 |
|
| Home | Marine Aquariums |
Freshwater Aquariums |
Planted Aquariums |
Brackish Systems |
Ponds,
lakes & fountains |
Turtles & Amphibians |
Aquatic Business |
Aquatic Science |
Ask the WWM Crew a Question |
| Please visit our Sponsors | ||||
TMC uv sterilizer, repair! 2/8/14 UV sterilizer bulb - 1/25/10 Unimax 250 UV Light Question
8/28/09 Contaminated UV Sterilizer? 9/4/08 Dear Crew, Thanks for your help over the past year. I read your website just for fun over my lunch-break at work every day and also turn to it when I have a question. <Heee, don't eat much?> So far, my answers were easily found and I've never had to email. But today I couldn't find what I was looking for. My tank is great, but I'm considering adding a UV sterilizer to help clear the water and bring out some more of that metal-halide sparkle everyone raves about. <It will help dependant on what is clouding your water, but it is more a cover up rather than addressing any issues that may lead to this type of water.> My friend offered me an 18 watt unit (only 3 months old) for a third the price because he wants to stop running it to reduce his energy bill. (Personally I feel the loss he's taking on the unit is not worth the reduced energy cost, but that's his decision to make.) <I agree, 18W is not much.> But now he's "taking it off the market" because he was running it on a pond and using fertilizers and algaecide and now believes the unit is contaminated. I'm not concerned because those units are built to be inert and I think all it needs is a good cleaning and rinse. <Me too.><<RMF as well>> People use bleach and vinegar to clean tanks all the time and simply follow that up with a good rinse. Could fertilizers and algaecides be any worse?!? I couldn't find anything relating to this when I did keyword searches for many combinations of fertilizer, algaecide, residue, contamination, pond, reef, UV sterilizer, etc. What do you think? <I think with a good disassembly and cleaning it will be fine.> Thanks, Tulip <Welcome, Scott V.> Oh, and do any of you have Adam Blundell's contact? I share his passion for nano-tanks and I'm supposed to send him some pics/video of mine for his future presentations. I must have tossed out the pamphlet I wrote it on from the frag swap we met at. <I don't personally, Bob may. I will pass this along to him.> <<I have BCC'd him here. RMF>> UV sterilizer, repair... electrical! 07/24/2008 Hi, <<Good afternoon, Andrew today I just purchased a Jebo 36W UV sterilizer. It is all set up perfectly. The problem is when I turn it on it goes on for about a second and then turns off. Is there an electrical fault? Should I contact the dealer I bought it from (on eBay) or should I have an electrician check it out first. I feel like something in the wiring is short - should be able to have an electrician fix it right? Please let me know what you think. <<Sounds like a faulty unit to me, would advise replacement>> Sincerely, Omer <<Thanks, A Nixon>> Mercury UV sterilizer bulbs... disposal 2/27/07 Thanks for all your wise words and helpful advice. I have searched for the answer to this question on your site and don't find anything. <We have lifetimes to add, enjoy, share> As I do strive to be a conscientious aquarist, I am perplexed about what to do with my old UV sterilizer bulb. The mercury content puts it in a hazardous waste category I believe. <Mmm, yes... though a miniscule amount...> I have never heard anything about this from the LFS where I got this sterilizer years ago, nor remember ever seeing anything about it in much reading of aquarium books over the years. <Only "becoming an issue" through more recent public awareness, legislation> Mercury emissions have been getting much more focus lately, as you may have noticed if you tried to buy a thermometer to take your own temperature - it is difficult to find the mercury ones anymore. I did a quick Google search and found this MSDS... http://www.uvprocess.com/msds/MERCURY_UV_LAMPS/MSDSlamps.pdf It does state that a broken bulb should be treated as toxic waste. They accept bulbs for recycling. The bulb I have is very old, and I could not find the manufacturer on-line. I had not been using it for a few years, and this manufacturer may not be around anymore. Do you have an opinion on what aquarists should do about used UV bulbs, or other potentially hazardous left-overs from our high-tech peripherals? <Yes... contact your "local" (may be State rather than County or City or such) "Haz Mat", "Domestic Waste" bureaucracy... ask re their input... Certainly (a very important point... well, impt. to me) an issue is always the "opportunity" or "business" cost (in this case, "the business of life") of what to do alternatively... The clearer question of whether an activity will "cost" more than something else... For example, is it more hazardous, toxic to drive aluminum cans around, culture rats and bugs while storing... rather than mining and