13 replies to this topic

[c0w]

what is the difference between a UV sterilizer and clarifier? I have been having issues with algae and the water turning murky green.

Also I have tried using algae treatment but it makes the fish stay at the bottom of the pond??? I hope it's not making them sick.

My backyard pond is about 280 gallons, what would be a good uv clarifier to use? home depot brand?

[koiguy1969]

the dfference? the spelling !!! Lowes has a Tetrapond 9 watts, it would be more than enough

[c0w]

haha ok. i think i will try out the cheap home depot one for 50 bucks for now. http://www.homedepot...catalogId=10053

[c0w]

so you connect this thing from the pump and then connect it to the filter? sorry for these ridiculous noob questions.

[jrladd]

You should connect it after your main filter.

[Pondmaster]

My understanding is that water flow makes your clarifier a sterilizer / clarifier. The slower flow being the sterilizer mode. Laguna has tables listed somewhere on the internet showing the flow ratios.

[koiguy1969]

i dont run mine long .but between the one pump and one filter. its hard to run a u.v after a gravity output filter, especially when you have a weir outlet not plumbing!

[jrladd]

koiguy1969 said:

i dont run mine long .but between the one pump and one filter. its hard to run a u.v after a gravity output filter, especially when you have a weir outlet not plumbing!

good point. I run mine between my store bought pressure filter and my DIY filter. It would be impossible to run a UV with the output of a skippy or doc style filter.

[DoDad]

There is a difference between a UV sterilizing and clarifying

[koiguy1969]

DoDad said:

There is a difference between a UV sterilizing and clarifying

and what is the difference?

[jrladd]

Clarifying basically means getting the green out. Sterilizing is like killing everything in the water that could potentially cause disease. UV filters will have have a higher gallon rating for clarifying versus sterilizing, because it take much less wattage to clarify. Sterilizing is mostly a concern in reef tanks. Clarifying is what us ponders are concerned about.

[koiguy1969]

but you should be able to achieve either or by adjusting water flow, thereby exposure time

[jrladd]

koiguy1969 said:

but you should be able to achieve either or by adjusting water flow, thereby exposure time

To a certain degree yes. But don't expect a 9 watt UV to Sterilize a 5000 gallon pond just because you're only running 100gph through it.

[bsr8129]

thats true but, there is some common sence that goes along with this, just like a fitler is a filter you cant filter a 5000 gal pond with a 5 gal filter.