UV Sterilizer Flow for bacteria vs. parasites

beviking

beviking

Senior Member, Sophomoric Attitude
Feb 16, 2002
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Just because I've been looking into UV Sterilizers, I thought I would post this link...
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/pic/article.cfm?dept_id=0&siteid=6&acatid=423&aid=440
...that shows the required flows for effectively irradicating bacteria vs. the higher flow needed to get rid of parasites.
I've never given it much thought. The advertisements list a certain flow and say this sterilizer is good up to "X" flow rate but doesn't say anything about the differences between ridding bacteria and parasites.
Just an fyi.

On a similar note, any info (proof) that spiral flow through a unit (reduced dwell time) is sufficient enough to be detrimental to parasites at advertised flows?

Not that I'm looking to get one or anything... :rolleyes:
 
ummm.... not sure what your question is. I like the article. The basic premise of the article seems to be;

The higher the watt of the UV bulb, the higher the flow rate of water can be and still be effective.

Second premise is;

Parasites (as opposed to bacteria or algae) require higher UV at slower flow rates to be effective.

Both premises make sense to me. For a simple mathmatical model

effective UV = watt of UV/flow rate

In other words, to raise your effective UV value, you must either increase the UV wattage or decrease the water flow rate through it.

Thanks for ther interesting article link.

Asaint
 
The premise was that every ad I've seen gives a max flow but does NOT distinguish that it's only effective against bacteria/algae at that flow. The ads I've seen do not say that a higher flow is required to be effective against parasites. So given this...

effective UV = watt of UV/flow rate

...what is "effective UV" effective against? Most ads give a table and show a 9w sterilizer being good for up to 200gph, for example. BUT, to be effective against parasites at 200gph, you need a sterilizer around 35w! VERY misleading IMO.

Hope that's a little clearer. ;)
 
Moreover, the article begs the more important issue, namely, which pathogenic bacteria and parasites exist in a free-floating stage. Unless the bug in question is primarily spread through a free-floating, infectious stage, a UV unit won't do much good. I researched pathogens fairly extensively a couple of years ago when I had a mycobacteria outbreak in one of my tanks, and it seemed to me that most of the fish pathogens aren't likely to be affected much by use of a UV unit. I don't think a UV is likely to cause much trouble, but I also think it's unlikely to help much in controlling/eradicating most bugs.

Persisent green water is another matter, obviously, and for some UV is the only way to control it. That's a different matter, though, than pathogens.

HTH,
Jim
 
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