processing new Bauxite... or using Steel, Polyethylene, other material? In an attempt at being succinct here, there may be no "better" means of disposing the miniscule amount of Hg here then to toss it (ultimately) in a land-fill> So many of these waste regulations are local or state on top of federal, do you know of a central place to find out what to do with items like this? <Done at a more local level in places... for instance, here in San Diego> Also, I have purchased a new UV sterilizer to replace the ancient one, in a hope that it might be one more thing to help with my ongoing battle with BGA (the maroon slimy variety). I only found a few references to this as a possible helpful addition for controlling BGA. It makes sense to me that it could help with the spreading and with killing the waterborne bacteria after it is stirred up during cleaning. <And actually more helpful in the way of improving water quality... raising DO, RedOx...indirectly limiting BGA> It is impossible to siphon it all out, and it always resettles and regrows from the tiniest speck. Do you think a UV sterilizer might help some? <Some, yes> I never had BGA when I used a UV sterilizer years ago (originally added for ich in my DT way before I saw the QT light!). I am skimming (Aqua-C Remora) and getting very aggressive with water changes with a new RO/DI system in place to make it much easier. My tank is 75 g, medium fish load, live rock, plenum, 10 gal sump/refugium with some live rock, a few corals who all seem very happy. I use Instant Ocean salt. Nitrates 0, Phosphates 0. Calcium slightly low 360, started 2 part supplement. <Yes... need to have "matching" alkalinity...> I wasn't able to change a lot of water the last few months due to injury, but it did not seem to make much difference either way. I am hoping that with new RO/DI I can make more headway. <Will help definitely> (My copy of your Reef Invertebrates is arriving today with the sterilizer! Very much looking forward to reading!) Thanks, Alex Miller Birmingham, AL <Ahh! I would bet proverbial "dollars to donuts" (likely about equivalents nowadays...) that you will enjoy, gain by its perusal. I see an enlarged refugium in your not-too distant future. Cheers, Bob Fenner> Electrical Shock 10/14/06 Hi, <Greetings> I purchased a used tank set up including a Jebo UV sterilizer. It worked fine for a while but then it started to shock me when I touched the tank. <Yikes!> Then it started to shock the water in the tank. It has a ground so I am confused and don't know what to do about it. I went to the Jebo website and submitted a letter, but it wouldn't go through. Can you help me with this? Thank you for your time. Joy <I would continue to try to contact the manufacturer for their advice and please'¦take out the sterilizer and don't use it in the meantime. Cheers! -- Dr. J> UV Replacement Bulb 9/25/06 Hello Crew: <Hello Ron> I have a 9 watt Custom Sealife Double Helix UV Sterilizer. I know they have gone out of business, but I need a 9 watt replacement bulb. Is the Coralife 9 watt UV bulb the same as the one sold with my unit? If not, where can I purchase one for my unit. <Depends on the type of bulb. Is it a standard tube, that is, two pins on each end of the bulb? If so, any 9 watt UV lamp should work.> Thanks, <You're welcome. James (Salty Dog)> Ron Ozuna UV Sterilizer help Bob, I have a 55-gallon freshwater aquarium with a wet/dry filter WDM-75 and a Custom Sealife Double Helix UV sterilizer (or had a UV). About 8 weeks ago the tank started to get brown, I treated it many times with no luck.<What were you treating it for? I am assuming brown diatom algae> I noticed last week that the light in the UV was not on and discovered when changing the bulb that the bottom was all rusted, apparently from water, Anyway, it is no longer working. I was going to buy another to replace it (this would be the easiest thing for me, as I had someone set the tank up for me and do not know much connecting any of the equipment), but then I read about the electrical problems and do not know what to do now.<First of all Patricia, DO UNPLUG the sterilizer. DO NOT put your hands in the tank until then.> What would you suggest? <I can't suggest a sterilizer since they do as much bad as good. Along with killing bacteria (good and bad), it also destroys copepods and other useful life in the aquarium. Doing 10% water changes weekly along with weekly filter cleaning and the use of a good chemical media in your wet/dry would be more helpful. Sterilizers are generally used in aquarium shops where their benefit is very cost effective in helping prevent diseases. James (Salty Dog) I would like something fairly maintenance free. Thanks UV and stray voltage... Trouble Hi, I just recently installed
a 80w Current USA Gamma UV on my 220g marine tank. After
installing it I noticed that my Pinpoint PH probe would no longer get a
steady reading. <... you have an electrical "leak"...
