UV lamps for ponds
UV lamps are built into many ponds to combat or contain microorganisms and can be attached by yourself.
Different UV lamps and their features
You can get UV lamps in various strengths on the market. Choose for your pond a lamp with the appropriate wattage. This depends on the size and the number of fish in your pond. Calculate around one to three watts per cubic meter of water.
For ponds with smaller fish you need around two watts per cubic meter of water for the UV lamp. For cleaning waters with larger fish such as koi carp, UV lamps with three watts per cubic meter of water are required.
You coordinate the filter unit and UV lamp in your pond. By using UV lamps in conjunction with a pond filter, you limit the exposure to single-celled ones Seaweed clearly one. Only switch on the UV lamp when the pump is operating at the same time.
According to the recommendation of some manufacturers, you should replace UV lamps after they have been on for about 7000 hours. The lamp should be equipped with a special cleaning function. Deposits on the glass of the UV lamp could significantly reduce its effectiveness.
| Light intensity per cubic meter of water | an average of one to three watts |
| Light intensity for smaller fish | two watts |
| Light intensity for larger fish such as koi carp | three watts |
Effect of the lights on the ponds
UV lamps or UV light have a significantly shorter wavelength than normal daylight and thus damage the microorganisms. They are dying off. Useful bacteria on the ground, on the plants or on stones in the ponds remain undamaged. They do not come into contact with the UV light.
In the months from March to April you should give your garden pond special ...
Do not leave the UV lamps running around the clock. Start with a 12-hour cycle and reduce the burn time to two to three hours a week as soon as the water has become noticeably clearer. The UV lamps usually have a maximum service life of 10,000 operating hours. However, the light intensity decreases over time.
How many bacteria that are harmful to the fish are destroyed in the ponds depends on the speed at which the water flows. The longer the water is in the device, the stronger the UV dose and the effectiveness on the germs. The degree of sterilization is significantly reduced if the throughput speed is too fast.
The characteristics of the UV light
The UV light helps to clean your pond. In this way you achieve a healthy biosphere for your fish and aquatic plants.
- Destruction of harmful germs and bacteria.
- Useful bacteria on the pond floor remain undamaged.
- When the water is clearer, fewer hours of burning are required.
- If the water passes through faster, a larger UV dose is necessary for disinfection.
- The maximum service life of the UV lamp is 10,000 operating hours.
Installation of the UV lamps in the ponds
Usually you have to place a UV lamp between the pump and the filter. The installation of UV lamps, however, depends on the respective system. With a pump filter system, insert the UV lamp in front of the pond filter. In contrast, with a gravitational filter, you have to install them at the end of the pond filter.
The trade offers filter systems in which a UV lamp is already integrated. Otherwise you should make sure that the UV lamp has a quartz glass and is not separated from the water by plastic. Plastic lets through significantly less UV radiation than quartz glass and is therefore not as effective.
