Pond UV Light Use Made Clear

The primary duty of pond UV filters is to destroy pond algae, by emitting ultraviolet light onto their cells. The UV light damages the DNA of the algae, interferes with the ability of the algal cells to divide, and causes the algae to clump together. Besides killing algae, the UV pond light eliminates other unwanted organisms, such as parasites and fungal spores. The light emitted from UV filters not only removes algae from the pond, but in the long run, it helps to prevent fish diseases caused by unwanted micro-organisms.

Without UV lights for ponds it can be extremely difficult to stop the water from turning green. A UV pond filter is a critical investment; it keeps the pond aesthetically clean, and it may well prolong the lives of the inhabiting aquatic animals.

An important factor that separates one pond UV filter from another is the wattage of the bulb. The stronger the UV light, the more water it can clarify in a shorter period of time. Manufacturers rate their pond UV lights based on how many gallons of water they can filter per hour. A general rule can be used for selecting the right filter for a given pond; the flow rate of the water through the filter should be about half of the volume of the entire pond.

The UV pond filter works by emitting UV light, from a bulb, onto the flowing water. The bulb is never in contact with the water, and all pond lights go through vigorous testing to ensure user safety. Upon initial set up, it will be hard to see the bulb flashing, even when it is on, because of the sunlight. Prolonged exposure to UV rays is dangerous, so it is recommended that the user not look directly into the bulb. A good UV filter has a bulb that is easily accessible. Although the turn over rate for UV bulbs is not extremely high, the bulbs will require frequent replacement, usually every 6 months. The distance between the chassis of the bulb and the flowing water is another factor to consider. It is better to buy pond UV filters in which the bulbs are closer to the water, as they are more effective in killing algae.

UV pond filters are not mechanical filters. Retailers often label them as clarifiers, because they only neutralize algae, and whatever happens to the dead matter is not their business. If the murkiness of your pondwater is not caused by algae, but by some other element, the UV light will have no effect on your problem. In cases where the problem is indeed green water, the use of a UV filter combined with effective mechanical filtration can have a truly dramatic effect. The water will appear crystal clear, without any hint of green. If your pond is really bad a 50% water change beforehand can save your mechanical filter a lot of hard work and minimize the amount of dead algae that may remain on the bottom of the pond. Note that the filters will not remove solid waste particulates from the pond. That is the job of the mechanical filter. Also, the regulation of beneficial bacteria and ionic conditions of the pond falls under the realm of biological filtration. UV pond light only acts to kill or neutralize unwanted substances.

A UV pond filter requires a bit of cleaning to keep it running smoothly. Heavy usage will clog up the UV pond filter with contaminants, especially on a quartz sleeve type sterilizer and the light will not be able to reach the organisms. It is important to wipe or scrape the sleeve of the filter periodically, but other than this simple procedure, these filters essentially run on their own.