All aquarium owners know how important the filter system they have is. Green water is not only an eyesore but can actually be bad for the well-being of your plants and animals. If you were a fish, we bet you wouldn’t want to swim in a dirty tank.
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When not treated properly, both freshwater and saltwater aquariums encounter bacteria growth. Free-floating algae can also push off the development of microorganisms. That’s why you need to find the right aquarium UV sterilizer!
Usually, fish owners go for an internal filter. It utilizes active charcoal and a mechanical framework, but unlike UV light, it cannot evacuate all pathogens and microalgae.
The ultraviolet sterilizer is a great addition to your mechanical filter, and in this buying guide, we’ve gathered the top 5 UV sterilizers on the market that will help you maintain your aquarium clean. We will also walk you through the process of what a UV sterilizer is and how exactly to choose the favorite one for your needs! Let’s get started!
Emperor Aquatics Smart 25 Watt UV Sterilizer
There’s a reason why this UV sterilizer is number one on our list! The Emperor Aquatics 25 watt UV sterilizer for aquarium is rated for tanks up to 125 gallons and has one of the leading UV lights to be seen among other aquarium sterilizers at 25 watts.
If you own a large aquarium, this product won’t disappoint you. It can be run at high water flow rates while still providing effective sterilization.
Green water is surely an unpleasant sight, and this UV sterilizer can destroy disease-causing bacteria at rates that are high up to 200 gallons per one hour. You can even use it for your pond if it is up to 2360 gallons.
The UV sterilizer is also suitable for cold water tanks since it comes with a quartz sleeve. UV lights can’t work efficiently in cold water when they have no insulation.
The 9,000-hour lifespan of the UV bulb is also a great advantage. Moreover, the UV sterilizer has a heavy plastic casing that is not only watertight but also corrosion-resistant, which means the unit itself is designed to last for years.
- Three-inch body
- 1.5-inch distance between the outlet ports and the inlet
- It has a quartz sleeve
- 9,000 -hour working time of the bulb
Coospider UV Sterilizer for Freshwater Fish Tank
This Coospider UV sterilizer for aquarium offers 254nm wavelength, which will help you get rid of the green color in your water in just a few hours. The UV sterilizer has a 175cm long cable and an easy-to-operate on and off switch. We recommend you use this lamp in an aquarium filter system.
This Coospider Aquarium UV sterilizer is suitable for fish tanks and ponds that are up to 3000L, and it is enough to use it 1 or 2 hours a day to achieve great results.
Keep in mind, though, that if this is the first time you use a UV sterilizer and the water in your tank looks very turbid, you will have to use it for around 24- 48 hours the first time. Then, when the water becomes clear, simply put it on for 1-2 hours per day. The lamp has a 110Voltage.
The greatest part about this UV sterilizer is that it comes with a 1-year warranty and a 3-month free return, so if you’re not satisfied with the results (which we know you will be), you can always contact the company in their service mailbox, and they will reply within 24 hours.
- 254nm wavelength
- 110 Voltage
- 3000L fish tank/pond
- Fast Cleaning
Innovative Marine Auqa Shield Ultraviolet Light
UV sterilizers are a piece of must-have aquarium equipment that will take care of your aquarium water and provide an excellent environment for your fish. The price of this UV sterilizer must not confuse you – this is a high-quality unit that will destroy the harmful microorganisms in your freshwater tanks.
This Innovative Marine UV sterilizer is designed to provide clean water and halt the spread of infections. It uses a high-intensity 11 Watt UV-C bulb and has a 50-gallon capacity.
This aquarium UV sterilizer is easy to install and does not require a water pump. We loved the simplistic design and functionality, and we guarantee all tank owners will do too.
The package also includes a mechanical filter sponge. The life span of the bulb is up to 10 months, which is not that much compared to some other UV sterilizers, but the unit is super effective, and the cost of the replacement bulbs is not that much.
This UV sterilizer will kill all the algae, parasites, and bacteria in the water and will keep your tank clean.
- Straightforward installation process
- Mechanical Filter Sponge
- Disposable UV Cartridge
- Bulb Life Span-10 months.
SunSun JUP-01 9W UV Sterilizer Submersible Filter Pump
This last suggestion on our list is a 9w UV sterilizer ideal for moderately large tanks. The SunSun JUP-01 has a built-in pump and is suitable for aquariums up to 75 gallons in size. It does not connect in-line to your water flow system, and you need to hang it inside your freshwater tank.
Since this UV sterilizer produces a lot of suction and is also large, it is not a great choice for reef tanks with fish accustomed to calm waters. If your tank is smaller than 75 gallons, the 210-gallon flor rate of this UV sterilizer will be too high for it.
The sterilization of the SunSun JUP-01 is super effective because of the large diameter and length of the chamber.
Moreover, this UV lamp is simple to install, and you can choose if you want to hang it horizontally or vertically. Ultraviolet sterilization is an essential part of the cleaning procedure of your aquarium, and this UV sterilizer may be the last of our suggestions, but it is just as effective as the other ones.
