uv light fish tank?

Creates MASSIVE amounts of algae:) There's no need to use UV lighting unless you have a planted tank. Fish really don't need UV lighting generally speaking.

Uv Light For Fish Tank

a UVA/UVB full spectrum light is used to create the proper lighting for a planted aquarium. Not only are the recommended for a plant tank, they are a necessity. However, if you have the cash, buy the mercury vapor bulbs instead, as your plants will grow greener with them.

That being said...algae is a plant. Plants don't grow on water and light alone, they need nutrients as well. The reason planted tanks do not typically have an algae problem is because the larger plants soak up all the nutrients, competeing with the algae. Because this creates a natural balance, the algae does not grow to excess.

Healthy tanks do not have algal blooms. There will always be a small amount present, but algae is a big red flag that you have poor water quality.

now, a uv light is a sterilizer. Commercial fish systems such as what is used at PetSmart and PetCo have 6-12 UV sterilizers on the filtration system. The way it works is that a bulb with a retina damaging amount of UV output is placed in a crystal sleeve. The sleeve is water tight and protects the bulb from getting wet. The crystal sleeve and the bulb are then put in a plastc tube that has another plastic sleeve inside. The inner sleeve is white and bounces the UV rays back, protecting the outer sleeve for damage from the rays. These bulbs need replaced every six months, as do all UV bulbs, as they degrade over time.

These sterilizers help destroy blue green algae, diatoms, paracites, and microrganisims in the water (as the others stated above).

Tetra pond makes one for algae control that typically retails at $99-119. A new co (can't think of the name) makes one for home aquariums that price out at about $50.

Well, the main purpose of a uv light is to simulate natural sun light. This isn't something one really needs for a healthy tank. It would be very beneficial however if you plan to use any live plants in your decorating. Otherwise, it may just cause you algae problems...but algae can be good too if you have a hungry pleco. So, depending on what you are going to do with your tank it may be something you want to stay away from or something that may help your tank stay happy!

Well, first let me say, it would be a perfect world if people didn't answer questions if they didn't know the answer. However, that is one of the most common situations in the aquarium hobby. And of course, for the question askers MAKE SURE YOU ARE ASKING THE RIGHT QUESTION. These are living things, and deserve our utmost respect and education. I think the days of carnival prize goldfish, Easter Bunnies, and Pitbull pets may soon be over.

OK, back to the OQ. a UV (ultraviolet) light is usually a "clear" flourescent lamp (lamp is the proper word for 'bulb') exposed to running water inside inside a waterproof tube. UV "kills germs in aquaria" and "removes single cell algae from ponds". Since it takes a much stronger exposure of UV to kill germs, it is used in ponds normally to prevent green water. It should be used by Saltwater tank owners because the SW fish are very expensive get ich so easily, and the medicines are difficult to apply in a SW tank. It should be used in a outdoor fish pond because for a small price $150 usd more or less, you can once and for all manage "green water" in the summer.

edit: wish I could have explained this as quick as Jade.

Depends, if it is like mine, a UV light PURIFIER, then it is capable of killing microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, molds, algae, yeast, and oocysts like cryptosporidium and giardia.

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