UV Reccomendations,

[heedicus]

hello,
what UV would you'all reccomend for a 5000-6000 gallon pond? I would like to stay in around under $200.
thanks,
tren
ƒ

[rjl420]

for a pond that size, I'm not too sure you can find one for under $200 unless it's used. I use and recomend AquaUltraviolet UV's (http://www.aquaultraviolet.com/pond.htm) but I would say they are on the slightly more expensive side as far as brands go. they also have a squeege feature that makes cleaning the bulbs a snap (NOT literally, as that would be bad to snap a bulb ;) )

[aquariaddictus]

Are you certain you need a UV? One for that amount of water is going to be very expensive, and you'll need to replace the bulb every season. If you can control your algae in other ways (I like using barley straw and fish that eat algae - plecos, mollies, platies, swords)

80 and 120 watt sterilizers go for $400 - $600. If you DON'T have an algae problem, and want to keep it that way, you might be able to get by with something smaller. Jurapari Man had one for sale, don't know if it's still available.

http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=10683

"Snap" - that was funny - bad pun!

judy

[rjl420]

just keep in mind that UV's aren't just for algae. they will also rid your pond of all the free swimming "nasties" like parasites and bacteria that can cause disease. even if you don't get one rated for your size pond, it will still help.

I don't encourage anyone to use the barley approach, that's just as bad as throwing chemicals at the problem IMO. once the plants (oxygenating grasses like anacharis are the best) get themselves established to the point that they absorb all the nutrients in the water, aglae will go away (at least the free floating "green water" type that UVs help against).

I wish I could find the thread about barley over at toms place but it seems to elude me. think it may have been lost in the move.

[heedicus]

hmmm,
Perhaps i should invest in a smaller one to try to keep the parasites and all of that at bay and deal with algae in a different way. although I am more interested in the disease prevention than algae control.
would it help to have a smaller uv or does it not really work?

[aquariaddictus]

The point I guess I wanted to make is that the UV should be the last thing you buy, and then only if you think you really need it. If you set up a pond and get the right ecobalance going, with proper filtration, you may not need UV. Only once in six years was I struck with any kind of illness in my outdoor fish, and it was anchorworms. While there is a product to kill the free swimming worms, once they are embedded in the fish, my only recourse was to take all the fish out, put them in a bucket, and over the kitchen sink, pull the worms out one by one, putting a drop of mechurechrome on each wound. All the fish survived. But I blame the introduction of the worms on my tendency to 'save' feeder goldfish that are 'too cute' to be dinner for the catfish.

Plants that will compete with the algae are a great idea - floaters imparticular, which will also cut down on the light available to the algae. Algae-grazing fish will help.

I wasn't aware of any controversy about the barley straw, but it has worked for me this year, and the last three years, in competing for nutrients before my 'real' pond plants are established. And that is taking much longer than usual this year, due to our crappy weather.

If you are just starting out, I would get everthing in place and up and running before making a call on the UV. If, on the other hand, you have an established pond and are still having troubles that a UV might help, then by all means, go for it.
hth
judy

[TJcanada]

they will also rid your pond of all the free swimming "nasties" like parasites and bacteria that can cause disease. not really, some parasites maybe but not all and not bacteria... pond UV's aren't powerful enough for that. Flow rate is important through the UV - meaning dwell time ... if the water goes to fast it won't work as well. Maintenace on the unit should be done regularly - check for build up of "crud" - a dirty UV isn't efficant. For a 5000-6000gal pond - Cal pump makes a decent UV, just over $200(here in Cnd) and it's exceptionally easy to install.

Just my thoughts, TJ