|
Bob,
We have enjoyed your many tips and advice
through your web site. We hope that you can help us with a
decision on purhasing a UV sterilizer.
We have a 4year old 2,000 gal pond with
bottom drain, skimmer, 3600 gal per hour pump, large water
fall, eleven 3 year old Koi, and really green brown water.
We live in Aurora and our PH runs high 8-9. We have planted
many plants to create a natural balance and each year our
water begins to clear up at the end of the season. We would
like clear water in the begining of the season. We have been
on many pond walks and found that many people use UV sterilizers
and swear by them.
There seems to be a ton of choices and
we are narrowing it down to Gallons Per Hour as the deciding
factor. We have 2" piping and that also seems to make a difference
on the choices. Originally reading Dr. Foster's articles,
they seem to focus in on size of pond and watts.
Any advice on 1) are UV sterilizers effective
2) should we be using our GPH as our guide for selecting the
right UV, or gallons and watts?
If you know anyone that has used these
and has any other advice, we would greatly appreciate it.
Hey, K&T!
In answer to your questions:
1) UV units work well for floating (microscopic) algae.
They'll keep the blooms from happening by preventing the
algae exposed to the UV light from reproducing. By doing
so, they'll reduce the organic load on the pond and eliminate
some of that "root beer" color caused by dissolved organics.
2) Filtration systems are all about flow. Choose a UV unit
with inlet and outlet ports the same size as your pipe runs,
and make sure that it is rated for GPH. Many of the mass-marketed
UV units have low-intensity bulbs that require the water
flow through the unit to be slow. They are also constructed
of plastic, which deteriorates rapidly under exposure to
...(wait for it)... UV light! Find a unit with stainless
steel construction and a high-intensity bulb that will accept
your flow rates and work effectively with them. You'll pay
more for it up front, but you will only need to buy it once.
Bob Passovoy
President
MPKS
| 