Koi fish Pond UV Clarifier Vs UV Steriliser
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- Опубликовано: 29 май 2021
- UV Clarifiers and UV Sterilisers are an area that a huge amount of confusion exists around. So in this video I look at what exactly is the difference (if any) between the two and which one you need for your pond.
I explain what benefits you can expect to see from each type of UV source and hopefully help you to avoid paying too much for the wrong unit for your particular situation or even buying a UV that isn't what it claims to be.
I even do a bit of Dad dancing 😁
Check out my website at www.dazzlekoi.com/
If you enjoy the video and find it useful please hit the like button and don't forget to subscribe to my channel here rb.gy/dp57so for more content on this wonderful hobby.
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Животные
Thank you for clarifying the differences between the two types. Well explained. 👌👍
Thank you for taking time to comment 🍻🍺🍻
Another informative video explaining the difference between UV clarifiers and sterilizers in simple and easy to understand language. Thank you. Stay safe and happy ponding.
Thank you very much, I appreciate your kind words, good to know its useful to you.
You too mate 🍻🍻
Wow I've been following for some time, how refreshing it is to find info based on educated and expierienced fact. Thank you and keep it coming.
Cheers mate, I really appreciate that 🍺🍻🥂
Nice to hear from you good info not many people read all the instructions just want clear water from units. Keep safe ❤️
Thanks Paul, yeah its a shame we cant just trust what's on the packaging. Most areas are regulated so manufacturers cant mislead customers but it seems there is non such protection when it comes to pond UV's
Finally found someone who explained !!!
Cheers mate, there is so much wrong info and vagueness surrounding UV's
Ty for clarifying
No problem mate 🍻🍺🍻
Another well laid out and easy to absorb topic. Keep it up mate.
Cheers mate, I'm behind on your videos at the moment. I haven't seen any since the fibreglass one. Not had a minute lately but hopefully get some time soon to have a binge watch 🍻🍻
@@DazzleKoi Another part out tomorrow, the big fill!!
Nice one, exciting times. I definitely need to get up to date 😁
Good for you to explain in Greater detail for me thanks.
good video and information like yourself i looked into this years ago and realized what manufacturers was doing, i then concentrated my efforts on filtration and I'm glad to say there's been no need for me to use a uv anymore in fact its been 15 years since i last used one, even with my new 18 month old pond still haven't had to use one, i enjoy your videos straight to the point no nonsense, keep up the good work.
Thanks Jason. That's very impressive mate, your filtration and keeping skills are obviously spot on. Do you have plants in theree?
@@DazzleKoi no plants at all
Even more impressive Sir 👍👍👍
Cheers daz great info as usual
Thanks Richard 🍻🍻
Thanks for clarifying those points... Im about to buy a unit and was wondering what the difference was... helpful as ever
Thanks Matt 👍🍻👍
Thanks for Clarifying you background! i was struggling to understand how you cud be so clever!
Cheers Les 🍻🍻
More great info Daz thanks buddy
No problem Rex, thanks mate 🍻🍻🍻
thanks, very enlightening
Thanks Graham, I appreciate that 👍👍
Brilliant info 👍👍 thankyou
Thank you, you're very welcome 🥂🥂
Helps me loads thank you
Cheers Tristan 🍻🍻👍🍻🍻
I run a EA Evo 30 on my tiny pond. It's way over sized for what I need. EA are another company that advertise it as a UVC. I tend to run a UV according to the pump size I'm using. Mine runs on a 6000ltr/ hour pump so if you take head pressure into account it's probably running at 4500 -5000ltr an hour. Very interesting video and something I'm not that informed about. I've never gone for a sterilizer purely because of price and it's good to know that I probably wouldn't see a benefit even if I could afford one.
Sounds good mate 🍻👍🍻
Daz... as ever great video and very informative.. it may be worth also mentioning the flow rates over the uv light... does it have a benefit to spilt your flow back into the pond and slow it down as much as possible via the Light source for best results ?
Hi mate, yes most UV units should come with a maximum flow that you can put through them and that is based on physical properties, how much water can pass through without causing damage and/or excess back pressure.
In terms of performance, any benefit there might be from slowing the flow down (thus increasing residence time in the UV light source) is cancelled out by the reduction in the number of times any single molecule of water passes through the unit in any given period so its horses for courses really.
Great video. I liked and subscribe! Greetings from Ireland.
Hi Aidan and welcome aboard 🍻🍺🍻
Nice vid and very helpful. I have in built uvc in my drum, so good to clarify this coz I often wondered. 👍
Hi mate, a genuine UV-C is a great choice for fitting in a drum as it stops bio film building up on the screen and reducing its efficiency. I should have mentioned that in the video with hindsight 👍👍
Which drum do you have? I think I'll probably put a drum on my next pond once we move house but its likely to be a while off yet
@@DazzleKoi its a filtreau mini and has 40 watt amalgam uvc built in. Great value for money.
