11 replies to this topic

[bobsox]

Hi All:
I'm new to the forum have a question re: UV Lights. My pond is 2400 gal and have 13 koi size fish along with about 30 baby fish. I am fighting the algae & green murky water war. After trying some chemicals including Hydrogen peroxide and another clarifier and not helping, I ordered a Pondmaster 20 watt UV clarifier. The problem is my water lines are 1 1/2" PVC from the pump and filter to the biological filter and the unit I ordered is 3/4" inlet & outlet size which will reduce the flow of water I have now dramatically. I need to find a UV Light that will fit my setup with 1 1/2" lines and maintain the flow I got now. Thanks for any info re: this.

[Pandypops]

I have a Yamitsu 15W Algae Master UV hard piped into my 1-1/2" PVC line going to my filter and it works brilliantly.
I don't know whether you can get this make in the States though?
I have mine standing vertically so that there are no air locks and when I want to service it and turn the pump off, all the water drains out

These filters are available with various strength UV lights, but even the weaker ones, like mine, still accept large pipework.

Hope this helps.

[Pandypops]

Sorry, forgot to say hello and welcome. I'm new on here too!

[lovinglife]

What kind of filter are you using?

[bobsox]

Thanks pandypops for the welcome and info. After doing more research I found that the 40watt UV light has the 1 1/2" union to use with the 1 1/2" PVC lines I have from pump to biological filter without reducing the flow. Right now I have a sand filter that wasn't doing the job of keeping water clear so I use it set on 'recirculate' rather then 'filtration' which kept bogging down and having to back wash couple times daily to maintain flow. I then added a few layers of filtration pads (50 & 100 micron) to top of bio filter at the waterfall along with strapping in bottom of filter. I'm hoping the UV light along with the filtration pads with do the trick. I am now having to change the filtration pads every few days as they are saturated with green algae goo etc. I am not sure what to do with the sand filter after installing the UV light. May not need it & just run the pond with pump - UV light then bio filter with the pads. My wife reminded me that the fish are not Koi but large goldfish that were just feeder fish last year. Thanks Livinglife for your reply as well.

[koiguy1969]

a 20 watter with only 3/4" hose adapters? thats unusual even the 9 watt tetrapond has up to 1&1/4" adapters.you sure that their not tapered to cut where you need.

[bobsox]

Hi Koiguy 1969 - Thanks for the reply. I guess it will work but my brother who built the pond (his first & last one) thinks the smaller outtake & input size for the 20 watt will reduce flow where the 40 watt has the 1 1/2" union and will maintain the flow rate connected to the 1 1/2" PVC now in use.

[koiguy1969]

you could buy a small independant pump for the u.v

[bobsox]

I haven't thought about that (small punp). I'll run it by my brother and see what he thinks as he will have to hook the system up. Thanks..

[oldmarine]

In and about June I insatlled a 9 watt UV clearifier from Lowes, and I insatlled it between my pre-filter (skimmer), and the boi-filter. I noticed the water turn form a tea color to clear within a week. In addition I have transplanted most of my pond plants from the regular potting soil to pea-gravel or the recomended substarte that can be purchased at the pet supply stores. Pea-gravel is less expensive all the way around, and seems to just as well as the other.

I originally thought about running a small water pump just for the UV clearifier, but for me it made more sense to utilize the inline water flow already in use.

[lovinglife]

if you are changing your filter pads I think you are probably harming not helping the algea problem. Did you say how big your filter is, or how fast you are pumping water through it?

[oldmarine]

I only rinse the filter pad in my skimmer when it starts to over flow.