Directions for a Fish Tank UV Sterilizer Lamp

Ultraviolet light sterilizers come in a variety of shapes and sizes for aquariums. Choosing the lamp right for your filtration needs depends on the size of your aquarium and how much water you intend to pump through it. They also come in styles that are submersible, mountable to the side of the tank or that can be installed beneath your aquarium. They all work well at filtering the algae and microorganisms from your tank. The type you choose depends on your personal taste and the setup you have for your aquarium.

Things You'll Need

  • Vinyl tubing
  • Knife
  • U-shaped tubing
  • Cotton gloves
  • Butane lighter
  • Petroleum jelly
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Instructions

    • 1

      Determine where you need to attach the filter. It is widely recommended that the UV lamp be the last in your filter line, with your mechanical and biological filters first. This ensures that all solid matter is removed from the water before it passes through the UV filter.

    • 2

      Decide on your filter's location. If you choose to mount it beneath the tank in the cabinet, you will need more tubing than if you choose to mount it on the side of the tank.

    • 3

      Measure the tubing, going from the unit to the pump. According to Marine Depot, some units are marked with an inlet/outlet, and this should be noted before cutting the tubing length.

    • 4

      Connect the tubing to the filter using the provided connectors and then attach to the pump. Marine Depot suggests using a U-shaped tubing to create a connection back to either the pump or aquarium. This will depend on your individual setup, as well.

    • 5

      Put in the UV bulb and quartz sleeve, handling gently. Wear cotton gloves to protect the glass from the damaging oils in your skin.

    • 6

      Connect the power supply to the lamp, but wait to plug it in.

    • 7

      Check for leaks by running the pump for a few minutes before supplying power to the UV lamp.

    • 8

      Plug in the lamp.