Ultraviolet Sterilizers

Ultraviolet sterilizers look like sophisticated gadgets in any aquarium supplies store. But do you ever wonder what these things are for? Are they really essential aquarium supplies you should get?

An aquarium sterilizer is a water filtration device that makes use of ultraviolet light to kill microscopic organisms in the aquarium water. Although, others will argue that an aquarium sterilizer is not a filtering device per se. This is because it does not perform any mechanical, chemical or biological filtering process. What it does, as mentioned earlier, is kill any microorganisms that pass through it by exposure to lethal doses of ultraviolet radiation. The presence of this piece of equipment can help reduce waterborne pathogens and curb algae growth in the aquarium.

UV sterilizers work in such a way that water is pumped slowly through its quartz crystal sleeve. There high intensity ultraviolet light is passed through the water. (Remember that when you set up this equipment make sure it is at the end of the filtration line. It is best to remove the solid particles first through mechanical filters before directly passing the water to the UV equipment.)

Once UV light is introduced it can lead to the destruction of the waterborne microscopic organisms. The cell membranes can rupture or the cell’s nuclear structure (i.e. DNA & RNA) can be altered. Hence, the end result is that the microorganisms die. UV sterilizers are capable of neutralizing and eradicating free-floating bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites and algae.   

This piece of aquarium device is very useful in maintaining the tank clean. It can keep your fish healthy by removing disease-causing pathogens before they can strike or infect your fish. However, there may be times when beneficial bacteria may be killed in the process. The device doesn’t have the capability of determining beneficial from harmful bacteria. Moreover, this device is very expensive to buy.