you need something like D-D UV Steriliser for the full UV benefit based on the tank size above. That is the problem of the cost of these units at £400+ they are expensive if you want effective.

Also if you put in liquid plant fertilisers and medicines the unit will also break these down. It will kill the ammonia and Nitrite for example if you are running one but should you have a long power cut 8 hours plus or a bulbs goes and you can't get one for a few days then you could end up with a spike that will mean extra maintenance as your filter is working harder to process than before.

Hope that gives some input. I don't want you to be put off this is just my understanding and what I have read and seen over the last month or so that I have been looking at the units.

I am still considering one like the one the OP linked but mainly as just a water clarity unit and separate from my main filter. I will then also be looking at something that has a lower flow rate to make sure that it helps to keep the water crystal clear.

Kind Regards,

Adam

i have to disagree with your point about the recommended wattage of fish tanks i work at world of water where we sell pond units and the tmc 55 watt uv unit will do 18,000 liters so having a 55 watt bulb on 500 liters seems like massive overkill.

 

[coldcazzie]

I actually had no intention of using the UV light at all, until someone mentioned it might help kill of the BGA I'm having issues with. I'm going to give it a try, if it works, then once the algae is gone it'll get switched off again. If it doesn't it'll get switched off anyway and I'll have to reconsider the situation with the algae.

 

[curlyriff]

i have to disagree with your point about the recommended wattage of fish tanks i work at world of water where we sell pond units and the tmc 55 watt uv unit will do 18,000 liters so having a 55 watt bulb on 500 liters seems like massive overkill.

Thats fair enough, as I said it is just what I have read/researched from other posts and with friends who have them. I think there is allot that is not understood to exactly what is needed. Also there are so many different designs in how it works I think sometimes trying to compare one product to another is difficult.

On a last note of my understanding is that units with the same wattage will do a greater pond size than aquarium but I don't have anything to back up apart from other people experiance and manufacture guides who often state a pond size 10x what they state aquarium.

Kind Regards,

Adam