bridged contacts, perhaps a cracked sleeve...> It would
vary drastically and caused my to believe that it was possibly stray
voltage from the UV. <Yes, likely so> I know they read positively
charged hydrogen ions and thought that maybe electricity was altering
it. Well, I unplugged the UV (it was on a separate outlet) and the PH
probe began to read normally. I haven't plugged the UV up since and
was trying to find some information on what the problem could be, and
if it is harmful? <Potentially... very. To your livestock, you>
Do UV's normally alter PH probe readings? <Mmm, will elevate
them slightly over time...> What can I do to ensure its not harming
my livestock? The fish in my tank acted normally for the few hours it
was on. Also, I've tried emailing Current USA but have yet to
receive a response. Do you know of a tech support number they might
have? Thanks, Brandon <I would remove this unit, carefully take it
apart, dry all, re-lube the compression fittings for the lamp/sleeve,
use silicon lube on the contact pins... put it back on, plug-in and see
if this corrects the stray voltage... AND I would definitely plug this
(and all other electrics) through a GFI/GFCI device. Bob Fenner>
Re: UV and stray voltage... USE the GFI! Thanks for the reply.
Well after sending the email, I found a contact number for the
manufacturer and they said this was very normal. I explained that the
PH probe was not just varying slightly, but was erratically moving back
and forth to abnormal readings (ex.8.8-7.3). <... pH is the negative
log (base 10) of hydrogen ion concentration... this is a huge
variance...> The tech support guy said that this is common and that
the UV light attracts ions toward the unit altering the probes ability
to get a steady reading. He advised me to plug this unit back up and
install a grounding probe if I wanted my PH probe to work properly.
<? A grounding probe? For what purpose?> He sounded like a trust
worthy source. I spoke with two other people before I finally spoke to
someone competent about my situation. But it still makes me wonder. I
don't feel any type of shock when I stick my hands in the water.
I'm going to try your advice and make sure its installed properly.
But what if it still reads erratically? I also plan to use grounding
probe. I have a GFCI that contains three prongs, that I can also hook
the UV to. I know this device protects against shock and electrocution,
but how will it prevent stray voltage from flowing into the tank?
<... These devices "count" the flow of current/numbers of
electrons if you will, coming and going... as in sixty times a second
(Hertz) from and to the two wires in the circuit... if this number
varies just a little, the circuit will be interrupted (shut off) by the
GFI... if the electricity is flowing elsewhere... as in through you to
ground, the GFI will shut off the power> Will it just reset, if
there is some type of leakage? <...? No... has to be manually
re-set... Bob Fenner> Thanks again, Brandon <I would contact a
real electrician or ask an electrical engineer for "real"
advice here.> UV sterilizer 03/07/06 Hi guys, First and foremost I would like to say how great your website has been. I am fairly new to the hobby but I have learned a lot from my dad, as we have had tanks my whole life. So here's my question: We have a ninety gallon tank with a sterilizer on it from 1984. <I do hope/trust you've been switching... oh, see this below> My dad has kept up with changing the bulbs periodically over the past 20 years, and now i have grown very fond of these tanks and have begun to take care of them. Being that the sterilizer is 20 years old, is it still doing its job? <Likely so> Does it need to be replaced? <Likely not> What is the shelf life on theses items? <The ballast still works? If it's sleeved (a tube of quartz or Teflon twixt the water, lamp), that has been kept clean? The lamp replaced about every 8-10 months...? This is about it> I just recently added 12lbs. of live rock (cured) and I am continually checking the ammonia level. There is a Des. Tang, <Need lots of room...> and clown in the tank , and the levels are between 0 and .025, will this kill the fish at these levels? <... levels of what? See WWM re> Should i take them out of the tank until the ammonia goes down to 0? Thanks WBM <... Bob Fenner> Powder in U/V Sterilizer, CSL lead info. 8/12/06 Greetings, <Salutations> First off, thanks for bring us a great site full of useful information. <Glad to provide it> Now, my problem. I have a CustomSealife 9W U/V sterilizer I'm using in a freshwater planted aquarium. I got it to help with algae and it has done a great job of that, even though I just have it in-line with my Eheim. (Although, I think I will install a system to slow down the water in the U/V in the future.) <Mmm, a toss up between the kill per pass and overall efficiency... I wouldn't change your arrangement here> The bulb has burnt out and as you know, Custom Sealife is no longer in business. <There are other companies that carry their old goods> On a positive note, that is how I found your excellent web site. After reading some of the posts detailing water leaks and fire risk, I decided to open the unit. Now, I did not know I should be opening it. Water flows through the unit in a double helix tube so I never opened the unit itself. I found a little sign of water leakage but I did not see any