Sounds good, I'll have a look at those 🍻👍🍻
Always gives good videos
Thanks Geoffrey 🍻🍻
Did you find the crock of gold?😂 Good vid mate 👍
Haha, unfortunately not Col, I'm going to have to put off retiring for another year 😟
Sorry only just seen this video great information 🙏🐟🐟🐟🙏
Cheers Carol 🥂🥂
Hello matey 👋🏼 I hope you are enjoying this glorious sunshine 🌞
Forgive me if I'm wrong but there was a word that didn't get a mention and that's amalgam, seeing as most products are designed and marketed to confuse the end user whilst raiding their bank accounts 🤣.
I'm not really up on which uv is best but i know through trial and error what works for us and i would say that on our old pond which was 4k gallons in full sun all day a 110w EA wasn't quite enough so instead of messing around with another smaller one i bought a second 110w EA and that worked immensely.
Now I've halved the pond size to 2k gallons and have a drum with a 40w amalgam uv in it still in full sun its cloudy so i may either swap the 40w amalgam for an 80w, add another 40w or do something else but its a relatively new setup so I'm willing to sit on my hands for the time being to see what gives.
Looking at the prices of wood I'm probably not going to make a pergola any time soon either 🤣
Hi Tom, indeed, not the time to be buying a lot of wood 😲😲
I tried to steer away from mentioning trade names as I get stick for favoring one brand over another (sad but true) but yes, Air Aqua Amalgam units are very good. They are genuine UV sterilisers operating at 253nm which is in the UV-C area of the spectrum. They work well in drums as you don't want them near your biological media for obvious reasons (they also stop biofilm growing on the screen).
40W should be more than enough for that volume , as you say, maybe give it a month or two before you change it 🍻🍻🍻
@@DazzleKoi I can't believe the sun is still shining 🤔 am i tempting fate? I have concrete coming at 9am tomorrow morning so hopefully it's not to hot too quickly 😬.
Another fantastic video btw 👏🏼
Thanks Tom, much appreciated. Yeah two days running in the North West constitutes a heat wave!!
Hopefully dry for you tomorrow but not too hot, you don't want it drying out too quickly.
Let me know how you get on 👍👍
@@DazzleKoi thankfully its only footings for a wall so it's an easier pour but i am as prepared as i can be 😬.
I'm in the northeast so if its sunny tomorrow the we are officially in a heatwave too 🤣
Hi DK, Will my 80w Amalgam tube clear green water? I haven't installed it yet. I bought the more expensive Amalgam light as its supposed to be far more efficient than the 'normal' uv tubes. Thanks.
Hi mate, it depends on a lot of different variables. So the volume of the pond, the flow, the amount of sun it sees, fish load, filtration etc etc etc. As you say though, the amalgams are excellent so you have given yourself every chance. If that doesn't clear it nothing will
Hi just wondering do you know if the Oase FiltoClear in built UV in a Steriliser? On the descriptions it says "Integrated UVC". I have a second hand filter and the UV isn't working, the oase only use 11w UV but I would think it would explain the low wattage if they were a Steriliser. Thanks
Hi Michael, sorry, I only just spotted your question. I'm sure its to late now but yes, oase like to mislead with their wording, as do many many others. They are not sterilisers, they run UV-A only. If you pull them up about it they claim they have put UVC on the box because the 'C' refers to Clarifier but its all just very shady if you ask me.
Excellent video lot's of people get flummoxed by some dealer's and information also people on RUclips that don't know what they talking about, when are you doing a update on your shower 👏👍
Hi Wayne, I forgot about a shower update to be honest. I'll get on to it mate 🍻🍻
8Watt available power. can i use either 8W bulb UV-A or UV-C. how can i make sure what i'm, buying for a bulb. I get Osram so clled 8w steriliser bulbs at sat 12 to 15 pounds.
Hi there, so sorry its took so long to reply. For 12 to 15 pounds you are getting a clarifier bulb and osram is a good make. You cant use a steriliser bulb as the unit is very different and cost 3 or 4 times as much.
A steriliser bulb itself is over £100
Any idea how to stop the build up at bottom of my pond it's driving me insane I have fair good set up for starting out I believe but it's awful
Hi mate, its hard to say without knowing what equipment you have. With a fibreglass or liner pond and a bottom drain the bottom of the pond should always be clean. If you are pump fed though you will always get some build up on the bottom and may need to vacuum it regularly to stop it building up too much.
Water movement and/or good circulation will help to move the waste to the pump or drain.
