If you’ve owned an aquarium long enough, you may have dealt with a common problem in many tanks: algae. Now, a little algae on the edges of your tank isn’t necessarily a bad thing. It can actually play several important roles in your aquarium, such as creating oxygen and stabilizing its environment. It’s only when […]
If you’ve owned an aquarium long enough, you may have dealt with a common problem in many tanks: algae. Now, a little algae on the edges of your tank isn’t necessarily a bad thing. It can actually play several important roles in your aquarium, such as creating oxygen and stabilizing its environment.
It’s only when algae grows in abundance that it becomes a serious problem. Algae can make your fish and plant life sick by taking away its main source of nutrients. And unfortunately, these little pests are quite relentless; they will come back to your tank every once in a while.
It can be irritating to constantly clean your aquarium of unwanted algae, parasites, and bacteria. To combat this issue, many aquarists use a little device known as an aquarium UV sterilizer.
However, while UV sterilizers are effective in eliminating common pests from your aquarium, there’s much debate as to whether they’re worth the investment.
Read on to learn more about UV sterilizers and if they’re the right fit for your tank:
Ultraviolet or UV sterilizers are a tube of filtered ultraviolet light that destroys the DNA of any single-cell organism that passes through it. This process effectively kills them.
Of course, you may be reluctant to use ultraviolet light as it can cause cancer and other diseases. But if used carefully, UV sterilizers should not cause any harm to you or your aquatic critters.
Most UV sterilizers come in a tube-like design that contains an in-and-out flow. Some UV sterilizers can come its own water flow while others need to be connected with the outflow of your filter’s canister.
When connected to the canister, be sure that the UV sterilizer connects to the outflow. This immediately kills the unwanted pests in your tank.
To build up efficiency, check that the flow of water matches light exposure from your UV sterilizer. Water that flows too fast decreases the amount of UV light exposure in your tank, and may not kill off those pesky microorganisms. If the water flow is slow, the algae-killing process will also be slow.
You should also refrain from using a UV sterilizer if you are using chemicals to treat your tank. Exposure to a UV sterilizer during chemical treatments may have a negative effect. You will also need to replace your sterilizer’s light bulb every 6 months.
If set up appropriately, the UV sterilizer will kill the pests you want gone. It will also not kill beneficial bacteria unless they flow through the water. You will not need to worry about your fish either—they may be stressed with the device at first but will grow used to it.
Based on your preferences and research, you may decide that a UV sterilizer is the right choice for your aquarium. Just make sure to read the setup manual and to ask our Pet counselors for their advice. We hope these tips help your aquarium thrive beautifully! You can also read our blog, How to Control Algae Growth in Your Aquarium for more tips on caring for your tank.
