power compact fixture use as UV Sterilizer

[ric221]

just a thought i want to add UV to my tank to kill off any bad things in the tank. i have a power compact fixture that uses 2 lights, would it be possible to replace one bulb with a UV bulb and have it work as a UV sterilizer for the entire tank

 

[BigJim]

I don't think it would work well. Either you're going to blast your fish with a lot of UV rays or, if you have a glass lid, the UV rays will be blocked and not really do much of anything. I don't know if you'd get enough intensity to do much anyways.

Is there any reason you're looking to add a UV sterilizer, other than as a preventative measure? Some people swear by them, but most seem to think they're a waste of money.

 

[melosu58]

That will not work. Get a UV sterilizer like a turbo twist.

 

[ric221]

just looking for a little help in maintaining good quailty water for my livestock. 20% changes every week no overfeeding. would the uv rays be bad for the fish?

 

[ric221]

thank you melosu58. if you don't ask you will never know

 

[melosu58]

I`ve never heard of anyone ever doing it that way. A SW UV sterilizer has the water go into a lighted chamber where the lighting can be intense enough to kill the parasite or algea bloom.

 

[melosu58]

Aquarium Ultra Violet Sterilizers: Coralife Turbo-Twist UV Sterilizers

 

[Bige]

You could make your own but placing it on top will not work. The sterile part comes from the water being blasted with light in close quarters. A lot of uv sterilzers are cf lights.