What about ozone? I’m looking for something to reduce parasite outbreaks etc
Hi mate, I've looked at it but I've never been convinced by it. Its a lot of money and even more hassle and work to keep on top of it and keep stability. I've never been truly convinced about the benefits either to be honest.
I think it is something that is only necessary to look at if you have very expensive, show standard koi and you want to tick every box possible, or you have short coming in your system somewhere. If you stock at the correct level, clean your filter daily, feed good quality food and have excess oxygen you wont get parasites. That's all I've done for 27 years now and I've only had one small fluke outbreak in all that time.
if you have a classifier say 24w can you just put in a uv sterliser 24w bulb ?
Hi Les, unfortunately not, they run on different voltages and have different connections on the bulbs. A bulb for a steriliser is around £100 more than a bulb for a clarifier to.
Your videos are so helpful and your job sounds soo cool and techy 😎
Wanted to buy a steriliser before a bakki shower but after watching this video
Don’t think I will 😉
Would amalgam lights be better?
Hi mate and thank you. When you say Amalgam lights, how do you mean?
@@DazzleKoi
Just the advantages and disadvantages of them and were would they be most effective...dirty or clean side
Want to put one in my nexus so weighing it all up
Hi mate, I'm really sorry, I missed this question some how.
You can put an amalgam steriliser in a nexus, anywhere it isn't going to shine light on the media really.
@@DazzleKoi
Thanks mate
👍👍👍
Gd morning daz so what your saying is if we didn’t have uv for our pond we wouldn’t have so much no3 or phosphate in our pond shame we need to see the fish lol 😂
Haha, hi mate, I haven't really though about like that before but yes, that's true 👍🍻👍
Great information, just wondering how thick your window is?Keep up the good work.
Hi mate, and thanks a lot 👍👍
The window is 2 pieces of 10mm toughened glass laminated together to give around 21mm total thickness including the PVB interlayer. I used a low iron glass called optiwhite so I dont have the green tint ascociated with normal float glass.
Its only a small pond so its ok for this application but if you have a bigger pond or a bigger window you should go thicker, 2 pieces of 12mm or even 2 pieces of 16mm if its a very large pond with more water pressure.
@@DazzleKoi Thanks for taking the time to reply, top fella
No problem mate, good luck with it 👍
LOOKING for new 55watt tube they are being sold as 55watt UVC /
I tend to get mine from a dealer rather than over the internet now. You can see exactly what you are getting then. Most tubes have the spec wrote on them
Good video, how about one on TDS please?
Hi Martin, yes mate I'll definitely add TDS to the list of videos 👍🍻👍🍻👍
Daz should my UV clarifier be before my filter or after my filter
Hi Philip, it just needs to be after the pump ideally so it is always full of water as they can overheat otherwise. So if you are pump fed you need it before your filter and if you are gravity fed it goes after the filter. After the filter is better really as the quartz sleeve will stay cleaner inside and so it will work more efficiently.
@@DazzleKoi Thanks Daz
nice mate looking to buy a unit for my tank and like alot of us i'm completely confused and overwhelmed ...i guess the question (s) is.
1) is it the actual globe that makes the difference
2) if so could you put the correct globe in a "uvc" (or i guess a cheaper unit) as apposed to spending more on a uvs
3) also would dwell time come into this so bigger unit stronger light should mean more dwell time there fore better result
hope i get an answer once again thankyou one of the better answers
Hi Simon, you cant interchange bulbs between the two units unfortunately as they have completely different power requirements and supply voltages. Even the starters are different. I think the electronics in a steriliser contribute some of the cost difference as they are much more complicated and specialist.
Dwell time has minimal impact because if the flow is slower through the UV unit it means that in any given period, the water will pass through it less often so it balances out. Flocculation occurs over many many passes through, it doesn't just happen in one go.
@@DazzleKoi mate thank you so much for your response and clarifying (sorry couldn't help it) an annoyingly hard to find valid and factual info topic. You just pretty much ended for me what has been endless hours of research both RUclips and articles. I've just got back into the hobby (aquariums namely discus keeping) after close to 20 years and am currently setting up a tank . Back then there wasn't so many variations on uvs or uvc it was uvs and not as expensive for one here in Australia anyway. Now all of a sudden every company is trying to flog of cheap units claiming it'll do both. Unfortunately I'll need or want rather an actual uvs so gotta spend a bit more but worth it as at least now I'm not wasting money on something thinking it'll kill or neutralise disease so spending more but at least I know now what I'm after and can make an informed decision. Here in aus there are limited choices for actual aquarium uvs and they are pricey but well when your spending 400 plus on a single fish for high end imported discus it's worth it. This is long-winded I know but just extremely thankful for your time in responding and coming across your vid. Most shops have said they're the same which I didn't believe only a few said otherwise, once again very thankful mate take care and thank you once again.
