UV & Ion Clarifiers

Pond UV lights are an excellent choice for controlling algae in your pond. Nobody likes green water caused by seasonal algae blooms. After putting all that time and effort into building the perfect water garden, the last thing you want to look at is murky water. Besides making your backyard look like a swamp, algae can also harm your fish! Too many algae will absorb all the oxygen in the water, causing your fish to suffocate. Also, different types of algae, like blue algae, produce toxins that can harm fish. UV pond filters are perfect for controlling the number of algae in your water. 

When Should You Use Pond UV Lights?

The best time to use pond UV lights is before the algae become a real problem. Blooms happen when the water temperature warms up, and there is plenty of sunlight throughout most of the day. Usually, this is from late spring to early fall. Try running your UV filter when the water temperature rises above 65 degrees Fahrenheit. Since algae are most active between 68 and 86 degrees, this should help you prevent blooms before they start.

How do UV Pond Filters work?

The thing about UV pond filters is that they don’t technically “filter” anything. However, they do a fantastic job supplementing your existing filtration by destroying algae in the water. To do this, UV filters house a powerful ultraviolet bulb that kills single-celled organisms, like algae and bacteria. When the algae pass through the clarifier, UV light from the bulb causes them to die. Keep in mind; if you have a lot of algae in your pond, this process will have to cycle a bit for the best results. Check out our knowledge base guide on how long you should let your UV filter run.

Where Should You Place Your UV Pond Filter?

To get the best results from your UV pond filter, you should place it after your skimmer and before your waterfall filter. This is because UV lights work best when the water is clear of dirt and debris. It makes killing algae more efficient when there is not floating debris in the water blocking the light rays. Not to mention, the glass tube of your clarifier can get damaged by rocks and other hard objects that the skimmer easily stops. Also, since UV light kills bacteria, you should put it before your biofall filter. The beneficial bacteria will feed on the dead algae that float by. You also don’t have to worry about good bacteria getting swept up into the clarifier, where they will be killed too. A good placement of your pond’s UV light is essential for getting the best results.