evidence of damage to any of the electrical components. The bulb was definitely blown. The intriguing part was that I found about 1 1/2 cups of some type of gray powder loose in the canister. I had to dump out the powder to make sure the bulb was bad. The bulb was not broken and the double helix tube was not broken. In fact, the water seemed to have come in through the screw holes from the outside and seemed very limited. So, I am wondering first of all what the powder is, <Accumulated "dust" likely> secondly if it is supposed to be there <Mmm, not as far as I'm aware> and thirdly, if I need to replace it. <See above> The gray powder does seem to be on the water flow tube and also on the metal shielding that lines the body of the unit. Any help is appreciated as I have no idea where to go from here. Thanks for your efforts and have a great day. Andy <Mmm... do please call Aqua Logic Inc. in San Diego, 858 292 4773 (they are very familiar with CSL products) ask for Jake Lockwood if he's there. Please write us back re his/their response to your questions here. Bob Fenner> Weird UV Question >Well, perhaps it is not so
weird. Hopefully it will help many. I have a Coralife
Turbo-Twist 3X (9W) UV Sterilizer. It uses a Philips PL-S 9W
UV-C bulb (also has TUV on the box). Aquarium suppliers charge between
$25 and $35 for replacement bulbs. I did a Google search on Philips
pl-s 9W and found a supplier that sells them for $3.50 apiece!!!!!
>>Egads! >But then I did more research. Turns out
Philips makes 5 versions, the only difference being the Kelvin rating
(27K, 35K, 41K and 50K). Nowhere on the bulb box, on the
bulb, or in the Turbo-Twist documentation is there any mention of
Kelvin rating. >>Not uncommon on bulbs not designed for such
specific applications. >So the question -- does anyone know which
version this unit uses, and does it matter (I presume it matters a lot
but my physics is in my distant past!) >>BOY! I sure
don't, and I've never used a U.V. sterilizer,
either. I would contact the manufacturer to get specific
information. By doing that, you will satisfy one of two
questions: 1)determining pertinent wavelength & manufacturer
information or 2)determining why these bulbs may not be offered for
sale or are otherwise unsuitable for this use. >Thanks!
If these bulbs are usable I'll be happy to send the link to the
supplier! Joel >>Please do let us know anything you
find out. More knowledge is definitely
BETTER. Good luck! Marina CSL Sterilizer and marine stocking Hi. I sent this message earlier but didn't get a reply or see it in the daily FAQs. I suspect it didn't make it to you. Sorry if you end up with two very similar sounding emails! Hello WWM crew, I have a CSL 18W Double Helix UV that has gone bad. I have been happy with its performance and would like to repair it. Problem is, since the company has gone under, I have no source for parts or info. Apparently some water got into the ballast assembly and corroded the leads off. An easy enough repair job. However, there is a small component which looks like a type of bi-metallic over temp protector (but unlike any I have ever seen) built into a small bulb. I have done several searches using everything I can think of and have come up with nothing. There is no part number or *any* marking of any kind on the device. Do you know of someone I could contact, possibly an ex-employee of CSL or someone who has ran into the same problem for information on this part? <Mmm, is still here... being re/circulated amongst folks in hopes that someone will have a more definitive answer. I would contact Perry Tishgart of Champion Lighting re... as he has boldly stated his company's former CSL inventory and intent to service their customers.> Also, I have recently set up a 72 gal Oceanic bow front that is the home of a porcupine puffer and a red Volitans. I later learned from FAQs on your site (AWESOME!) that this tank is too small for the puffer and possibly even for the lion. I am curious as to why since although both will get quite large, neither do a lot of swimming. They are both lazy and are either hanging out in their caves, begging for food, or fluttering aimlessly around. Is it a question of filtration or merely confinement? <A bit of both... physiologically and psychological> It seems like the bowfront would give a more open feeling and allow them to turn around comfortably, etc. If it is impossible to keep them, at what point (in inches) should I start thinking about relocation? Thanks for the great site and information. Kirk <At a year to three likely... but by then I strongly suspect you'll have "graduated" to more reef type interests! Bob Fenner> UV electrical issue Hello Bob, <Rick> Your website has
been a great help over the years. However, I was unable to
find anything regarding my current problem. I am sure that
you can help... so here it goes. Got a Coralife 9W U.V sterilizer that
the bulb burned out after only four months of use. No
problem I thought. So I replaced the bulb and now this new
bulb only lasted two weeks. I checked the UV casing to make
sure that no water was somehow or another getting inside. It
checked out okay. So I am faced with either electrical
problems or possibly a bad ballast? <Yes. Next most likely cause...
then a short, break in the wiring somewhere...> Have you heard of
this issue before? <Yes, happens... particularly certain brands...