Ps. Has to be one of the most simple best, clear and informed explanations I've come across to date (you wouldn't believe how much shit I read and watched 😂) also I'll be going an aqua ultraviolet brand unit due to actual flow rates and size restrictions pricey but is recommended and easier than some of the others to obtain parts for we literally have 3 choices here for actual uvs thank you again
Hi Simon, it's interesting what you say about your experiences with what people tell you about clarifiers versus sterilisers. I find the same over here all the time. I think dealers and retailers are reading and watching the same dodgy information as we are to some extent. I dont think it is malicious on the retailers part (most of the time anyway) I think they just believe what the manufacturers claim. Manufacturers seem free to say whatever they want and there is no regulation.
Even the steriliser manufacturers tell people their units will kill bacteria. On the face of if you can't argue against that, but in reality, in a pond system, little to no bacteria ever comes in to contact with the light source as it lives on surfaces and is not free swimming. And whilst I do agree that a steriliser will kill bacteria, I've also seen many mounted in or close to bio filter media and the bio bacteria seem to tolerate it just fine.
What are your thoughts on the amalgam uv?
Hi mate, in terms of UV sterilisers I think Amalgam are about the best available in the UK. They are expensive though which is probably due to not selling large numbers and not have much competition.
@@DazzleKoi
Yeah totally agree with that
The got the monopoly but if it’s worth the expense, that’s the main thing
Cheers mate 👍👍
What is the best unit for murky water???🤔great video!!!
Hi mate, when you say murky water, is it green water you have?
@@DazzleKoi thank you so much for setting my question, your videos are so helpful, my water is brown with alot of fine sediment on the bottom
@@DazzleKoi I do have rocks in the bottom its a lined pond with a waterfall and aerator I'd like to say the pump is maybe 5500 gph??? This pond is approximately 8 years old I've had goldfish in there mainly but now I have some koi very new to this hobby the pond itself is about 8500 gallons I'm thinking to add an additional pump and spillway thanks again! Please help I'd like to see my fish! I do frequent water testing and is all good but just brown
Does an amalgam UV fall into the clarifier category?
Hi Richard, Air Aqua Amalgam units usually operate in the UV-C range at 253nm so they are proper sterilisers 👍
@@DazzleKoi good to know, thanks. It did seem to be more effective than my previous more basic UV. Great informative videos
Thanks Richard 👍🍻👍
Great video mate, you have just explain what I have been wondering about for ages. Do you no much about RO system. I have heard koi keepers talking about it. Is it better than a trickle in trickle out?
Hi Andrew, I dont know a huge amount about RO unfortunately. I have looked in to it briefly a long time ago but it wasn't for me. To much faffing around and it strips a lot of the good things out of the water. I know a lot swear by it though so there must be something in it. I may well research it properly and do a video on it in the future 👍👍👍👍
@@DazzleKoi cheers mate that sounds a good idea 👍
Just a quick question mate, going to be piping my returns up soon. I was told I can only have two returns after my uv because any more with the back pressure will keep blowing the rubber seals? And was told the other two returns will have to before the uv? But surely all the returns should be after the UV. I have a sieve then it will be the pump to the bead filter then to the uv then was going to split the 4 returns to the pond. Any help and advice would be much appreciated mate thanks 👍
Hi mate, I dont quite follow what you are asking I don't think. I don't understand how your returns have any bearing on the pressure in the line. The pressure comes from the pump and restriction on the line downstream of the pump. Surely more returns means less restriction?
Or have I misunderstood ?
@@DazzleKoi not quite sure myself, the bloke in the shop which only supplies dry goods just said I could only have two returns after my UV and the other two will have to before. Because the UV will not take it. My pump is after my sieve then my bead filter then UV then I was going to split it after that to my four returns. He also told me off because he said I don’t need four returns 😂
Can you name companies that actually sell UV sterilisers? I want one, but don't want to buy a clarifier
Hi Steve, the only one I know and am willing to recommend in the UK is amalgam.
@@DazzleKoi Thank you for that, much appreciated
Thanks again Mr Dazzle. Do Clarifiers and Sterilizers use the same bulbs?
Thanks George, no they need a different bulb. The steriliser bulbs are a lot more expensive.
@@DazzleKoi that makes sense. If they're easily identifiable is that the way to tell if you're buying into uv-a or uv-c?
Hi George, I know the amalgam bulbs have 4 pins instead of 2 so that will tell them apart. Amalgam UV-C bulbs are around £120 for a 40 watt and a normal UV-A bulb is around £20. The number of pins on the bulb is a good way to tell what unit you are getting 🍻👍🍻
@@DazzleKoi £120!!!😳 and parasites etc dont go through a steriliser! 🤐
Yep, and the bulb only lasts 12 months !!!!