- 9 watts
- aquariums up to 75 gallons
- 210-gallon per hour flow rate
- It can be hung both horizontally and vertically
AA Aquarium Green Killing Machine 9 Watt
This next suggestion on our list is an internal UV sterilizer system that is super easy to install and comes at a very reasonable price. The name “Green keeling machine” does not lie- this unit is one of the greatest aquarium UV sterilizers and can eliminate cloudiness, algae, waterborne pathogens, and bacteria.
If you want to keep your fish in perfect health, you need to provide them with crystal clear water, and the patented technology of this internal green killing machine will do just that. The unit features a 4 pcs sponge pre-filter and a patented sealed UV bulb.
The AA Aquarium Green Killing Machine is safety tested and comes with a 3-year warranty on the pump. The pump itself is rated at 220L per hour, which makes it ideal for aquariums up to 50 gallons. We really liked this AA Aquarium Green Killing Machine, and it is no wonder that this is one of the finest UV sterilizers with over ½ Million pieces sold.
- UV Sterilizer System
- Patented technology
- Ideal for aquariums up to 50 gallons
- 3 Year Warranty on Pump
- 9 Watt
What is a UV Sterilizer
Basically, UV sterilizers are small electronic devices that feature a UV light bulb. They are mostly placed inside your reef or freshwater tank, and their purpose is to kill bacteria and pathogens inside your water without harming your fish or plants.
UV light has the ability to sterilize bacteria, making it impossible for them to reproduce. Since it scrambles the DNA of bacteria, it could also kill them outright. Either way, it penetrates the thin membrane of bacteria and destroys them completely within a few hours (the lifespan of most bacteria).
UV sterilizers do not affect your fish, unlike chemical treatments that can be harmful. The hard structure of corals and the relatively thick skin of fish are hard to penetrate. Therefore, UV light is not dangerous for them.
However, keep in mind that UV sterilizers are not fully lethal and can allow some bacteria to survive. Bacterial cells that are well-hidden in the gravel may not be hit with the UV light. Still, a UV aquarium sterilizer is a healthy and affordable option that will keep your aquarium clean and your fish safe.
Unfortunately, an aquarium UV sterilizer does not discriminate between beneficial bacteria and disease-causing bacteria. Therefore, you should avoid running the sterilizer when you first cycle the aquarium. That way, you will give beneficial bacteria enough time to attach to your fish, corals, or the gravel at the bottom, where they will be relatively safe from the UV light.
Features to Consider When Choosing The Best UV Aquarium Sterilizer
Choosing a quality UV sterilizer is not that easy since there are many features you need to consider:
- Level of sterilization
Different UV sterilizers have different levels of power to kill viruses and bacteria. Cheap units, also known as clarifying sterilizers, cannot kill disease-causing bacteria since they are designed to handle free-floating algae.
Level 1 UV sterilizers can kill most viruses and bacteria because they are more powerful and run at high flow rates. These UV sterilizers are affordable and work relatively effectively.
Level 2 UV sterilizers, however, are the most robust of the 3 types. They work at lower flow rates than the other sterilizers, and their UV light is more concentrated. Therefore, they can remove multicellular parasites and hard-to-kill viruses, and your fish will be 100% protected.
- Size
Ultraviolet aquarium sterilizers come in different sizes, and you need to make sure they are suitable for your tank. The size also reflects the water flow rate and the power of the UV bulb.
The effectiveness of sterilization is determined by the UV wattage and the flow rate. Those two things also determine how quickly the water will be turned over through the device. The UV sterilizer can turn over the water in your aquarium 1-2 times per hour.
There’s a simple way to calculate if the UV sterilizer will be suitable for you. Just multiply the wattage of the device by its effective flow rate and then divide by the number of tank turnovers per one hour- 1.5. So, if you own a sterilizer that works with 15 watts and has an effective flow rate of 30 gallons per hour, the maximum tank size this UV sterilizer will work for will be 300 gallons.
- Water Flow Rate
The water exposure time to the UV light is closely related to the sterilizer’s flow rate. In order to determine the size of the UV light that you need, you need to know the water flow rate of the unit you plan to buy.
Simply put, the higher the flow rate, the quicker the turning over of your water. That means that a device with a high flow rate will be able to sterilize a larger tank, but the exposure time will also be reduced, which means you will need a more powerful UV light.
- Quartz Sleeves
Quartz sleeves increase the temperature of the light and help the UV sterilizer operate more effectively. Quartz has almost 100% transmittance, and these sleeves are put around the UV light. If your tank is already warm, however, quartz sleeves may not be that beneficial.
Wrap Up
Buying the best UV sterilizer for your fish tank is essential since a unit using a powerful UV bulb will keep your aquarium clean and your fish healthy.
Internal UV sterilizers are not harmful to the fish in your fish tank, and some models are suitable for aquariums with up to 150 gallons of water. They offer easy installation and are great for freshwater aquariums.
To save you the trouble of spending hours searching for a quality unit, we’ve gathered the top 5 UV sterilizers available online, and we’ve done thorough reviews for each one of them. The short buying guide after the reviews will also help you with the process of picking.