Rainbow-Lifegard (now Pentair) had some real doozies back when... and
most of the small UV's have much more trouble than larger
wattages> I wanted to check with your advice before I dive into
pulling apart the ballast and electrical assembly. <Mmm, I would NOT
do this. Send the whole unit back to... likely ESU... check with your
dealer/source first to see if they'll handle the return... most
States have a pretty much carte-blanche warranty of one year... I would
NOT fool with the unit myself. If you have troubles locating Energy
Savers, or receiving authorization for return/repair/replacement,
please make this known to me. Bob Fenner> Not much of a handy man
but it appears to not be so difficult! Any advice
would be more than helpful. Thanks, Rick UV light repair dear sirs am not sure if i have the right company but i have a pond clear advance uv30 that's a little over 12 months old the white connecters on each end of the tube have corroded and i wondered if it was possible to get some from anywhere i would be grateful if you could help me in this matter. <Please take a look on our site: www.WetWebMedia.com on the Links Page for the URL to Tropic Marine Centre (in the UK) and email them re this request. You may use my name in reference. Bob Fenner> many thanks Craig Hollinshead NYLON and UV Hello Bob, I installed a UV sterilizer and was forced to used nylon adapters from 3/4" female to 5'8 " hose. The light is emanating from the nylon (white) adapters causing them to glow. Will the nylon break down due to the UV light?? <Over a period of time, yes. I find it a good idea to replace these fittings about once a year, or approximately every two lamp replacement cycles... maybe record such on the contact chamber... And a likely-unnecessary warning... don't stare (much) at the area where the "neat purple light" is shining through (and do place such out of the view of pets, children (or tape, wrap over)... Bob Fenner> Thanks, Russ UV 1 Clarifier Hi Bob, How are you today? We had an ice storm
here in MD yesterday and things are getting back to normal. Here is the
response I got form Tetra about the unit. I also called Aquanetics and
the bulbs they had they weren't sure if it would fit my unit, plus
they were not familiar with my unit. I am thinking I may need a get a
new unit, since getting bulb seems to be hassle. <Perhaps for
the best> It's a shame though as this unit is on a year old.
<Did you try contacting who/where you got this product from? Are
there any identifying names/manufacturers on the product, its
components?> If you have no other suggestions as what I can do and I
have to get a new unit what make and model do you recommend for a 125
gallon. <Depending on fluid-moving source, capability, 20-40
Watts... my first choice are the TMC units (Vecton)... though hard to
come by in the U.S., some input:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/tmcpropc.htm Next choice are the Emperor
Aquatics units... at any length, do get a quartz or Teflon-sleeved
unit, with a remoteable ballast... Do seek the opinions of other
aquarist end-users: our chatforum: http://talk.wetwebfotos.com/ re
actual recent use of products, choices.> The sweetlips is coming
along, I'm still praying and kind of preparing myself for if it
begins to deteriorate. Thanks for what has begin to seem like daily
advise. Gillian <Be chatting and investigating my friend. Bob
Fenner> UV tank problem 7/6/05 I recently put a Jebo 13 watt UV light on my tank (using a 100 gal. Stock Tank) and now the sides and bottom of tank has a Black soot like covering on it. Also the inlet and outlet tubes from the U.V light box,( which is black). What is causing this and any help at all would be greatly appreciated? The water is clear now with the light, checked light and it is all clean but inside the case seems to have some black that will come off too if rubbed. Thanks for any help you might be able to give. <<I suggest you contact the store where you purchased it, or contact the manufacturer directly. Sounds like the housing is reacting to the UV light. James (Salty Dog)>> Billie Allen UV troubles? 7/23/05 I just purchased an 18 wt
Jebo UV filter for my 55 gal. saltwater tank. Is the bulb supposed to
go on and off or stay on continuously? <The latter> One side of
the filter stays on dimly at all times the other comes on real bright
stays on for about 1-2 minutes and goes off again. Is this normal?
Nightmare <Mmm, I suspect this unit may be defective... such devices
usually have a starting mechanism... that shows the lamp brighter
during the "turning on" phase. I would take, send this
product back and ask the manufacturer to take a look at it. Bob
Fenner> |
|
|
Features: |
|
| Featured Sponsors: |
